iPhone 12 vs iPhone 15
Last updated
Specs from Apple.com
Category Scorecard
Size Comparison
Scaled at 1.2px per mm. Nearly identical dimensions, but cases are not compatible — camera modules and notch/island design differ completely across 3 generations.
Full Specifications
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch year | 2020 | 2023 |
| Display | 6.1-inch · OLED · 60Hz | 6.1-inch · OLED · 60Hz |
| Display type | OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2532x1170 | 2556x1179 |
| PPI | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness | 625 nits typical; 1,200 nits peak HDR | 1,000 nits typical; 1,600 nits peak HDR; 2,000 nits peak outdoors |
| HDR display | Yes | Yes |
| True Tone | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | No | No |
| Notch style | Classic notch | Dynamic Island |
| Chip | A14 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | A16 Bionic; 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Main camera | 12MP, f/1.6, OIS | 48MP, f/1.6, OIS |
| Ultrawide camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Telephoto camera | Not published | No dedicated telephoto; 2x optical-quality Telephoto option is enabled by the 48MP Main sensor |
| 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 | USB-C (USB 2, up to 480Mb/s) |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | 147.6 × 71.6 × 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 164 g | 171 g |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Launch price | $799 | $799 |
The 48MP camera and USB-C step from iPhone 12 to iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 is brighter (about 1,000 vs 625 nits typical), moves the main camera from 12 MP to 48 MP, adds about three hours of rated video playback (20 vs 17 hours), and uses the A16 Bionic two generations ahead of the A14. USB-C also replaces Lightning. The iPhone 12 launched in 2020, so check iOS compatibility and battery health on any listing before buying.
Display
The most visible upgrade is brightness: the iPhone 15 hits 1,000 nits of typical brightness versus the iPhone 12's 625 nits — a 60% increase that's easy to see outdoors. On a sunny day the 12's screen can feel washed out where the 15 remains readable. Both are 6.1-inch OLED panels at 460 ppi and 60Hz, so sharpness and smoothness feel identical. The 15 replaces the static rectangular notch with Dynamic Island, turning the front camera area into an active notification space.
Performance
The A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12 was Apple's first 5nm chip and was impressive for its time. The A16 Bionic in the 15 builds on that architecture with a more mature 4nm process, delivering roughly 30% more CPU performance and around 40–50% better GPU performance. For the typical iPhone owner the daily experience is similar — both are fast for messaging, web, and photos. The gap shows in sustained workloads: editing 4K video, processing ProRAW images, or running machine-learning-dependent features. The 15 handles these without thermal throttling; the 12 shows its age under load.
Camera
The iPhone 12's main sensor is 12MP; the 15 upgrades to 48MP — producing four times the raw pixel data. That resolution jump unlocks a 2x optical-quality zoom mode by cropping the center of the sensor, something the 12 cannot do. Side-by-side in daylight, photos from the 15 hold together when you zoom in digitally where the 12's fall apart. In low light the gap is wider — the 15 captures more light per frame and runs better noise-reduction algorithms via the A16's Neural Engine. Both shoot 4K/60fps video and have 12MP ultrawides, but the 15 adds a Camera Control button and produces smoother stabilization across all focal lengths.
Battery
Apple rates the iPhone 15 at 20 hours of video playback versus 17 hours for the 12 — a 3-hour improvement. In mixed use, the 15 should finish a heavy day with more battery remaining. An iPhone 12 used daily since 2020 may have much lower capacity than its launch specification, widening the practical gap. Both phones use a 20W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim (maximum device draw is not published) and both have 15W MagSafe. The 15 also adds satellite emergency SOS, which has no battery cost in normal use.
Design & Build
These phones have nearly identical outer dimensions (146.7×71.5mm vs 147.6×71.6mm) and both use aluminum frames with glass backs rated IP68. In hand they feel almost the same. The practical design differences are: USB-C replacing Lightning on the 15 (the single biggest cable-drawer change), Dynamic Island replacing the notch, and a 7g weight increase (164g vs 171g) on the 15 that's barely perceptible. The iPhone 12 actually has a slight advantage in thickness (7.4mm vs 7.8mm), making it marginally more pocketable. Colors are different between model years but aesthetically the design language is similar.
Value
Both phones launched at $799. Compare live listings rather than relying on a price snapshot. The critical factors beyond price are current iOS compatibility and battery health: the 12 is an older platform, while the 15 has newer hardware. For anyone buying used, the 15 can offer a better overall ownership proposition when the listing gap is reasonable.
Who Should Buy Which: iPhone 15's camera leap versus iPhone 12's value
Keep the iPhone 12 only if…
- It still holds a full day of battery charge and the screen is undamaged
- You're planning a full upgrade to a 17 or newer in the next 12 months anyway
- Budget is extremely tight and the 12 still runs the apps you need
- You want the thinner, lighter body (7.4mm / 164g) for comfort
Get the iPhone 15 if…
- You want a newer hardware baseline and current compatibility to check before buying
- You're tired of a dim screen in sunlight — 1000 vs 625 nits is a real-world difference
- You want the 48MP camera with 2x optical-quality zoom and better low light
- You need USB-C compatibility with your MacBook, iPad, or other devices
Case Compatibility
iPhone 12 and iPhone 15 cases are NOT compatible, despite similar outer dimensions. Three generations of camera module changes mean the lens cutouts won't align, and the Dynamic Island on the 15 replaces the classic notch with a completely different top opening shape. Do not use a 2020 case on a 2023 phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do iPhone 12 cases fit iPhone 15?
No. Despite nearly identical outer dimensions, three generations of camera module evolution mean the lens cutouts are completely misaligned. The Dynamic Island on the 15 also replaces the classic notch with a different shaped top opening. Cases from 2020 will not properly fit or protect a 2023 iPhone 15.
Is the iPhone 15 worth upgrading to from iPhone 12?
Yes, strongly. The 12 is a 2020 phone, so check its current iOS compatibility before buying. The 15 adds a 48MP camera (vs 12MP), USB-C, a 60% brighter display, 3 more hours of battery, two chip generations of performance, and safety features like Crash Detection and satellite SOS that the 12 entirely lacks. If your 12 battery is also degraded after years of use, the gap is even larger.
How much faster is the A16 in iPhone 15 vs the A14 in iPhone 12?
In CPU benchmarks the A16 Bionic in the 15 scores roughly 30% higher than the A14 Bionic in the 12 for multi-core tasks. The GPU gap is larger — approximately 40–50% — which matters most for gaming and video editing. The Neural Engine is also far more capable on the A16, enabling the computational photography improvements that make the 15's 48MP sensor work so much better in difficult lighting.