iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro
Shop iPhone
iPhone 12
Starting at
£170.00£649.00 new
iPhone 17 Pro
Starting at
£1,074.24£1,099.00 newWhat's the difference between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 17 Pro?
iPhone 12 vs 17 Pro comes down to the chipset, RAM and battery. Refurbished, the iPhone 12 starts at £170, £904.24 less than the iPhone 17 Pro. The iPhone 17 Pro is the newer model, released in 2025.
Refurbished from
Chipset
RAM
Battery
Screen size
Screen type
- Chipset: Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) on the iPhone 12, Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) on the iPhone 17 Pro.
- The iPhone 17 Pro has more RAM: 12 GB vs 4 GB.
- Battery: 2815 mAh on the iPhone 12, 3998 mAh, 4252 mAh on the iPhone 17 Pro.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro specs
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 17 Pro differ in several key areas that suit different users. The iPhone 12 offers simplicity with a 6.1 inch screen, 4 GB of RAM, and a 2815 mAh battery. It is well suited for everyday use, delivering smooth performance and good camera quality. The iPhone 17 Pro has a larger 6.3 inch screen with a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals, significantly more RAM at 12 GB, and a larger battery capacity of 3998 mAh or 4252 mAh for extended use. It also features higher resolution cameras and a USB-C connector. This makes the iPhone 17 Pro a better fit for users who want more power, enhanced display quality, and advanced camera capabilities.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro price
Colour
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro battery life and software updates
Durability covers battery power, software updates, and physical design.
Battery Capacity
The iPhone 12 has a 2815 mAh battery, suitable for typical daily use and moderate screen time. The iPhone 17 Pro offers a larger battery capacity of 3998 mAh or 4252 mAh, which means it can support longer usage between charges, ideal if you use your phone heavily throughout the day.
Physical Size and Weight
The iPhone 12 is slimmer at 7.4 mm depth and weighs 164 g, making it lighter and easier to carry for those who prefer a compact phone. The iPhone 17 Pro is slightly thicker at 8.8 mm and heavier at 206 g, which may feel more substantial in the hand but can also provide a solid grip.
Battery
Foldable
Ip rating
Software updates
Wireless charging
Year of release
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro performance
Performance affects how smoothly apps run and how many tasks you can handle at once. The two iPhones differ in chipset, memory, and storage options, which influence speed and multitasking capabilities.
Processor and RAM
The iPhone 12 runs on the Apple A14 Bionic with 4 GB RAM, which is well suited for everyday tasks, social media, and casual photo editing. The iPhone 17 Pro uses the Apple A19 Pro and has 12 GB RAM, offering more power and memory to keep multiple apps open and handle demanding applications more easily.
Storage Options
Storage on the iPhone 12 ranges from 64GB to 256GB, fitting the needs of users who store moderate amounts of photos, apps, and media. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at 256GB and goes up to 1TB, making it better suited for those who need extensive storage for large files, videos, or professional use.
Chipset
RAM
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro screen
Screen quality impacts how you experience content like photos, videos, and reading. Differences in size, refresh rate, and resolution change the smoothness and clarity of the display.
Screen Size and Resolution
The iPhone 12 has a 6.1 inch screen with a resolution of 1170 by 2532 pixels, which provides sharp and clear visuals for most uses. The iPhone 17 Pro offers a slightly larger 6.3 inch screen with a resolution of 2622 by 1206 pixels. This means more screen space and potentially more detail, which benefits watching videos or multitasking.
Refresh Rate
The iPhone 12 has a 60 Hz refresh rate, which is standard for smooth everyday viewing. The iPhone 17 Pro doubles this with a 120 Hz refresh rate, giving smoother scrolling and more fluid animations, noticeable when gaming or browsing quickly.
Screen Type
Both phones use Super Retina XDR technology, with the iPhone 12 specifying OLED and the iPhone 17 Pro listing Super Retina XDR. Both deliver bright and vibrant displays suitable for a range of lighting conditions.
Refresh rate
Resolution
Screen size
Screen type
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro camera
Audiovisual features focus on camera resolution, affecting how detailed your photos and selfies will be. Both phones offer capable cameras but differ in megapixel counts.
