The iPhone 12 , released in October 2020 , marked a turning point in the iPhone lineup with a flat design inspired by the iPhone 5 , 5G , an OLED screen, and improvements in photo and video.

Here's a full rundown of the iPhone 12's specs:


1. iPhone 12 Specifications

Features Details
πŸ“… Release year October 2020
πŸ“± Screen Super Retina XDR OLED – 6.1 inches (2532 x 1170 pixels, HDR10, Dolby Vision)
πŸ”„ Display frequency 60 Hz
πŸ”‹ Battery 2,815 mAh (up to 17 hours of video playback)
⚑ Top-up MagSafe (15W), Qi (7.5W), wired 20W (50% in 30 min)
πŸš€ Processor A14 Bionic (5nm, 6 cores, 4 core GPU)
πŸŽ₯ Rear camera Dual 12 MP sensor (Wide f/1.6, Ultra Wide f/2.4)
πŸ“Έ Front camera 12 MP (f/2.2) with Night mode and Deep Fusion
🎬 Video 4K up to 60 fps, Dolby Vision HDR, Slo-Mo 240 fps
πŸ“Ά Connectivity 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
πŸ’Ύ Storage 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB
πŸ›  Materials Ceramic Shield glass + aluminum
πŸ“ Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm
βš– Weight 162g (lighter than iPhone 13 and 14)
πŸ’¦ Resistance IP68 (water resistant up to 6m for 30 min)
πŸ”Œ Charging port Lightning

2. Screen: High Quality OLED Technology

The iPhone 12 is the first "classic" iPhone (excluding Pro models) to benefit from a Super Retina XDR OLED screen, offering:

βœ… Excellent image quality with infinite contrast.
βœ… HDR10 and Dolby Vision for a better video experience.
βœ… Max brightness: 625 nits (standard), 1200 nits (HDR).

πŸ“Œ But…
❌ No 120 Hz , unlike the Pro models and the iPhone 13 Pro and 14 Pro.

πŸ’‘ Verdict: A superb screen , but limited to 60 Hz for fluidity.


3. Performance: The A14 Bionic Chip Is Always Fast

The iPhone 12 is equipped with the A14 Bionic chip , engraved in 5 nm , which was at its launch the most powerful on the market .

πŸš€ Advantages of the A14 Bionic:
βœ… Very fast for all tasks (gaming, multitasking, video editing).
βœ… Optimized for iOS 18 and probably up to iOS 20 (2026-2027).
βœ… Good energy management to preserve autonomy.

πŸ“Œ But…
❌ Less powerful than the A15 (iPhone 13) and A16 (iPhone 14).

πŸ’‘ Verdict: The iPhone 12 remains very capable in 2025 , but an iPhone 13 or 14 will be a better choice for longevity.


4. Camera: A Versatile Dual Sensor

The iPhone 12 features a dual 12MP camera , similar to the iPhone 11 but with better software processing .

πŸ“Έ Main features:
βœ… Wide-angle (12 MP, f/1.6) β†’ Brighter than iPhone 11, improves low-light photos.
βœ… Ultra wide-angle (12 MP, f/2.4, 120Β°) β†’ Ideal for landscapes and group photos.
βœ… Night Mode and Deep Fusion for better low-light performance.
βœ… 4K HDR Dolby Vision video , with more dynamic colors.

πŸ“Œ But…
❌ No optical zoom (unlike Pro models).
❌ Night Mode less effective than on iPhone 13 and 14 .

πŸ’‘ Verdict: Very good camera , but less powerful than recent models , especially in Night mode.


5. Autonomy: Sufficient, But Lacking

πŸ”‹ Battery capacity: 2815 mAh
πŸ“Œ Average autonomy:

  • Normal use β†’ Up to 15 hours .
  • Video streaming β†’ About 10-11 hours .
  • Games and intensive use β†’ 5-6 hours .

πŸ“Œ Comparison with other models:

Model Battery Autonomy (typical use)
iPhone 12 2815 mAh 1 day βœ…
iPhone 13 3240 mAh 1.5 days βœ…βœ…
iPhone 14 3,279 mAh 1.5 days βœ…βœ…
iPhone 15 3,349 mAh 1.5 - 2 days βœ…βœ…βœ…

πŸ“Œ Known issue:
❌ Battery that wears out faster than on the following models (lower capacity).

πŸ’‘ Verdict: Decent battery life, but inferior to newer models . A battery replacement may be a good option.


6. Connectivity and Technology

πŸ“‘ Connectivity:
βœ… 5G (first compatible iPhone).
βœ… Wi-Fi 6 for a faster connection.
βœ… Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC for Apple Pay and accessories.

πŸ”Œ Top-up:
βœ… 20W fast charge (50% in 30 min) .
βœ… MagSafe (15W) and Qi (7.5W) wireless charging .

πŸ“Œ But…
❌ No USB-C β†’ Always Lightning.
❌ No Wi-Fi 6E or Bluetooth 5.3 (present on recent models).

πŸ’‘ Verdict: Still very modern , but Lightning is starting to look outdated .


7. Conclusion: Is the iPhone 12 Still Interesting in 2025?

πŸ”Ή Screen β†’ βœ… Excellent OLED, but limited to 60 Hz .
πŸ”Ή Performance β†’ βœ… A14 Bionic still fast, but inferior to newer models .
πŸ”Ή Photo β†’ βœ… Good, but not at the level of the iPhone 13/14/15 .
πŸ”Ή Battery life β†’ ❌ Lower than iPhone 13, 14 and 15 .
πŸ”Ή Charging port β†’ ❌ Always Lightning (no USB-C) .

πŸ₯‡ Final Verdict: The iPhone 12 is still a good choice in 2025, but…

βœ… If you find it in good condition and at a price below €350, it is a decent option.
❌ If you want better battery life and an improved camera, the iPhone 13 or 14 is a better choice.

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