iPhone 16 vs iPhone 12: Time for a new phone?

Four years after it released, the iPhone 12 is still a formidable smartphone but how does it compare against the upcoming iPhone 16?

Storage available
128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Camera
48MP + 12MP
Processor
A18
Storage available
64GB, 128GB or 256GB
Camera
12MP + 12MP
Processor
A14 Bionic
Brodie Fogg
Sep 10, 2024
Icon Time To Read3 min read

The iPhone 12 was an incredible smartphone when it first released and in most regards, it still is. A refined version of the iPhone 11 redesign, iPhone 12 users could have spent the last four years with zero temptation to upgrade. But four years is typically the time when Australians start to consider their next daily driver.

Whether it's down to wear and tear, or just a desire for something fast and fresh, those who have waited until now to upgrade will be rewarded with a decent range of improvements. 

Luckily for those iPhone users, the iPhone 16 goes on sale on 20 September, with preorders starting this Friday, 13 September.

Here's what we know about the new iPhone 16, and how it compares with the iPhone 12. 

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 12

Comparing the iPhone 12 against the iPhone 16
Apple iPhone 16

It's Glowtime... or is it?


The most glaringly obvious difference between the two lineups is that the 5.4-inch iPhone mini is no more. In its place is the 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Plus. Otherwise, the standard iPhone 16 is still set to rock the same 6.1-inch display that the standard iPhone 12 had. But that's pretty much where the similarities end.

Almost every other key technical spec has been improved over the years, even if the look hasn't changed drastically since the iPhone 11.

Since the iPhone 12, the standard iPhone models have ditched the notch for the Dynamic Island, bumped the main camera to a 48MP wide-angle lens— the iPhone 12 still had a 12MP main shooter— enabled Emergency SOS calls via satellite, ditched the Lightning cable for USB-C and dropped the 64GB storage variant. Apple's updates might feel incremental year on year, but that's a lot of change.

Where things look even slicker for the standard iPhone 16, is in the brand-new features that it will be getting. The base iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus nab the previously Pro-exclusive Action Button, and also receive the new Camera Control Button, a pressure-sensitive side-mounted button exclusively for photography.

But that's not all. The iPhone 16 will get the new A18 chipset and Apple Intelligence, not only blowing the iPhone 12's A14 Bionic chip out of the water but even besting last year's Pro models for power.

Specs
iPhone 16
iPhone 12
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 12 mini
Starting Price

$1397

$847

$1597

$1249

Display size6.1-inch6.1-inch6.3-inch5.4-inch
Dynamic IslandYesNoYesNo
Always-on DisplayNoNoNoNo
ProMotion 120Hz refresh rateNoNoNoNo
Action buttonYesNoYesNo
Camera Control buttonYesNoYesNo
Apple IntelligenceYesNoYesNo
ProcessorA18A14 BionicA18A14 Bionic
ColoursWhite
Black
Ultramarine
Teal
Pink
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Purple
White
Black
Ultramarine
Teal
Pink
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Purple
BuildAluminum frameAluminum frameAluminum frameAluminum frame
Main camera48MP
f/1.6
26mm
12MP
f/1.6
26mm
48MP
f/1.6
26mm
12 MP
f/1.6
26mm
Ultra-wide camera12MP
f/2.4
13mm
12MP
f/2.4
13mm
12MP
f/2.4
13mm
12MP
f/2.4
13mm
Telephoto cameraN/AN/AN/AN/A
Optical zoomN/AN/AN/AN/A
ConnectivityWiFi 7
Bluetooth 5.3
WiFi 6
Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 7
Bluetooth 5.3
WiFi 6
Bluetooth 5.0
Battery size3561 mAh2815 mAh4006 mAh2815 mAh
Cable typeUSB-CLightningUSB-CLightning
Emergency SOS via satelliteYesNoYesNo
Water/dust resistanceIP68
Up to 6m submersion for 30 mins
IP68
Up to 6m submersion for 30 mins
IP68
Up to 6m submersion for 30 mins
IP68
Up to 6m submersion for 30 mins
Storage128GB
256GB
512GB
64GB
128GB
256GB
128GB
256GB
512GB
64GB
128GB
256GB

iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro

Stacking up the Pros.
iPhone 16 Pro Specs

It's not an iPhone Pro without some primo features to entice big spenders. 

Granted, some of the 16 Pro upgrades aren't new. It seems the Always-On Display and ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate will still be Pro exclusives, as will the titanium frame and the third telephoto camera lens. 

With all that said, the short list of year-on-year iPhone 16 Pro upgrades is pretty huge. Not only do the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, but they also claim to have the thinnest bezels of any mainstream smartphone, besting even the Galaxy S24's super slim bezels.

That's a big leap from the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max's 6.1 and 6.7-inch screens. Not to mention that the iPhone 12 Pro range is four years behind on the usual Pro upgrades, lacking the Dynamic Island, ProMotion 120Hz display, the Action Button (and upcoming Camera Control Button.)

