Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro

Our Verdict: Comparing Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone 15 Pro, the choice mostly comes down to display quality versus portability. The 15 Pro gives you its LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, a higher-resolution 48MP rear camera, and a larger 3,274 mAh battery, while the 12 is more appealing for its Super Retina XDR OLED panel and a lighter 164g body. A bigger mAh figure is useful context, but real battery life still depends on software and chipset efficiency. Choose the 15 Pro for display quality; choose the 12 if portability matters more.

Over a full contract, the 12 works out around £520 all-in, about £119 less than the 15 Pro 5G.

Expert Rating
4.3
18 reviews
4.3
12 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.1"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
1170 x 2532 1179 x 2556
Pixels Per Inch
457 461
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A14 Bionic Apple A17 Pro
Battery
2,815 mAh 3,274 mAh
Storage
64GB, 128GB, 256GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
iOS 14.1 Apple iOS
SIM Type
Standard SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3 mm
Weight
164 grams 187 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts
£19.00/mo (£9.00 upfront) £18.00/mo (£20.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£144.99 £399.99
Apple iPhone 12 Apple iPhone 12 Apple iPhone 15 Pro Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Expert Rating 4.3
18 reviews
4.3
12 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.1"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution 1170 x 2532 1179 x 2556
Pixels Per Inch 457 461
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic Apple A17 Pro
Battery 2,815 mAh 3,274 mAh
Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS iOS 14.1 Apple iOS
SIM Type Standard SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3 mm
Weight 164 grams 187 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts £19.00/mo
£9.00 upfront
£18.00/mo
£20.00 upfront
SIM-free £144.99 £399.99
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 12
Apple iPhone 12

24 Months

64GB

Black

100GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£19 a month, £9 upfront.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Apple iPhone 15 Pro

24 Months

128GB

Black Titanium

Refurbished

1GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£18 a month, £20 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 12 or Apple iPhone 15 Pro cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 12 is cheaper on contract at £520.00 over the life of the deal from £19.00 per month with £9.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 12 or Apple iPhone 15 Pro?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.1", both screens are similarly sharp at around 457 pixels per inch, and the Apple iPhone 12 uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Apple iPhone 15 Pro has a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 12 or Apple iPhone 15 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 12 features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Apple iPhone 15 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 or Apple iPhone 15 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 12 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £144.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone 15 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 12 is available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, while the Apple iPhone 15 Pro comes in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone 15 Pro use?

The Apple iPhone 12 is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic, while the Apple iPhone 15 Pro uses the Apple A17 Pro .

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 12 or Apple iPhone 15 Pro?

It's a trade-off: the Apple iPhone 12 is lighter but the Apple iPhone 15 Pro is more compact. It's 23g lighter at 164 grams, though the Apple iPhone 15 Pro is actually the more compact phone at 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3 mm, the Apple iPhone 12 is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 12 or Apple iPhone 15 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 and Apple iPhone 15 Pro run?

The Apple iPhone 12 runs iOS 14.1 and the Apple iPhone 15 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.