iPhone 12 vs iPhone 14
Last updated
Specs from Apple.com
Category Scorecard
Size Comparison
Scaled at 1.2px per mm. Both phones share identical height and width; the 14 is 0.4mm thicker.
Full Specifications
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch year | 2020 | 2022 |
| Display | 6.1-inch · OLED · 60Hz | 6.1-inch · OLED · 60Hz |
| Display type | OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2532x1170 | 2532x1170 |
| PPI | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness | 625 nits typical; 1,200 nits peak HDR | 800 nits typical; 1,200 nits peak HDR |
| HDR display | Yes | Yes |
| True Tone | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | No | No |
| Notch style | Classic notch | Classic notch |
| Chip | A14 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | A15 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Main camera | 12MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12MP, f/1.5, 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 20 hours |
| Apple fast-charge adapter requirement | 20W-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 | Yes, 15W | Yes, 15W |
| Connector | Lightning | Lightning |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Crash Detection | No | Yes |
| Satellite SOS | No | Yes |
| 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 | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 164 g | 172 g |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Launch price | $799 | $799 |
Crash Detection, satellite, and battery: iPhone 12 versus iPhone 14
The iPhone 14 improves battery life from 17 to 20 hours of video playback, moves from the A14 to the A15 Bionic (with a 5-core GPU), and adds Crash Detection and satellite emergency SOS. The main camera also opens to f/1.5 for slightly better low light. Display specs stay close and both still use Lightning. Choose the iPhone 14 when the current price gap is reasonable; choose the iPhone 12 when saving money outweighs those updates.
Display
Both phones have a 6.1-inch OLED panel at 460 PPI and 60Hz refresh rate. The iPhone 14 edges ahead with 800 nits peak brightness versus 625 nits on the 12, making it more readable in direct sunlight. Neither phone has ProMotion or Always-On Display — those remain exclusive to the Pro lineup. The notch design is identical between the two; Dynamic Island only arrived with the 15 series.
Performance
The iPhone 14 runs the A15 Bionic (the same chip as the 13 Pro) with a 5-core GPU, while the iPhone 12 uses the A14 Bionic with a 4-core GPU. In real-world use, the A15 handles machine learning tasks, video export, and gaming with meaningfully better throughput. The A14 remains capable for many tasks; check current iOS compatibility on both phones before buying.
Camera
Both phones have 12MP main and ultrawide cameras, so resolution is a wash. The meaningful difference is the aperture: the iPhone 14 has a wider f/1.5 main lens versus f/1.6 on the 12, capturing about 12% more light per shot — visible in low-light scenes. The 14 also benefits from Apple's Photonic Engine computational pipeline which debuted with the 14 series, delivering noticeably cleaner shadows and skin tones. Neither phone has a dedicated telephoto lens.
Battery
The iPhone 14 offers 20 hours of video playback versus 17 hours on the iPhone 12 — a 3-hour improvement. In practice this translates to most users getting through a full day with a healthy buffer where the 12 might need a top-up by evening. Both use a 20W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim (maximum device draw is not published) and 15W MagSafe.
Design & Build
Both phones share the exact same footprint — 146.7×71.5mm — but the 14 is 0.4mm thicker (7.8mm vs 7.4mm) and 8g heavier (172g vs 164g). Both use aluminum frames with glass backs and IP68 water resistance. The 12 is fractionally thinner and lighter, but neither difference is perceptible in daily use. The 14 adds Crash Detection and satellite emergency SOS.
Value
Both launched at $799. Compare current used listings with the same storage, condition, battery health, and warranty: the 14’s Crash Detection, satellite SOS, better camera aperture, and three additional hours of rated battery life may justify the actual listing gap. The 12 remains a capable everyday phone, but it lacks those newer safety features.
Who Should Buy Which: safety features or a lower-cost iPhone 12
Buy the iPhone 12 if…
- You find one in good condition at a price that fits a basic daily-phone budget
- You value its slightly thinner, lighter profile (7.4mm, 164g)
- You're a light user: calls, texting, browsing only
- You already own Lightning cables and accessories
Buy the iPhone 14 if…
- You want Crash Detection for driving or active outdoor use
- You travel to areas with limited cell coverage (satellite SOS)
- Battery life matters — 3 extra hours of video per charge
- You want a newer hardware baseline and current compatibility to check before buying
Case Compatibility
iPhone 12 cases will NOT fit iPhone 14. The camera modules differ across these two generations, and the iPhone 14 is 0.4mm thicker with a different camera bump layout. Even though the height and width are identical (146.7×71.5mm), the camera cutout placement will be wrong. Plan to buy new cases when upgrading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest differences between iPhone 12 and iPhone 14?
The iPhone 14 adds Crash Detection, satellite emergency SOS, a faster A15 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU (vs A14 with 4-core on the 12), improved 20-hour battery life (vs 17 hours), and a wider f/1.5 main camera aperture. Both use Lightning — the USB-C switch didn't come until iPhone 15.
Will iPhone 12 cases fit iPhone 14?
No. Although both phones share the exact same height and width (146.7×71.5mm), the camera modules differ between these two generations, and the iPhone 14 is 0.4mm thicker. Camera bump cutouts and side button alignments will be off.
Does the iPhone 14 have a better camera than the iPhone 12?
Yes. The iPhone 14 has a wider f/1.5 aperture main camera (vs f/1.6 on the 12), letting in about 12% more light. Both are 12MP sensors, but the A15 Bionic's Photonic Engine in the 14 also delivers better computational photography results, especially in low light and for natural skin tones.