the iPhone 12 is hardly inferior to the 13 . in 2022

The iPhone 12 (mini) is now over a year old. Apple still sells the device itself through its website. Is the iPhone 12 still worth considering in 2022? We’ve sorted it out for you in this iPhone 12 review update

Conclusion iPhone 12 review update

The iPhone 12 is still a great device in 2022. The smartphone feels modern and has a lot of recent features. In addition, the design is almost the same as that of the iPhone 13. In the camera area, a few functions are missing, but the iPhone 12 still takes beautiful photos and videos. And finally, you are currently saving more than 100 euros compared to a 13.

Review update: that’s how good the iPhone 12 is in 2022

Are you looking for a new iPhone, but don’t want to pay the top price? Then the iPhone 12 is worth considering. The device was launched in October 2020, about a year before the iPhone 13.

At first glance, the iPhone 12 does not seem to differ much from the iPhone 13. Both smartphones have approximately the same screen and the devices are also very similar in terms of camera area and speed. But is that really the case? You can read it in this iPhone 12 review update.

iPhone 12 design: almost identical to iPhone 13

The iPhone 12 ushered in a new era for iPhone design. The smartphone had flat sides and an angular design for the first time since the iPhone 5s in 2013. The iPhone 13 has almost the same design as the 12. So you don’t have to feel ‘old-fashioned’ with an iPhone 12 – the device has a modern look.

The iPhone 12 is available in some flashy colors. Especially the beautiful purple version stands out. The device has a 6.1 inch screen (or a 5.4 inch screen, if you go for the mini) with thin screen edges and the well-known notch. This has shrunk a bit on the iPhone 13. The size of the notch does not make much difference in practice. On the iPhone 12 mini, the larger screen notch feels slightly out of proportion, especially now that we’re used to the 13’s smaller notch.

The screen of the iPhone 12 has a refresh rate of 60Hz, just like all previous iPhones. However, the 13 Pro has a ProMotion screen, which looks smoother. Fun for games! Are you an avid gamer? Then the 13 Pro (Max) is your only option. In terms of colours, contrast and black values, the 12 is little inferior to the 13. Both smartphones have an OLED screen.

Camera: still fantastic

The iPhone 12 has two cameras on the back. These are a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. These cameras will continue to perform fantastically in 2022. Especially in a lot of light, the dynamic range of the cameras is fantastic, the colors are beautiful and the sharpness is perfectly fine. In low light, the night mode helps you out.

Videos from the iPhone 12 also look nice. The iPhone is widely known as the best smartphone for filming – and rightly so. Videos are detailed and the stabilization is fine. However, the camera lacks a number of new functions, such as Film mode and ProRes.

Of course, iPhone cameras get better every year. The lenses of the iPhone 13, for example, let in much more light than the lenses of the 12. That does not alter the fact that the iPhone 12 will still take beautiful photos in 2022.

Speed ​​and battery

The speed of the iPhone 12 is more than good. The device has a powerful A14 chip, so you won’t encounter any hiccups. Of course, the smartphone runs on the latest software – and knowing Apple, the iPhone 12 will receive updates for at least another 5 years. This makes the device nice and future-proof.

The iPhone 12’s battery is good, but not great. Especially if you purchase the smartphone second-hand or refurbished, there is a good chance that you will have to hang it on the charger every night. With heavy use, you may not even make it to the end of the day. You can charge the device via the lightning port or with a MagSafe charger. You can buy these separately. Also important: there is no adapter in the box.

The battery of the ‘big’ iPhone 12 is therefore not great, but the battery of the 12 mini unfortunately does not last as long. The iPhone 13 series, on the other hand, has much improved batteries. If a long battery life is important to you, you better go for the 13.

Should you buy the iPhone 12 in 2022?

With an iPhone 12 you can still be seen in 2022. The device looks stylish and modern. That is not surprising, since the device is not very old yet. You may not have all the latest features, but you’re not necessarily missing a lot either. For example, the smartphone simply has 5G support. The iPhone 12 is certainly still a good choice in 2022.

It is wise to compare the prices of the iPhone 12 as well. Various web shops and providers offer the smartphone with a discount. There is also the option to opt for a refurbished model. In most cases, that saves 100 or even 200 euros.

Finally, we do not recommend going for the entry-level model with 64GB of storage space. This is simply too little for most people. With lots of photos and videos, your memory will fill up much faster than you might think. There are also 128GB and 256GB variants of the iPhone 12 for sale.

However, with this we encounter a new ‘problem’: the entry-level model of the iPhone 13 already has 128GB of storage space as standard. A brand new iPhone 12 with 128GB is only 60 euros cheaper on Apple’s website than the cheapest iPhone 13. However, it is often much cheaper at other web shops or with a subscription. At the time of writing, you can save about 120 euros with a separate device.