Has the sheen worn off your iPhone 12? It's a few years old now, so it's understandable that you might be ready to upgrade.
The announcement of a new iPhone is always a key reason to consider a new handset, so in this guide, we'll take a look at how the new iPhone 15 compares to your old iPhone 12. A new iPhone is always going to be better, but it's important to know how much of an improvement you can expect.
Note that we're specifically looking at the standard iPhone 15 here, not the iPhone 15 Pro.
To start, here's how the iPhone 12 and new iPhone 15 compare in terms of specs:
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch LCD | 6.1-inch OLED |
| Resolution | Liquid Retina HD with 60Hz | Super Retina XDR with 60Hz |
| Rear Cameras | 2x 12MP | 48MP + 12MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Processor | A14 | A16 |
| Storage | 64GB - 256GB | 128GB - 512GB |
| Water resistance | IP68 - Up to 2m depth |
IP68 - Up to 6m depth |
| Network | 5G |
5G |
| Charging Port | Lightning | USB-C |
| Price | No longer available | From $1,499 |
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 15: Price
If you're reading this, you're probably thinking about upgrading your iPhone 12 to an iPhone 15, rather than looking at buying an iPhone 12. Hopefully, that's the case, because Apple has discontinued the iPhone 12, so it will be increasingly hard to find unless you're looking for a refurbished model.
If you're looking at buying an iPhone 15, here's what you'll pay outright for each model:
- iPhone 15 (128GB): from $1,499
- iPhone 15 Plus (128GB): from $1,649
- iPhone 15 Pro (128GB): from $1,849
- iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB): from $2,199
Going for a larger storage model will naturally make the device more expensive. Here are the complete options for the standard iPhone 15:
- iPhone 15 (128GB): $1,499
- iPhone 15 (256GB): $1,599
- iPhone 15 (512GB): $2,049
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 15: Camera
Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 15 have two cameras on the back, but you're getting a much more versatile camera system with the iPhone 15.
The iPhone 12 had a 12MP primary lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 has a 48MP primary lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The iPhone 15 will flat-out take better photos in any situation.
In addition to performing better, the 48MP primary lens gives you a bit more versatility. While the iPhone 15 doesn't have a zoom lens, it has a 2x optical zoom mode that will get you a 12MP thanks to the larger sensor.
The iPhone 15 also has some new camera software tricks, like the ability to make photos portraits after you've taken them.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 15: Connectivity
The iPhone 15's biggest change is arguably the move to USB-C. Instead of using Apple's proprietary Lighting connector, the iPhone 15 now charges using a USB-C cable, like almost every other modern bit of tech.
While that's sure to be a welcome convenience for many, you may need to buy some new cables if you're not already using many other USB-C devices. You will however get a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box.
You'll also be able to use any MagSafe charging accessories you got with your iPhone 12.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 15 both support 5G.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 15: Design
An iPhone may be an iPhone, but the iPhone 12 and iPhone 15 have a slightly different vibe. The iPhone 12's squared-off angular appearance has been rounded off a little, which should make it a bit nicer in the hand without a case.
In addition, the iPhone 15 features a matte back, instead of the glossy back on the iPhone 12. At a minimum, the matte back should hide fingerprints better.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 15: Display
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 15 both have a 6.1-inch display, but there's one big difference. While both have OLED panels and Ceramic Shield protection, the iPhone 15 swaps out the notch for a Dynamic Island.
First introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro, the Dynamic Island is a persistent UI element that foregrounds background tasks. Active timers, navigation, or what you're listening to, for example. You can then use the Dynamic Island as a quick shortcut back into the relevant app, or long-press it for quick access to extra information.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 15: Performance
Powered by an A16 processor, the iPhone 15 will naturally be faster than the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 is powered by an A14 processor, which is two generations older than the chipset in the iPhone 15.
The iPhone 12 was no slouch, but you should notice faster performance on the iPhone 15 when it comes to more demanding apps like games and creative tools.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 15: Battery
We haven't tested the iPhone 15 battery yet, but it should last longer than the iPhone 12. Apple rates the iPhone 15 for 20 hours of video playback and the iPhone 12 for 17 hours.
The iPhone 15 battery is identical to the iPhone 14 battery on paper, which we found lasted for between five and six hours of screen time per charge. In real-world terms, that's a full day with a comfortable buffer. When we tested the iPhone 12 when it first came out, we were only getting about 4.5 hours of screen time per charge, which was enough to get through a full day, but barely.
As such, the iPhone 15 should be a bit of an improvement, battery-wise. The improvement in battery life could be even more significant if your iPhone 12 is a few years old. Batteries degrade over time, so if you've had yours since launch, it's definitely lost some of its maximum capacity.
Alex Choros
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