Our Verdict
Both iPhones are solid, with great build quality, design, and excellent cameras. However, the iPhone 14 wins the race with its faster processor, longer battery life, and better camera modes. If the iPhone 12 came with 128GB as the baseline we’d recommend that, but as it doesn’t, the 14 seems the better overall deal.
Price after Reviewed
iPhone 14: $799 (128GB) | $899 (256GB) | $1,099 (512GB)
2GB $749 | 128GB $749 | 256GB $749
iPhone 14 at the Best Price
$799
$799.99
The iPhone 14 has become the standard iPhone. This is despite the fact that it does not have the pro-level camera and the numerous currency units. Because it is a balanced combination of price, features, performance and cost, it’s often called the best iPhone for ordinary people. Apple has maintained the iPhone 12 in its current catalog, so consumers have the option to purchase the standard bearer of two years ago if it is more affordable. Is this a smart choice or should you choose the new model instead? Here’s our comparison of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 12.
Compare the designs
Apple updated the iPhone with the 12 series. The rounded design of iPhone X, XS and XR was replaced by squarer edges, which hark back to the golden age iPhone 5 and the first SE. This design aesthetic is still present on the iPhone 13 as well as the iPhone 13. iPhone 14.
These dimensions will show you how similar they are to one another:
- iPhone 14: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.80mm; 172g
- iPhone 12: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.4mm; 162g
As you can see, they’re practically identical, except that the iPhone 12It is slightly slimmer and lighter.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
At first glance you won’t really notice a difference, at least from the front. Both display a 6.1 inch screen, both with Lightning port, glass back and a twin rear camera array.
This is one way to distinguish the models, since the iPhone 12 has two lenses placed in a vertical line while the iPhone 14 lenses are placed diagonally. There are many color options available. While the 12 features exclusive colors of blue and purple, the 14 has other colors, including black, white, and (PRODUCT] Red.
Both devices are certified with an IP68 rating, so they’ll fare equally well if dropped in the bath, plus there’s 5G support available for faster mobile network speeds.
Are they any different?
The displays of the iPhone 12 and 14 look almost identical at first glance. Both have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel. They are protected by Ceramic Shield material, which Apple claims is the strongest glass on any smartphone. You’ll also find 2532×1170 (460ppi) resolutions, 2,000,000:1 contrast ratios, True Tone, Wide Color Display (P3) and a peak HDR brightness of 1,200 nits.
But there’s one important difference: The iPhone 14 has a maximum (typical) brightness of 800 nits whereas the iPhone 12 only goes to 625 nits. Although this may sound complicated, it is simple to see that the iPhone 14 is brighter than its predecessor, the iPhone 12.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The iPhone 14 is also available in a larger version, the iPhone 14 PlusIf you are looking for a bigger display, the OLED panel of that model’s 6.7-inch is a good option.
How does the camera compare?
Apple regularly adds features to the iPhone each year to improve its camera. iPhones are known for their amazing cameras. While they have many similarities in specs, the iPhone 14 is clearly the better option when it comes to optics.
Due to its dual 12MP rear cameras, which are composed of f/1.6 (Main), and f/2.4(Ultra Wide), the iPhone 12 offers a good range of photo and video capabilities. These lenses have optical image stabilization that eliminates shakes and combine to give a 2x optical zoom. The Smart HDR 3 capabilities along with Night and Portrait modes make for some stunning photos. The video can be recorded at 4K/60fps and HDR video at 4K/30fps. This is a great set of skills that can be used by budding iPhoneographers.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
These improvements are outweighed by the iPhone 14’s upgrades, which include a faster main lens at f/1.5, sensor-shift stability for smoother video and the Photonic Engine, which improves details and color balance in Night mode.
Apple has also added Smart HDR 4 to photos and Cinematic mode to video. This allows for a movie-like shallow depth of field when you focus. There’s also the new Action mode which can keep video steady even when you’re moving at pace.
There’s also an upgrade to the front camera, with the iPhone 14 coming with a faster f/1.9 12MP TrueDepth camera (besting the f/2.2 one in the 12), plus the same improvements to Smart HDR, Cinematic modes, HDR video recording and the inclusion of the Photonic Engine.
While the iPhone 12 is great for taking photos and video, the iPhone 14 is just as good.
What about processors, storage, and management?
Despite being two years apart, each device has a different processor generation. In the iPhone 12 you’ll find the A14 Bionic, while the iPhone 14 comes with an A15 Bionic. The only caveat is that the chip in iPhone 14 has an additional GPU core and is the modified one found in iPhone 13 Pro models. Both are pretty damn fast, so unless you’re a hardcore gamer, you probably won’t notice too much difference.
Storage does mark a change in approach. The entry-level iPhone 14 has 128GB of storage, while the iPhone 12’s base model comes with a mere 64GB. The former isn’t a great choice in the modern world where that 4K video capability could have you filling up the space in no time at all (presuming you shoot lots of video). There are ways to upgrade to higher capacities, but it comes at a cost.
Here’s the configurations on offer:
- iPhone 14: 128GB 256GB and 512GB
- iPhone 12: 64GB, 128GB & 256GB
Do you have any other special features?
You should be aware of two things. Apple claims that the iPhone 14’s battery life is three times longer than the iPhone 12 which is quite significant. The newer model also has the new Crash Detection feature which can detect severe car accidents and automatically contact the emergency services if you’re unresponsive. One will keep your phone charged longer, while the other may do the exact same for you.
Apple
What about the cost?
Price is one of the major reasons you should consider the older model. With that in mind, here’s how the two models compare:
iPhone 14:
- 128GB: $799/£849/€1,019
- 256GB: $899/£959/€1,149
- 512GB: $1,099/£1,179/€1,409
iPhone 12:
- 64GB: $599/£649/€809
- 128GB: $649/£699/€859
- 256GB: $749/£809/€979
Verdict
The iPhone 12 is still a strong device even after two years. The camera system is capable of capturing great photos and videos, while the A14 Bionic chip means that you shouldn’t be lacking performance or software upgrades for a few years to come. The price difference isn’t quite a big as we think it should be, however, mainly hampered by the stingy 64GB Apple continues to offer. With this in mind, an iPhone 14 costs more but is worth the extra money. You get better cameras, cinematic mode and the new Photonic Engine. Plus, it has a longer battery life and a brighter display that make it look like a device that will age well.