The 12 Pro range's telephoto lens also caps out at a 2.5x optical zoom range, whereas the iPhone 16 range doubles that with 5x optical zoom. 

There's also an upgraded ultra-wide lens in the iPhone 16 Pro family; a 48MP lens that's said to give crisper 0.5x wide-frame shots and improved lowlight performance for the ultra-wide lens. 

Specs
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Display size6.3-inch6.1-inch6.9-inch6.7-inch
Dynamic IslandYesNoYesNo
Always-on DisplayYesNoYesNo
ProMotion 120Hz refresh rateYesNoYesNo
Action buttonYesNoYesNo
Capture buttonYesNoYesNo
Apple IntelligenceYesNoYesNo
ProcessorA18 ProA14 BionicA18 ProA14 Bionic
ColoursBlack
White
Natural Titanium
Bronze (Desert Titanium)
Silver
Graphite
Gold
Pacific Blue
Black
White
Natural Titanium
Bronze (Desert Titanium)
Silver
Graphite
Gold
Pacific Blue
BuildTitanium frameStainless steel frameTitanium frameStainless steel frame
Main camera48MP
f/1.8
24mm
12MP
f/1.6
26mm
48MP
f/1.8
24mm
12MP
f/1.6
26mm
Ultra-wide camera48MP
f/2.2
12MP
f/2.4
13mm
48MP
f/2.2
12MP
f/2.4
13mm
Telephoto camera12MP
f/2.8
120mm
12MP
f/2.0
52mm
12MP
f/2.8
120mm
12MP
f/2.0
52mm
Optical zoom5x2x5x2.5x
ConnectivityWiFi 7
Bluetooth 5.3
WiFi 6
Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 7
Bluetooth 5.3
WiFi 6
Bluetooth 5.0
Battery size3355 mAh2815 mAh4676 mAh3687 mAh
Cable typeUSB-CLightningUSB-CLightning
Emergency SOS via satelliteYesNoYesNo
Water/dust resistanceIP68
Up to 6m submersion for 30 mins
IP68
Up to 6m submersion for 30 mins
IP68
Up to 6m submersion for 30 mins
IP68
Up to 6m submersion for 30 mins
Storage128GB
256GB
512GB
1TB
128GB
256GB
512GB
256GB
512GB
1TB
128GB
256GB
512GB

AI: Can the iPhone 12 use Apple Intelligence?

Sorry, but you're stuck with standard Siri.
Play Video

No, unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your stance) the iPhone 12 Pro's A14 Bionic chipset won't be able to handle Apple Intelligence, Apple's crack at an AI-powered voice assistant plus generative editing tool. 

Apple Intelligence will be available on all four iPhone 16 models in addition to the iPhone 15 Pro range (plus a long list of other Apple products.)

Conclusion: Should you upgrade?

This is a tricky one. The iPhone 12 is still a powerhouse smartphone, but the upgrades are starting to stack up in a few big ways. Emergency SOS calls via satellite isn't the flashiest upgrade, but it's a big, potentially important one. Then there is the flashy stuff that you might just want to have; the Dynamic Island, the Action Button, the 120Hz refresh rate, these things might not seem like much treated seperately, but together they amount to a tangible, impressive upgrade. 

iPhone 12 users, it might be time to upgrade come 10 September. 

iPhone 16 plans

So maybe it is time to upgrade after all. No stress, all four iPhone 16 models are available to purchase on a plan through Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.

Below you'll find a small glance at the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro plans available. But for a longer list of deals available, check out our dedicated plans page:

iPhone 16 128GB plans

36 and 24-month iPhone 16 128GB plans.

iPhone 16 256GB plans

36 and 24-month iPhone 16 256GB plans.

iPhone 16 512GB plans

36 and 24-month iPhone 16 512GB plans.

iPhone 16 Pro 128GB plans

36 and 24-month iPhone 16 Pro 128GB plans.

iPhone 16 Pro 256GB plans

36 and 24-month iPhone 16 Pro 256GB plans.

iPhone 16 Pro 512GB plans

36 and 24-month iPhone 16 Pro 512GB plans.

iPhone 16 Pro 1TB plans

36 and 24-month iPhone 16 Pro 1TB plans.

iPhone 12 plans

Four years on, the iPhone 12 isn't the easiest phone to get your hands on but Optus does still let you pair it with one of its plans. Below is a list of Optus phone plans (you'll need to factor in handset repayments over a 12, 24 or 36-month arrangement. )

Alternatively, track down a refurbished iPhone 12 through a range of trusted retailers in Australia. 

Brodie Fogg
Written by
Brodie Fogg is the Australian editorial lead at Reviews.org. He has covered consumer tech, telecommunications, video games, streaming and entertainment for over five years at websites like WhistleOut and Finder and can be found sharing streaming recommendations at 7NEWS every month.

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