Head to head · October 2026
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17
iPhone 17 is 2.9 mm taller and 13 g heavier than iPhone 12, with a 0.2″ bigger screen and 13 more hours of video.
Pick iPhone 12 for
- Light in the pocket
- Slim and sleek
No longer sold new
Pick iPhone 17 for
- Big-screen viewing
- Battery first
- Smooth scrolling
- Keeping it for years
From $899
Our verdict
Which one should you buy?
Choose iPhone 12 if…
- weight matters: it is 13 g lighter.
- you like a slim phone: 7.4 mm thin.
Choose iPhone 17 if…
- you want the bigger screen: 6.3″ against 6.1″.
- battery life comes first: up to 30 hours of video against 17.
- you notice smooth scrolling: its 120 Hz ProMotion display refreshes twice as often.
- you keep phones for years: the newer A19 chip will get software updates for longer.
Side by side
Next to each other, to scale.
Screen size
6.1″ vs 6.3″
iPhone 17 has the bigger screen: 6.3 inches against 6.1 inches on iPhone 12, about 6% more glass (97.2 cm² against 91.4 cm²). iPhone 17 shows 2622 × 1206 pixels at 460 ppi and iPhone 12 2532 × 1170 at 460 ppi; iPhone 17 also refreshes at 120 Hz against 60 Hz.
| Screen | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | 6.1″ | 6.3″ |
| Approx. area | 91.4 cm² | 97.2 cm² |
| Resolution | 2532 × 1170 | 2622 × 1206 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
Price
— vs $899
Apple no longer sells iPhone 12 new; iPhone 17 starts at $899 at Apple in the US. Refurbished and second-hand prices vary by condition and storage.
| Storage | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | — | $899 · $3.51/GB |
| 512 GB | — | $1,099 · $2.15/GB |
Full specifications
Every figure, side by side.
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 2020 | 2025 |
| Apple sells it new | No | Yes, from $899 |
| Height | 146.7 mm | 149.6 mm |
| Width | 71.5 mm | 71.5 mm |
| Thickness | 7.4 mm | 7.95 mm |
| Weight | 164 g | 177 g |
| Display | 6.1″ | 6.3″ |
| Resolution | 2532 × 1170 at 460 ppi | 2622 × 1206 at 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz ProMotion |
| Top of screen | Notch | Dynamic Island |
| Unlock | Face ID | Face ID |
| Chip | A14 Bionic | A19 |
| Rear cameras | Dual 12MP | Dual 48MP |
| Video playback | Up to 17 h | Up to 30 h |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| US price by storage | Not sold new | 256 GB $899 ($3.51/GB) · 512 GB $1,099 ($2.15/GB) |
| Colors | 6: Black, White, (PRODUCT)RED, Green, Blue, Purple | 5: Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender |
Sources: Apple technical specifications for iPhone 12 and iPhone 17; US prices from apple.com, checked October 2026. Apple does not publish RAM; it comes from Apple's Xcode device data as reported by MacRumors, or Wikipedia's list of iPhone models for older phones.
What reviewers say
12 or 17?
Their conclusions, in our words. Follow the links for the full reviews.
CNET · Apr 2026
For everyday use you likely won't feel a huge difference; the 17's gains are a 48MP ultrawide, an 18MP Center Stage selfie camera and a brighter screen.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Should You Upgrade? ↗GSMArena · Dec 2025
The iPhone 17 is close enough for most people (same 120 Hz screen, ultrawide and selfie cameras, lighter body); the Pro still earns its price with the 4x telephoto, faster chip and pro video features.
Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro ↗Macworld · Oct 2025
If you already own an iPhone 16 you can keep it, but if you're upgrading from something older there is no reason to choose the 16 over the 17.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: The differences are astonishing ↗PCMag · Sep 2025
The iPhone 17 wins on display (120 Hz, brighter), cameras and battery; the 16 only wins on price, and it starts with half the storage.
Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: The Choice Is Clear ↗
More reviewer perspectives (1)
How-To Geek · Sep 2025
A head-versus-heart call: the base iPhone 17 is no longer an entry-level compromise, while the 17 Pro adds sustained performance and better cooling.
Torn Between the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro? Here's How to Choose ↗
FAQ
Questions people ask
- Is iPhone 17 bigger than iPhone 12?
- iPhone 17 measures 149.6 × 71.5 × 7.95 mm and iPhone 12 measures 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm, so iPhone 17 is 2.9 mm taller and the same width.
- Will an iPhone 12 case fit iPhone 17?
- No. The bodies differ by 2.9 mm in height, 0 mm in width and 0.55 mm in thickness, and cases are cut to within a fraction of a millimetre. Buy a case made for your exact model.
- Which has better battery life, iPhone 12 or iPhone 17?
- iPhone 17. Apple rates it for up to 30 hours of video playback against 17 hours for iPhone 12.
- Is the iPhone 17 screen bigger than iPhone 12?
- iPhone 17 has the bigger screen: 6.3 inches against 6.1 inches on iPhone 12, about 6% more glass (97.2 cm² against 91.4 cm²). iPhone 17 shows 2622 × 1206 pixels at 460 ppi and iPhone 12 2532 × 1170 at 460 ppi; iPhone 17 also refreshes at 120 Hz against 60 Hz.
- Which is lighter?
- iPhone 12 weighs 164 g, 13 g less than iPhone 17 (177 g).
- Can I still buy iPhone 12 new from Apple?
- No. Apple no longer sells iPhone 12 new; you will find it refurbished or second-hand.
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