iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12
Last updated
Specs from Apple.com
Category Scorecard
Size Comparison
Scaled at 1.2px per mm. iPhone 12 is 4.2mm shorter and 4.2mm narrower. Completely different form factor — no shared cases.
Full Specifications
| Specification | iPhone 11 | iPhone 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch year | 2019 | 2020 |
| Display | 6.1-inch · LCD · 60Hz | 6.1-inch · OLED · 60Hz |
| Display type | LCD | OLED |
| Resolution | 1792x828 | 2532x1170 |
| PPI | 326 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness | 625 nits typical | 625 nits typical; 1,200 nits peak HDR |
| HDR display | No | Yes |
| True Tone | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | No | No |
| Notch style | Classic notch | Classic notch |
| Chip | A13 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 8-core Neural Engine | A14 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Main camera | 12MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12MP, f/1.6, OIS |
| Ultrawide camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Telephoto camera | Not published | Not published |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Video max | 4K/60fps | 4K/60fps |
| Battery (video) | Up to 17 hours | Up to 17 hours |
| Apple fast-charge adapter requirement | 18W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim; maximum device draw not published | 20W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim; maximum device draw not published |
| MagSafe charging | No | Yes, 15W |
| Connector | Lightning | Lightning |
| 5G | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Crash Detection | No | No |
| Satellite SOS | No | No |
| Dynamic Island | No | No |
| Camera Control | No | No |
| Action Button | No | No |
| Night Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Intelligence | No | No |
| Apple lineup status | No longer sold by Apple, checked 2026-09-14 | No longer sold by Apple, checked 2026-09-14 |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID |
| Frame / back | aluminum / glass | aluminum / glass |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 × 75.7 × 8.3 mm | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 194 g | 164 g |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Launch price | $699 | $799 |
OLED, 5G, and the size break from iPhone 11 to iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 moves from LCD to OLED, drops about 30 g with the flat-edge aluminum body, and uses the A14 Bionic instead of the iPhone 11's A13. Both are rated for 17 hours of video playback, while 5G use can increase power draw. Choose the iPhone 12 when its OLED display, 5G, and lighter body justify the current price gap.
Display
The display is the main difference between these phones. The iPhone 11 uses LCD — it's a good LCD, but it has a backlight and cannot produce true blacks. The iPhone 12 uses OLED, which turns individual pixels completely off for black areas, producing deeper contrast, more saturated colors, and a screen that looks markedly better in dim rooms. The iPhone 12 also jumps from 326 ppi to 460 ppi, which makes text, photo detail, and icons noticeably sharper at normal reading distance.
Performance
The iPhone 12's A14 Bionic was Apple's first 5-nanometer chip, a meaningful jump from the 11's A13. The A14 is faster in CPU and GPU tasks and uses less power doing the same work, which is partly why the 12 handles 5G connectivity without the battery collapsing. For everyday use both phones remain smooth, but the 12 has newer hardware and handles machine learning tasks (like Real-Time text recognition) faster. The A13 in the 11 is still capable but is two generations further from Apple's current architecture.
Camera
Both phones have a 12MP main + 12MP ultrawide dual-camera setup. The iPhone 12's main aperture widens from f/1.8 to f/1.6, letting in more light for better low-light shots. Apple also improved Night Mode and Smart HDR on the 12. The front camera resolution is the same at 12MP. Neither has a telephoto. The practical difference is noticeable in mixed and low light — indoor event shots, dimly lit restaurant photos — but during the day the two cameras are close. The 12's video benefits from Dolby Vision HDR recording, which the 11 doesn't support.
Battery
Both phones are rated at 17 hours of video playback, so they're technically tied on paper. In practice, the 12 can drain faster in areas with strong 5G coverage because millimeter-wave 5G is power-hungry. If you're in a 5G-dense city and your 12 frequently connects to mmWave, you may notice more battery drain than an 11 on LTE. Sub-6GHz 5G (the more common variety) is much less of a drain issue. The 12 uses a 20W-or-higher adapter versus 18W-or-higher on the 11 for Apple's fast-charge claim; maximum device draw is not published.
Design & Build
The iPhone 12 changes the design from the 11's rounded edges to flat-sided aluminum, adds Ceramic Shield glass on the front, and drops 30g to 164g (down from 194g on the 11). It's also smaller in footprint: 4.2mm shorter and 4.2mm narrower despite having the same screen size — the OLED panel is more efficient. The 12 also introduced MagSafe, the magnetic wireless charging and accessory ecosystem that every iPhone since has used. There is zero case compatibility between these two phones.
Value
The 11 launched at $699, $100 less than the 12's $799. Today both are well off those prices in the used and refurbished market. The 12's OLED display and design advantages make it the better phone in almost every measurable way, and if prices are close, the 12 is worth the premium. However, the 11 can still be reasonable for basic use if its current compatibility, battery health, and price meet your needs.
Who Should Buy Which: iPhone 11's battery versus iPhone 12's OLED
Buy the iPhone 11 if…
- You find one in good condition at a low enough used price and just need a functional Face ID phone
- You live in an LTE-only area and 5G is not relevant to your daily use
- You're buying a first phone for a young kid who won't care about OLED quality
- Durability is your primary concern — the rounded edges handle drops slightly better
Buy the iPhone 12 if…
- You watch a lot of video and want deeper blacks and higher contrast on your screen
- You care about how sharp text and photos look — 460 ppi vs 326 ppi is a meaningful jump
- You want a lighter phone — 30g less is noticeable after a day of holding it
- You want to use MagSafe accessories like snap-on wallets or magnetic chargers
Case Compatibility
iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 cases are NOT compatible. The iPhone 12 changed to flat edges and a different form factor, with dimensions 4.2mm shorter, 4.2mm narrower, and 0.9mm thinner. No iPhone 11 case will fit an iPhone 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do iPhone 11 cases fit iPhone 12?
No. The iPhone 12 has a completely different form factor — flat edges instead of rounded, and the dimensions are 4.2mm shorter and 4.2mm narrower. The camera arrangement also changed. Cases are entirely incompatible.
Is the iPhone 12 display noticeably better than iPhone 11?
Yes. The 12 uses OLED (true blacks, high contrast, vivid colors) while the 11 uses LCD (backlit, can't produce true black). The 12 is sharper at 460 ppi versus 326 ppi on the 11. If you put both phones side by side with the same photo, the difference is easy to see.
Is 5G on iPhone 12 worth upgrading from iPhone 11 for?
5G alone is not a compelling upgrade reason. For most people's actual usage — streaming, social media, maps — LTE is sufficient and the speed difference over real networks is marginal. The OLED display, lighter design, and MagSafe are better reasons to choose the 12. But if 5G coverage is dense in your area and you use mobile data heavily, having it is a nice extra.