TL;DR: Yes. If you’re looking for an affordable iPhone with a great camera, long battery life, and a high-quality display — a used iPhone 12 is absolutely worth it, especially when you consider the savings associated with buying a gently used model.
Some people will say a smartphone is old and outdated as soon as a new model is released. Following this train of thought, that would mean the iPhone 12 is outdated now that Apple has released the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14. But actually, the opposite is true, and the iPhone 12 is much more appealing now that the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 are available. Continue reading to learn more about why the iPhone 12 is such a great buy in 2023.
What are the iPhone 12 specs?
Apple announced the iPhone 12 family on October 13, 2020. The iPhone 12 is the 14th generation in the overall iPhone lineup, and it includes the regular iPhone 12, along with the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The iPhone 12 is the successor to the iPhone 11 lineup, but instead of keeping with three models, Apple added a fourth model this time around – the iPhone 12 mini. Each of the four models in the iPhone 12 lineup shares many common features, such as a Super Retina XDR display, 5G connectivity, and Apple’s A14 Bionic chip. But each of these four models also has features that allow them to stand out within the family lineup.
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 mini | iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1″ Super Retina XDR | 5.4″ Super Retina XDR | 6.1″ Super Retina XDR | 6.7″ Super Retina XDR |
| Processor Chip | A14 Bionic (with 6-core-CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) | A14 Bionic (with 6-core-CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) | A14 Bionic (with 6-core-CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) | A14 Bionic (with 6-core-CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB | 6GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | Dual 12MP camera (wide and ultra-wide) | Dual 12MP camera (wide and ultra-wide) | Pro 12MP camera (telephoto, wide and ultra-wide) | Pro 12MP camera (telephoto, wide and ultra-wide) |
| Battery | 2,815 mAh | 2,227 mAh | 2,815 mAh | 3,687 mAh |
| Battery Life Estimates | Up to 17 hours of video playback, up to 65 hours of audio playback | Up to 15 hours of video playback, up to 50 hours of audio playback | Up to 17 hours of video playback, up to 65 hours of audio playback | Up to 20 hours of video playback, up to 80 hours of audio playback |
| Size / Weight | 5.78″ (H) x 2.82″ (W) x 0.29″ (D) / 5.78 ounces | 5.18″ (H) x 2.53″ (W) x 0.29″ (D) / 4.76 ounces | 5.78″ (H) x 2.82″ (W) x 0.29″ (D) / 6.66 ounces | 6.33″ (H) x 3.07″ (W) x 0.29″ (D) / 8.03 ounces |
| Colors | Purple, Blue, Green, PRODUCT(RED), White, Black | Purple, Blue, Green, PRODUCT(RED), White, Black | Pacific Blue, Gold, Graphite, Silver | Pacific Blue, Gold, Graphite, Silver |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $699 | Starting at $599 | Starting at $999 | Starting at $1,099 |
| Swappa Price | Starting around $410 | Starting around $320 | Starting around $524 | Starting around $602 |
Essentially, the core features of these four models are the same, or very similar. But they each also have some key points to differentiate. For example, the iPhone 12 mini is smaller and lighter in size, which is good if you’re looking for the smallest iPhone. On the other hand, if you’re looking for the biggest iPhone, the iPhone 12 Pro Max with its 6.7” display is the model you should be considering.
What are the new iPhone 12 features?
The previous-generation iPhone 11 lineup is still a great smartphone, even as we move deeper into 2023, but the iPhone 12 release brought several new features that allow it to stand above the previous generation.
As we have come to expect when Apple releases a new iPhone – it will have a newer processor. The iPhone 12 lineup is powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, which includes a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. In comparison, the iPhone 11 lineup is powered by the A13 Bionic chip with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 8-core Neural Engine.
Some of the other key new features that were introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup include:
- 5G connectivity: The iPhone 11 was limited to 4G LTE
- HDR display across the lineup: The iPhone 11 had HDR on the Pro and Pro Max, but not on the regular base-model iPhone 11
- Ceramic Shield front for added protection against drops: The iPhone 11 lineup simply had a glass front
- MagSafe: The MagSafe on the iPhone 12 makes it easy to charge, but also allows for accessories from Apple and third parties, which include battery packs, wallets, and more
- More internal storage: The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini offer up to 256GB, whereas the iPhone 11 maxed out at 128GB
A few other key improvements include features of the front and rear cameras.
- The iPhone 12 front camera supports Night mode and Deep Fusion
- The iPhone 12 front and rear camera has support for Night-mode Time-lapse and HDR video recording with Dolby Vision at up to 4K at 30 frames per second
Make sure to tap the green button below to read our complete iPhone 12 Upgrade/Comparison Guide to see how the iPhone 12 lineup compares to other iPhone models.
Is the iPhone 12 worth it in 2023?
A cheap iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max is absolutely worth buying in 2023. In fact, here at Swappa, we’d argue that any of these four models is a better buy in 2023 than they were in late 2020 (when they were first released). The reason they are a better buy in 2023 is that they are significantly cheaper.
When these models were first released, Apple had the lineup priced from as low as $599 for the iPhone 12 mini. The iPhone 12 retail price started at $699, the iPhone 12 Pro retail price started at $999 with the iPhone 12 Pro Max retail price starting at $1,099.
You can still buy a new iPhone 12 directly from Apple (priced from $599 for a 64GB model), but now that newer iPhones are available – you can save quite a bit of money if you buy a gently used model on Swappa. Tap any of the four widgets below to see just how much you can save when you buy a gently used iPhone 12.
You should buy an iPhone 12 if…
- …you want a great iPhone but do not want to spend the money to buy an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 at retail prices.
- …you want some of the new features that were introduced with the iPhone 12, such as the 5G connectivity, which will allow you to keep using your iPhone for longer into the future.
You should consider an iPhone 11 instead
The iPhone 12, the 12 mini, the 12 Pro, and the 12 Pro Max are all solid smartphones. But there are still several reasons to consider an iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max. A few key reasons to consider an iPhone 11 include:
- If you are on a tighter budget or just prefer to spend less money.
- If you weren’t excited about, or don’t need any of those new iPhone 12 features we highlighted earlier in this post.
Tap any of the three widgets below to check out the current listings for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
In the end, whether you decide to go with any of the models in the iPhone 12 lineup, or go with something from the iPhone 11 lineup to save even more money – you can rest assured knowing that Swappa has you covered because Swappa is the safest marketplace for used tech.
