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iPhone 12 vs iPhone 13

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Starting at

£154.55

£799 new

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Starting at

£199

£779 new

See options
iPhone 12Starting at £154.55See options
iPhone 13Starting at £199See options
4.6/5 (144 reviews)
4.6/5 (130 reviews)

In a nutshell

They share the same 6.1-inch screen size, the same 12MP main camera and the same 60Hz refresh rate. The iPhone 13 has the lower launch price, longer OS support until about 2028 (est.) and the newer A15 Bionic chip. The iPhone 12 counters with a lighter 162g body.

At 128GB, the iPhone 12 launched at £849 and the iPhone 13 at £779.

Available models

iPhone 12

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

iPhone 13

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

Durability

iPhone 12 58/100
iPhone 13 64/100

The iPhone 13 should be supported for longer, with OS updates until about 2028 (est.) against about 2027 (est.) on the iPhone 12.

Software support:The iPhone 12 should get OS updates until about 2027 (est.) and the iPhone 13 until about 2028 (est.). That gives the iPhone 13 the longer support window.

Weight:The iPhone 12 weighs 162g and the iPhone 13 173g, so the iPhone 12 is the lighter phone.

Water and dust:Both are rated IP68, the same protection against dust and water.

Frame:Both use the same aluminium frame.

Released

2020
2021Newer

Updates until (est.)

2027
2028Supported for longer

Water resistance

IP68
IP68

Frame

Aluminium
Aluminium

Weight

162gLighter
173g

Release date

23 October 2020
24 September 2021

Front glass

Ceramic Shield
Ceramic Shield

Dimensions

146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm

Biometrics

Face ID
Face ID

Performance

iPhone 12 46/100
iPhone 13 52/100

The iPhone 13 has the newer chip, the A15 Bionic.

Chip:The iPhone 12 runs the A14 Bionic and the iPhone 13 the A15 Bionic. The A15 Bionic is the newer chip, from 2021.

Storage:The iPhone 12 launched in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB and the iPhone 13 in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.

Memory:Both have the same 4GB of RAM.

Chip

A14 Bionic
A15 Bionic

RAM

4GB
4GB

Storage options

64GB, 128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB

AI features

No
No

Screen quality

iPhone 12 62/100
iPhone 13 62/100

The same 6.1-inch size and the same 60Hz refresh rate on both.

Panel:Both use the same Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2532 x 1170.

Brightness:Both peak at the same 1200 nits, by the makers' figures.

Screen size

6.1"
6.1"

Screen type

Super Retina XDR OLED
Super Retina XDR OLED

Refresh rate

60Hz
60Hz

Resolution

2532 x 1170
2532 x 1170

Peak brightness

1200 nits (maker figure)
1200 nits (maker figure)

Camera

iPhone 12 29/100
iPhone 13 29/100

The same 12MP main camera on both, so everyday shots start from the same resolution.

Video:The iPhone 12 records video at up to 4K 60fps and the iPhone 13 at up to 4K 60fps Dolby Vision.

Ultrawide:Both have the same 12MP ultrawide.

Zoom:Neither has a telephoto lens, so the same digital zoom only.

Selfies:Both have the same 12MP selfie camera.

Main camera

12MP
12MP

Ultrawide

12MP
12MP

Telephoto

None
None

Optical zoom

None
None

Front camera

12MP
12MP

Video recording

4K 60fps; Dolby Vision 4K 30fps
4K 60fps Dolby Vision

Battery

iPhone 12 51/100
iPhone 13 56/100

The iPhone 13 lasts longer on Apple's figures, up to 19 hours of video against 17.

Battery life:Apple rates the iPhone 12 at up to 17 hours of video playback and the iPhone 13 at up to 19 hours.

Capacity:The iPhone 13 has the bigger battery, 3240mAh against 2815mAh.

Wireless charging:For wireless charging, the iPhone 12 supports MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W and the iPhone 13 MagSafe 15W, Qi2.

Battery

2815mAh
3240mAhBigger battery

Wireless charging

MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W
MagSafe 15W, Qi2

Video playback (maker)

Up to 17 hours
Up to 19 hours

Connectivity

iPhone 12 58/100
iPhone 13 58/100

Both have 5G and the same Wi-Fi 6.

Port:Both have the same Lightning (USB 2) port.

SIM:Both take the same Nano-SIM + eSIM setup.

Bluetooth:Both have the same Bluetooth 5.0.

5G

Yes
Yes

Port

Lightning (USB 2)
Lightning (USB 2)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6

SIM

Nano-SIM + eSIM
Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0

Our verdict

Buy the iPhone 12 if you want a lighter 162g body. Buy the iPhone 13 if you want the lower launch price and longer OS support until about 2028 (est.).

Buy the iPhone 12 if

  • You want a lighter 162g body
Shop from £154.55

Buy the iPhone 13 if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want longer OS support until about 2028 (est.)
  • You want the newer A15 Bionic chip
Shop from £199

FAQs

The iPhone 12 should get OS updates until about 2027 (est.) and the iPhone 13 until about 2028 (est.). That gives the iPhone 13 the longer support window.

Every Reboxed phone has a minimum of 80% battery health. If you want the closest thing to new, some phones offer our New Battery Upgrade, professionally installed before your phone is dispatched. If it's available, you'll see it on the product page.

Pristine, Excellent, Great and Good. Pristine has zero blemishes and at least 90% battery health. Good can show noticeable wear on the casing but works perfectly. Every grade is TechCheck certified and comes with a 12-month warranty.

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