Apple iPhone 12 vs Motorola Moto G 86

Our verdict: Over a typical contract, expect to pay £11.69 less with the Apple iPhone 12 than the Motorola Moto G 86. It's a split on display: the Motorola Moto G 86 has the bigger 6.7" panel, but the Apple iPhone 12 is denser at 457 PPI. If the camera matters most, the Motorola Moto G 86 has the edge at 50MP. Front-camera quality goes to the Motorola Moto G 86 at 32MP.

Screen
6.1" 6.67"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED P-OLED
Resolution
1170 x 2532 1220 x 2712
Pixels Per Inch
457 446
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 32 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A14 Bionic Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm)
Storage
64GB, 128GB, 256GB 256GB, 512GB
OS
iOS 14.1 Android 15
SIM Type
Standard SIM nano-SIM and e-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/6
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 161.2 x 74.7 x 7.8 mm
Weight
164 grams 185 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts
£11.95/mo (£69.00 upfront) £8.99/mo (£99.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£129.99 £217.00
Apple iPhone 12 Apple iPhone 12 Motorola Moto G 86 Motorola Moto G 86
Screen 6.1" 6.67"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED P-OLED
Resolution 1170 x 2532 1220 x 2712
Pixels Per Inch 457 446
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 32 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm)
Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB 256GB, 512GB
OS iOS 14.1 Android 15
SIM Type Standard SIM nano-SIM and e-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/6
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 161.2 x 74.7 x 7.8 mm
Weight 164 grams 185 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts £11.95/mo
£69.00 upfront
£8.99/mo
£99.00 upfront
SIM-free £129.99 £217.00
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 12 or Motorola Moto G 86 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 12 is cheaper on contract at £325.80 over the life of the deal from £11.95 per month with £69.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 12 or Motorola Moto G 86?

The Motorola Moto G 86 has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone 12's 6.1", the Apple iPhone 12 has the sharper display at 457 pixels per inch versus 446, and the Apple iPhone 12 uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Motorola Moto G 86 has a P-OLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 12 or Motorola Moto G 86?

The Apple iPhone 12 features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Motorola Moto G 86 has a 50 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 Motorola Moto G 86?

The Apple iPhone 12 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £129.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 12 and Motorola Moto G 86?

The Apple iPhone 12 is available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, while the Motorola Moto G 86 comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 12 and Motorola Moto G 86 use?

The Apple iPhone 12 is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic, while the Motorola Moto G 86 uses the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 12 or Motorola Moto G 86?

The Apple iPhone 12 is the more portable of the two — it's 21g lighter at 164 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 or Motorola Moto G 86?

The Apple iPhone 12 is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Motorola Moto G 86 is rated IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 12 and Motorola Moto G 86 run?

The Apple iPhone 12 runs iOS 14.1 and the Motorola Moto G 86 runs Android 15. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.