The iPhone 12: Still a Great Choice in 2024?
Hello everyone!
I think we've all been there at some point - wondering if our smartphone is still relevant and whether it's time to upgrade to a newer model. Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on the iPhone 12, which I've been using for around three years now, and whether it's worth swapping for a newer model or if it's still worth buying in 2024 if you don't have one yet.
iPhone 12
Unboxing and Design
The iPhone comes in sleek, thin white cardboard boxes with a printed image of the phone's front panel on the lid. The side of the box features a colorful iPhone logo that matches the color of the phone's back panel.
My collection of Apple boxes gathered over four years
Inside the box, you'll find the phone itself, a Lightning to USB Type-C cable, and instructions in multiple languages, along with a SIM card ejector.
What's in the box?
Notice that the power adapter isn't included - you'll have to buy it separately. I miss the good old days when earbuds and a charger came bundled with your smartphone. But, I guess the manufacturer thinks cables and paper clips are enough. The contents we deserve.
Power adapter
I bought the original power adapter straight away, and I've been using it to charge my second phone - an iPhone 13, which, coincidentally, also comes without a charger.
It charges super quickly - from almost flat to 50% in under 30 minutes or less, and to 100% in an hour or a bit more.
Design
Design has improved with the iPhone 12 series - in my opinion, it's a step up from previous models. It's almost identical to the design of the old iPhone 5, but with a modern twist. They took the best bits from the past and brought them forward.
Compared to the iPhone 12 and some of its successors, this one looks sleeker and more stylish: flat matte edges, a glossy glass back. The colors are interesting too. I've got the green one.
Battery Capacity
Battery capacity is 2815 mAh, and for the first year and a half, a full charge would last me the whole day without gaming, but with video watching. Now, the battery usually makes it till evening, but if I'm watching video clips, I need to recharge in the middle of the day.
Unlocking
Unlocking is lightning-fast thanks to Face ID, and I'm obsessed with this feature after using iPhones. My tablet doesn't have Face ID, and I find myself waiting for the screen to unlock, only to remember I need to tap the button.
Internal Storage
Internal storage is 64GB, and I wish I had gotten more. I've filled up my storage with files, apps, and photos in less than six months, and now I'm constantly expanding my iCloud storage, which isn't free.
The Camera
The camera has just three lenses: a standard wide-angle (f/1.6), a super-wide-angle (f/2.4), and a front-facing (f/2.2) camera, all with 12MP resolution.
I'll be honest, this camera has been a game-changer for me. Before switching to iOS, I'd often reach for a mirror to take a decent photo. Now, my mirror is collecting dust, and I'm using my phone for almost every photo opportunity.
In fact, I even use it to take photos for reviews like this one - check it out:
Photo for review 1Photo for review 3Photo for review 2
It's amazing how crisp and vibrant the photos turn out, often without needing any editing - all I need to do is crop the excess. I'm no pro photographer, and I'm even more lazy, so I won't complain about it.
Durability
The manufacturer claims that iPhone 12 is four times more resistant to drops and impacts due to the Ceramic Shield glass compared to previous iPhone generations.
I'm happy to believe it. Here's my iPhone XR after two minor drops onto the pavement:
iPhone XR after a few drops on the asphalt
Now, the most disappointing consequences were after the tile - at the bottom of the rear panel, right at the edge, several small but picture-ruining cracks formed, along with a dent.
Cracks on the rear glass after falling on tile
Other numerous dents and scratches on the screen are a result of falling on asphalt, and the laminate/parquet is just a joke, regular household exercises.
Scratches and dents after falling on asphaltDents from falls
Let me tell you, after putting this smartphone through its paces, I'm impressed with how well it withstood the rigors of life - including a few accidental drops onto the asphalt.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should go around tossing it around like a hot potato, but if it does slip out of your hands, there's a good chance it'll survive with just a few minor scratches and dents.
Should You Upgrade or Buy the iPhone 12?
Now, I want to tackle two topics that are on my mind:
Is it worth upgrading from the 12th model to, say, the 14th or 15th, assuming your 12 is still in good working condition?Should you consider the iPhone 12 when buying a new smartphone?
If I had to give a quick answer, here's the short version:
No need to upgrade (yet)
No, if you're not planning on doing any serious video editing or graphics work on your phone;No, take a look at the iPhone 13 instead.
But I'll give you a bit more context.
Okay, let's get one thing out of the way. My thoughts on this are probably skewed towards people with similar needs and expectations when it comes to electronic devices. I'm not one to buy into the idea that last year's iPhone becomes obsolete as soon as the new one comes out, simply because it scored a few points lower in some benchmark test.
I'm more about making rational decisions and not upgrading just because marketers are trying to convince us we need the latest and greatest.
Is the iPhone 12 Still Worth It?
So, on to the good stuff. The iPhone 12 uses the A14 Bionic chip, which is capable of performing up to 11 trillion operations per second - one of the top processors at the time (2020).
Of course, tech has moved on since then, and modern chips have way more processing power, but do you really need all that power for everyday tasks like messaging, social media, phone calls, and browsing the web?
If you're using your phone for some resource-intensive tasks, I get it. But for most people, the difference in performance will be barely noticeable.
And another thing. The iPhone 12 will get its last major iOS update (iOS 20) in 2025, with smaller updates coming up to 2026 (I even saw some info that said 2027, but I'm not sure about that).
But even when Apple stops supporting the iPhone, it's not a death sentence: there are plenty of examples of iPhones still going strong years after their official end-of-life.
To be honest, I'm pretty happy with my 12th-generation iPhone as my primary phone, so I'm not planning to upgrade anytime soon - unless I break it or get it as a gift from someone with deep pockets.
That being said, if you're considering buying the 12th-generation iPhone, I'd recommend taking a look at the iPhone 13 instead: it's got slightly better specs, a few features that make it stand out from the 12, and it's not that much more expensive.
Plus, it'll be supported for another year.
That's all from me for now! If you want to check out my other Apple product reviews, you can see them here.