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iPhone 12 vs iPhone 16

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Starting at

£154.55

£799 new

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Starting at

£475.19

£799 new

See options
iPhone 12Starting at £154.55See options
iPhone 16Starting at £475.19See options
4.6/5 (144 reviews)
5.0/5 (5 reviews)

In a nutshell

They share the same 6.1-inch screen size, the same 60Hz refresh rate and the same IP68 rating. The iPhone 16 has the lower launch price, longer OS support until about 2031 (est.) and Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 12 counters with a lighter 162g body.

At 128GB, the iPhone 12 launched at £849 and the iPhone 16 at £799.

Available models

iPhone 12

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

iPhone 16

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

Durability

iPhone 12 58/100
iPhone 16 83/100

The iPhone 16 should be supported for longer, with OS updates until about 2031 (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 16 until about 2031 (est.). That gives the iPhone 16 the longer support window.

Weight:The iPhone 12 weighs 162g and the iPhone 16 170g, 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
2024Newer

Updates until (est.)

2027
2031Supported for longer

Water resistance

IP68
IP68

Frame

Aluminium
Aluminium

Weight

162gLighter
170g

Release date

23 October 2020
20 September 2024

Front glass

Ceramic Shield
Ceramic Shield

Dimensions

146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm
147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm

Biometrics

Face ID
Face ID

Repairability

–
EU repairability class C

Performance

iPhone 12 46/100
iPhone 16 79/100

The iPhone 16 has the newer chip, the A18.

Chip:The iPhone 12 runs the A14 Bionic and the iPhone 16 the A18. The A18 is the newer chip, from 2024.

Memory:The iPhone 16 has 8GB of RAM against 4GB on the iPhone 12, which helps keep more apps open in the background.

AI features:Only the iPhone 16 supports Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 12 does not.

Storage:The iPhone 12 launched in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB and the iPhone 16 in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.

Chip

A14 Bionic
A18

RAM

4GB
8GBMore memory

Storage options

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

AI features

No
YesHas AI features

Screen quality

iPhone 12 62/100
iPhone 16 68/100

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

Panel:The iPhone 12 uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2532 x 1170 and the iPhone 16 a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2556 x 1179.

Brightness:The iPhone 16 peaks at 2000 nits against 1200 on the iPhone 12, by the makers' figures, so it is easier to read in bright sun.

Screen size

6.1"
6.1"

Screen type

Super Retina XDR OLED
Super Retina XDR OLED

Refresh rate

60Hz
60Hz

Resolution

2532 x 1170
2556 x 1179

Peak brightness

1200 nits (maker figure)
2000 nits (maker figure)

Camera

iPhone 12 29/100
iPhone 16 48/100

The iPhone 16 has the higher-resolution 48MP main camera.

Main camera:The iPhone 16 has a 48MP main camera against 12MP on the iPhone 12, which leaves more detail to crop into.

Zoom:Neither has a telephoto lens. Only the iPhone 16 offers a 2x crop from its main sensor.

Video:The iPhone 12 records video at up to 4K 60fps and the iPhone 16 at up to 4K 60fps Dolby Vision.

Ultrawide:Both have the same 12MP ultrawide.

Main camera

12MP
48MPMore megapixels

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

2x zoom

–
Crop from the main sensor, no telephoto lens

Battery

iPhone 12 51/100
iPhone 16 72/100

The iPhone 16 lasts longer on Apple's figures, up to 22 hours of video against 17.

Battery life:Apple rates the iPhone 12 at up to 17 hours of video playback and the iPhone 16 at up to 22 hours.

Capacity:The iPhone 16 has the bigger battery, 3561mAh against 2815mAh.

Wireless charging:For wireless charging, the iPhone 12 supports MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W and the iPhone 16 MagSafe 22.5W, Qi2 25W.

Battery

2815mAh
3561mAhBigger battery

Wireless charging

MagSafe 15W, Qi 7.5W
MagSafe 22.5W, Qi2 25W

Video playback (maker)

Up to 17 hours
Up to 22 hours

Connectivity

iPhone 12 58/100
iPhone 16 74/100

The iPhone 16 has the newer Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 7.

Wi-Fi:The iPhone 16 has Wi-Fi 7 against Wi-Fi 6 on the iPhone 12, which only pays off with a newer router.

Port:The iPhone 12 has a Lightning (USB 2) and the iPhone 16 USB-C (USB 2, 480Mb/s). Only the iPhone 16 uses USB-C.

Bluetooth:The iPhone 12 has Bluetooth 5.0 and the iPhone 16 Bluetooth 5.3.

5G:Both have the same 5G support.

5G

Yes
Yes

Port

Lightning (USB 2)
USB-C (USB 2, 480Mb/s)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 7

SIM

Nano-SIM + eSIM
Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.3

Our verdict

Buy the iPhone 12 if you want a lighter 162g body. Buy the iPhone 16 if you want the lower launch price and longer OS support until about 2031 (est.).

Buy the iPhone 12 if

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

Buy the iPhone 16 if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want longer OS support until about 2031 (est.)
  • You want Apple Intelligence
Shop from £475.19

FAQs

The iPhone 12 should get OS updates until about 2027 (est.) and the iPhone 16 until about 2031 (est.). That gives the iPhone 16 the longer support window.

Neither has a telephoto lens. Only the iPhone 16 offers a 2x crop from its main sensor.

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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