Apple recently bring out the young iPhone 15 range at its SeptemberWonderlust event , alongside the newApple Watch Ultra 2 , Apple Watch Series 9and fresh versions of the operating system of rules that come with them . So , if you ’re still using the trustworthy iPhone 12 , is it clip to dig into your savings and trade up to the iPhone 15 ? We put the two head teacher - to - head .
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 15: Tech specs
As you ’d expect with two phones that are a few generation apart , the iPhone 15 has some decent upgrade in term of specification . When the iPhone 12 was let go of in October 2020 , the A14 Bionic was the top - of - the - descent mainframe for Apple ’s iPhone image , but three years on it ’s been outstrip by the A16 Bionic . Why just two genesis ? Apple has recently resolve to push client towards the Pro manikin by construct the newest processor an exclusive feature of its high - end phones . So moving from an iPhone 12 to an iPhone 15 is n’t as big a jump as it might have been had Apple stuck with its previous pattern of giving all four models the same poker chip .
depot has been kick downstairs up with theiPhone 15 , so the 64 GB service line mannikin get on the iPhone 12 lineup is no more , with Apple now making 128 GB the lowest amount of capacity on go , with 256 GB and 512 GB the other options .
In terms of barrage life sentence , Apple lists the iPhone 12 at 17 hour of picture playback , while the iPhone 15 lead out at 20 hour , so you should expect more longevity from the newer model . This will be peculiarly unfeigned if you ’ve had the iPhone 12 for a couple of years or more , as the battery will already have get going to devolve .
The iPhone 15’s main camera has a 48MP resolution.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 15: Design and build
Regarding the rest of the specs for the two models , here ’s a more thorough breakdown of the similarities and differences .
Construction
Apple has stuck with the square toes - edge chassis aim it introduce with the iPhone 12 reach , so that at first glance there is n’t much difference between the two manikin . In terms of size , they ’re almost identical :
Yes , the iPhone 15 is marginally turgid in all dimensions , but in the handwriting , it ’s almost imperceptible , especially once you put either in a protective case .
Malus pumila
One obvious difference though is the cable that comes in the box . To comply with the upcoming EU law , Apple has switched from its proprietary Lightning connective to the more received USB - carbon on the iPhone 15 . Aesthetically it does n’t have much effect , but you will now be able to interchange your charging cable with other twist .
Both have IP68 rainproof ratings , aluminium build , glass backs , and corroborate wireless charging ( including MagSafe ) .
There ’s also an iPhone 15 Plus , just like theiPhone 14 Plusthat introduce the data formatting , but aside from its large inning and display , it ’s essentially the same twist as the iPhone 15 .
The iPhone 15’s main camera has a 48MP resolution.
Colors
At the time of writing , the iPhone 12 offers a wider range of mountains of colouring scheme for the body , but Apple has tend to set in motion a new color about six month after the launching of a model to presumably demote up sales . With this in mind , we expect the two exemplar to attain parity at some point in the next few month . Until then , the iPhone 12 comes in Purple , Blue , Green , ( PRODUCT ) Red , White , and dim
And the iPhone 15 is uncommitted in Pink , Yellow , Green , Blue , and Black .
Display
On either equipment , you ’ll incur a 6.1 - inch Super Retina XDR display . But they ’re still quite unlike : Whereas the iPhone 12 has the infamous snick at the top of the panel , the iPhone 15 moves to the new Dynamic Island that first debut on the iPhone 14 Pro model . This uncouples the blacked - out country from the top of the screen and has it floating near the upper edge . While this sounds worse , canny software means that the island expands to show extra entropy about the apps you ’re using , as well as offering interactivity .
David Price / Foundry
The iPhone 15 control board is also shining , break down from the 625 nit max brightness ( distinctive ) of the 12 to a whopping 1,000 nits . HDR smartness has also increase from 1,200 to 1,600 , plus Apple has introduce an outdoor brightness tier on the iPhone 15 that run all the way up to 2,000 nits , so you should be able to interpret the projection screen absolutely even on very sunny years .
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 15: Cameras
television camera are always an implausibly important part of an iPhone and this class the iPhone 15 received one of the bountiful boosts for some meter in this department . Apple has used its tried and tested dual 12MP sensors for the front television camera in iPhones for a while now , as exhibited by the iPhone 12 , but this yr it get a rather considerable bulge with a new 48MP sensor give to the main camera in the iPhone 15 . Now , the iPhone 12 has a perfectly good camera that take aim great images , but the details that can be capture in the newer sensor mean there will be more data for iOS to play with . This results in a raw 2x optical zoom , which is the first time this feature has been available in non - Pro iPhone models , plus the power to refocus images even after they ’ve been taken .
The iPhone 15 ’s master tv camera has a 48MP closure .
Jason Snell
This step forward enforce to video too , with the Action Mode that was inclose with the iPhone 14 also being useable in the iPhone 15 . This leave for stabilization in video footage even while the photographic camera itself is being shake ( such as while travel in a truehearted car or being hold while running ) .
receive out all about the novel features in the iPhone 15 serial in our guidebook : Best new iPhone 15 feature .
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 15: Emergency safety features
Since the iPhone 12 was found , Apple has been hard at work impart safety machine features to its devices that can be literal life story - savers if the possessor should find themselves in a dangerous site . This means the iPhone 15 gets these of import additions , while they remain absent from its aged sib .
These includeCrash Detection , which as the name suggest has the iPhone sense if there has been a sudden stopover which could be from an automobile accident . It then displays a message asking if you want to call the exigency services , should you not answer for 20 seconds , it will do so automatically , providing them with your current location .
There ’s alsoEmergency SOS via Satellite , which allow you access satellite services that can relay call when you ’re out of cellular reportage – say you have an accident while out hike . Plus the new Roadside Assistance via Satellite offers a exchangeable mode to get yourself out of a potentially risky situation .
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 15: Price
With the launch of the iPhone 15 , the iPhone 12 has been discontinue by Apple , so you’re able to no longer buy the gimmick directly from its stores ( although you may still find a few on theApple Refurbished Store ) .
As a rasping guide of what you might pay when looking at third - party retailers , here ’s how the iPhone 12 was price when it was still available from Apple .
iPhone 12
iPhone 15
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 15: Verdict
Even if your iPhone 12 is raw than its 2020 launch date , the iPhone 12 miss many of the premium features that have been bestow upon the new iPhone 15 . The Dynamic Island dark not be something that sway you , but the upgraded camera sensor is a definite plus as it brings advanced feature like a 2x optical rapid growth , refocusing , and extreme television stabilisation . More storehouse on the baseline mannikin is also upright newsworthiness , not to mention the bright display , longer battery lifetime , and parking brake feature .
As always , if you think you may survive another twelvemonth with your iPhone 12 , you ’ll get an even better phone next year , but we ’d say that the interruption between the two is enough to free heading to the Apple Store to buy one .
The iPhone 15’s main camera has a 48MP resolution.