Front Camera
The iPhone 12 has a 12 megapixel front camera, which suits high-quality selfies and video calls. The iPhone 17 Pro increases this to 18 megapixels, capturing more detail in your selfies and video chats.
Main Camera
The iPhone 12 features a 12 megapixel main camera, good for everyday photography. The iPhone 17 Pro has a 48 megapixel main camera, which can capture much finer detail, making it suitable for those who prioritise high-resolution photos or creative photography.
Camera type
Front camera
Main camera
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro size and design
Miscellaneous features include connectivity, SIM options, and physical design details that affect daily usability and compatibility.
Connector Type
The iPhone 12 uses the Lightning connector, common on many Apple devices, which works well if you already have compatible accessories. The iPhone 17 Pro comes with a USB-C connector, which is widely used across many devices and can offer easier cable sharing with non-Apple gear.
SIM Card Setup
The iPhone 12 supports both a physical SIM and eSIM, providing flexibility for users who want to use multiple carriers or travel frequently. The iPhone 17 Pro uses eSIM only, which suits users comfortable managing their mobile plans digitally without needing a physical card.
Dimensions and Weight
The iPhone 12 measures 146.7 mm in height, 71.5 mm in width, and weighs 164 g, making it compact and light. The iPhone 17 Pro is slightly taller at 150 mm, wider at 71.9 mm, and heavier at 206 g. This may appeal to users who prefer a larger device that feels substantial.
Network Compatibility
Both devices support 5G networks and come unlocked, so you have access to fast mobile data with no restrictions on carriers.
Carrier compatibility
Connector
Depth
Height
Mobile network
Release date
SD card slot
SIM card
Weight
Width
iPhone 12 or iPhone 17 Pro: which should you buy?
Buy the iPhone 12 if
- you want to spend less: it starts at £170, £904.24 less than the iPhone 17 Pro
- you want an OLED screen
- you want a lighter build (162 g vs 206 g)
Buy the iPhone 17 Pro if
- you want more RAM (12 GB vs 4 GB)
- you want a bigger screen (6.3 inch vs 6.1 inch)
- you want a smoother screen (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
What our customers say
Customers who bought the iPhone 12 praise its condition and performance, often noting that it looks and feels like a new phone. Many mention ordering models with new batteries, which keeps the device running smoothly. The phone is appreciated for its reliable speed and ability to handle everyday apps, social media, and photo editing without issue. Reviewers also highlight the clean screens and frames, with some enjoying extras like screen protectors and cases included. The iPhone 12 suits those wanting a dependable device with good performance at a reasonable price.
For the iPhone 17 Pro, customers report excellent condition and battery health, often near 100%. The screen is described as perfect and bright, with some mentioning the clarity benefits for outdoor viewing and content creation. The larger storage options and powerful hardware make it a popular choice for those upgrading from older models or needing more from their device. Most buyers find the 17 Pro feels like a brand new phone with impressive speed and display quality.
Overall, the iPhone 12 appeals to users looking for a high-quality everyday phone with solid performance and good condition at a fair price. The iPhone 17 Pro suits users who want enhanced display features, more memory, and higher resolution cameras for demanding tasks and media use.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 17 Pro FAQs
iPhone 12 vs 17 Pro comes down to the chipset, RAM and battery. Chipset: Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) on the iPhone 12, Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) on the iPhone 17 Pro. The iPhone 17 Pro has more RAM: 12 GB vs 4 GB.
The iPhone 12 is cheaper refurbished, from £170 compared with £1074.24 for the iPhone 17 Pro.
The iPhone 12 has 2815 mAh and the iPhone 17 Pro has 3998 mAh, 4252 mAh.
The iPhone 17 Pro has a higher-resolution main camera: 48 megapixels vs 12 megapixels.
The iPhone 12 is still supported and can run iOS 27. The iPhone 17 Pro is still supported and can run iOS 27.
The iPhone 17 Pro adds more RAM (12 GB vs 4 GB), a bigger screen (6.3 inch vs 6.1 inch) and a smoother screen (120 Hz vs 60 Hz). Refurbished, it costs £904.24 more (from £1074.24 vs £170).
Refurbished, the iPhone 12 comes in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB, and the iPhone 17 Pro in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.
