Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Our Verdict: Comparing Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Apple iPhone 17 Pro, the choice mostly comes down to display quality versus portability. The 17 Pro gives you its LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, a higher-resolution 48MP rear camera, and a higher-resolution 18MP front camera, while the 12 Pro is more appealing for its Super Retina XDR OLED panel and a lighter 189g body. A bigger mAh figure is useful context, but real battery life still depends on software and chipset efficiency. Choose the 17 Pro for display quality; choose the 12 Pro if portability matters more.

Buying outright, the 12 Pro starts at £180 SIM-free.

Release Date
23 October 2020 19 September 2025
Expert Rating
4.3
19 reviews
4.5
15 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.3"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
1170 x 2532 1206 x 2622
Pixels Per Inch
457 458
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Apple A19 Pro
Battery
2,815 mAh 3,988 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
iOS 14.1 Apple iOS
SIM Type
Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm
Weight
189 grams 206 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts
- £11.95/mo (£769.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£179.99 £787.00
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Apple iPhone 12 Pro Apple iPhone 17 Pro Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Release Date 23 October 2020 19 September 2025
Expert Rating 4.3
19 reviews
4.5
15 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.3"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution 1170 x 2532 1206 x 2622
Pixels Per Inch 457 458
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Apple A19 Pro
Battery 2,815 mAh 3,988 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS iOS 14.1 Apple iOS
SIM Type Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm
Weight 189 grams 206 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts - £11.95/mo
£769.00 upfront
SIM-free £179.99 £787.00
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Apple iPhone 12 Pro

128GB

Graphite

Refurbished

From £179.99

Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

24 Months

256GB

Cosmic Orange

15GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£11.95 a month, £769 upfront.

No mid-contract price increases.

Use code: 30JNOFF (£30 off)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro has the bigger screen at 6.3" compared to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro's 6.1", both screens are similarly sharp at around 457 pixels per inch, and the Apple iPhone 12 Pro uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro has a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro has a 48 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £179.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Apple iPhone 17 Pro use?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm), while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro uses the Apple A19 Pro.

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is the more portable of the two: it's 17g lighter at 189 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm, and is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

Both phones share the same water resistance rating of IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Apple iPhone 17 Pro run?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro runs iOS 14.1 and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro runs Apple iOS. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.