Is The iPhone 12 Worth It In 2024?

4 Acquiring a brand new iPhone is not always financially accessible to everyone. For those who want to own a new Apple smartphone, one solution is to turn to one of the older models. The iPhone 12, in particular, has enjoyed continued popularity, but is it still a wise purchase in 2024? Released in October 2020, the iPhone 12 has positioned itself as one of Apple’s flagship models. Less than a year later, the arrival of the new iPhone 13 erased it. However, this in no way relegates it to the category of obsolete smartphones. But is it still worth buying in 2024? Find the answer in this article.

A Design Ideally In Tune With The Times

The iPhone 12 was given a new, more modern design. At first glance, it’s hard to differentiate it from the iPhone 14, except, of course, with the rear camera layout. It has dimensions of 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm for a weight of 164 g, which is not felt. Its rectangular silhouette with flat, straight aluminum edges offers a comfortable and secure grip. The corners are slightly rounded. The finishes are impeccable, and everything is quite elegant.

On the back, the iPhone 12 benefits from a glass coating reinforced with a new process, which allows induction charging. It is available in six superb colors: blue, green, black, white, red, and purple. Regarding waterproofing, it advances IP68 certification. It can, therefore, withstand immersion up to 6 m for 30 minutes and dust. The volume and mute buttons on the left and the power button on the right are all easy to access. On the bottom edge, you have the Lightning port, microphones, and a stereo speaker.

The Integration Of OLED Technology

The iPhone 12 has the same 6.1-inch screen diagonal as its predecessor, the iPhone 11. But it is the first in the non-Pro range to integrate OLED technology. No more LCD; the screen here has the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels. We see a difference in colors and rendering between these two technologies. The blacks displayed are notably more impactful for the OLED.

Equipped with an effective anti-reflective coating, the panel has a maximum brightness of 1200 nits in HDR, which guarantees optimal readability in all environments. Built-in TrueTone technology automatically adapts the display colorimetry to ambient light. In the evening, it is also possible to limit blue light using Night Shift mode to relieve your eyes.

Performance Is Always At The Top

Looking at its technical sheet, the iPhone 12 continues to position itself among the best smartphones on the market. Indeed, the A14 Bionic processor engraved in 5 nm, which equips it is robust and still reliable today. It comes with 4 GB of RAM. This configuration guarantees this device limited energy consumption, high execution speed, and excellent responsiveness. No task escapes it, even the most demanding games. It never freezes or slows down, and this smoothness should last for many years.

The iPhone 12 remains relevant, as it is listed among the models that will be compatible with iOS17. Currently, it includes iOS16 and all-new features for a highly intuitive experience. Even if you buy it today, you will be entitled to regular iOS updates until at least 2025. This smartphone comes in three storage configurations to meet your needs: 64 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB.

Excellent Quality Photos And Videos

The iPhone 12 is also appreciated for the excellent quality of its photos. However, compared to the best smartphones today, its camera is weak. It has a dual rear lens (wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle) of 12 megapixels each. The smartphone takes extensive advantage of AI to adjust the colorimetry and lighting of each photograph. Night mode and portrait mode offer satisfactory results.

On the front, the iPhone has a 12 MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.2. It works perfectly well. The addition of night mode will delight all selfie lovers. On the video side, the iPhone 12 can film up to 4K at 60 frames per second. Dolby Vision HDR recording is also present at 30 frames per second. Plus, the optical stabilization is excellent to let you capture every moment. In short, although the iPhone 12 is not the best photo smartphone in 2024, it is capable of providing honorable performance.

Slightly Optimized Autonomy

In terms of autonomy, Apple has made significant progress in this area. The iPhone 12 can last a good day and a half with regular use (a little surfing, gaming, video, and reading email). You will no longer have to worry about finding yourself flat at the end of the day. For ecological reasons, the American brand does not provide a charging block with the iPhone 12. It only comes with a USB-C to Lightning cable. It is compatible with 20W fast charging. For charging, it takes a little over 30 minutes to recover half the battery. It fully charges in less than 2 hours. The iPhone 12 is also compatible with Apple’s MagSafe technology for wireless charging.

What Is The Price And Availability In 2024?

When it was launched in 2020, the iPhone 12 in its basic 64 GB version was sold at a price of 909 euros. The release of the iPhone 13 in September 2021 led to a considerable drop in its price. Thus, many people were able to take advantage of attractive offers to acquire a new iPhone 12 at discounted prices.In 2024, the iPhone 12 is no longer available on the official Apple store. But you can find it new on commercial sites. Otherwise, it is possible to buy it reconditioned or used.

Is The iPhone 12 Worth It In 2024? Our Opinion

After exploring the features, performance, and evolution of the iPhone 12, it is clear that this model retains a place of choice among the best smartphones today. It has many strong points compared to its competitors. First of all, it has a new, more modern and sophisticated look. The grip is perfect with its more compact dimensions.

And in terms of colors, everyone can choose the finish they like. The arrival of OLED on this iPhone is also a great revolution, improving the visual experience. And thanks to the ultra-powerful A14 Bionic chip, nothing can resist it, and it can last a very long time. Finally, for photography, its two sensors can be ridiculous compared to those of the competition, which have up to four or five sensors. But they do a superb job.