iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro: A Comprehensive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 14 Pro is the clear winner, boasting a brighter display, significantly faster performance thanks to the A16 Bionic chip, and a slightly better battery life. However, the iPhone 12 Pro remains a compelling option, especially at its reduced price, offering excellent value for users who don't need the absolute latest features.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone 14 Pro | Apple iPhone 12 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2890, A2892 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2341 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2890, A2892 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2341 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2891 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2406 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 07 | 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 16 | Available. Released 2020, October 23 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame | Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 147.5 x 71.5 x 7.9 mm (5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 in) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ceramic Shield glass | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 91.7 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Always-On display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth) | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM |
| NVMe | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | - |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec. | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving) | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update |
| Type | Li-Ion 3200 mAh (12.38 Wh) | Li-Ion 2815 mAh (10.78 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple | Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue |
| Models | A2890, A2650, A2889, A2892, iphone15,2 | A2407, A2341, A2406, A2408, iPhone13,3 |
| Price | $ 395.67 / C$ 693.35 / £ 403.99 / € 492.99 | $ 277.86 / C$ 419.75 / £ 250.00 / € 299.99 |
| SAR | 1.15 W/kg (head) 1.15 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 725.05 |
| 256GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 575.00 |
| 512GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 799.50 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 499.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 86h | Endurance rating 81h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.2 LUFS (Good) | -24.2 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 968412 (v9) GeekBench: 5346 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 596244 (v8) GeekBench: 4056 (v5.1) GFXBench: 58fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
- Brighter Display
- Faster Performance (A16 Bionic)
- Improved Camera System
- Slightly Better Battery Life
- Dynamic Island
- Higher Price
- No significant design change from previous models
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
- Lower Price
- Excellent Camera (still very capable)
- Compact Size
- Solid Performance for Everyday Tasks
- Less Bright Display
- Slower Performance (A14 Bionic)
- Older Design
- Shorter Battery Life compared to 14 Pro
Display Comparison
The iPhone 14 Pro's display shines with a peak brightness of 1791 nits, significantly outperforming the iPhone 12 Pro. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (Infinite, nominal), but the 14 Pro's brightness makes it far more usable outdoors. The 14 Pro also features the Dynamic Island, a unique and interactive display element.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer excellent camera systems, the iPhone 14 Pro has a larger sensor and improved image processing. It excels in low-light conditions and offers features like Cinematic mode and ProRes video recording. The 14 Pro also boasts a 48MP Main camera, a significant upgrade over the 12 Pro's 12MP sensor.
Performance
The A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro delivers a substantial performance boost over the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12 Pro. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved graphics performance. The 14 Pro handles demanding games and applications with ease.
Battery Life
The iPhone 14 Pro provides slightly better battery life, with an endurance rating of 86 hours compared to the iPhone 12 Pro's 81 hours. Both support 15W wireless charging (MagSafe and Qi2), but the 14 Pro benefits from faster wired charging speeds.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the iPhone 14 Pro? Users seeking the best possible camera, a brighter and more vibrant display, and top-tier performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. Who should buy the iPhone 12 Pro? Budget-conscious buyers who still want a premium iPhone experience with a great camera and solid performance for everyday use.