All these improvements are worth it

In this comparison we analyze all the changes and differences between iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro

There are four years separating the iPhone 16 Pro from the iPhone 12 Pro, and four years in tech is a lot. The differences that Apple has implemented all these years are numerous, so in this comparison we are going to see many changes.

If you are thinking about changing iPhone 12 Pro for iPhone 16 Pro, I will detail all the changes and at the end I will give you my personal opinion on the advisability of changing one model for another. Let’s go.

Main differences between iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro

Many years have passed and the differences between these two devices are enormous, in all of this the iPhone 16 Pro improves compared to the iPhone 12 Pro:

• Bigger screen.
• ProMotion technology on the screen (120 Hz).
• Always active screen.
• Dynamic island.
• Titanium.
• Design changes: more elongated and with thinner bezels.
• 48-megapixel main camera
• 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.
• Telephoto camera with 5x zoom.
• Chip A18 Pro.
• Camera control.
• Action button.
• Apple Intelligence.
• Longer battery life.
• Satellite connection.
• Road accident detection.
• USB-C port.
• Dual eSIM.

Specs table: iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro

In-depth comparison between iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro

Let’s go thoroughly compare iPhone 16 Pro with iPhone 12 Pro in the main characteristics that stand out in a smartphone, such as design, cameras, autonomy or power.

Design

There is no doubt that These are two similar iPhones in terms of designIn fact, it is the iPhone 12 generation that is responsible for launching this new design line with straighter frames. However, it cannot be ignored that there are significant differences in many design sections between these two devices:

• Dynamic Island: A relevant design aspect is the replacement of the large notch of the iPhone 12 Pro with the Dynamic Island of the iPhone 16 Pro, which takes up less space and provides a more immersive visual experience.
• rounded frames: The iPhone 16 Pro features slightly rounded side edges, unlike the sharp corners of the iPhone 12 Pro. This change improves the grip and gives a more comfortable feel.
• Ultra thin frames– The edges of the iPhone 16 Pro have been reduced by approximately 30% compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, resulting in ultra-thin bezels of just 1.5mm, giving a sleeker look.
• Titanium: The iPhone 16 Pro uses titanium in its side frame instead of the stainless steel found in the iPhone 12 Pro. This finish is matte, stronger and lighter compared to the glossy finish of the previous model.
• Slightly larger screen: The iPhone 16 Pro has a slightly larger screen than the iPhone 12 Pro, 6.3 inches instead of 6.1 inches. Something that maximizes the viewing area without making the device larger.
• action button– On iPhone 16 Pro, the mute switch has been replaced by the new action button, which can be customized to perform various functions, increasing its versatility.
• Camera control– After the action button, the iPhone 16 Pro includes a button dedicated to capturing photos. Sensitive to touch and pressure, it mimics the experience of a professional camera, improving ergonomics when taking photos.
• New colors: Colors change every year, and the iPhone 16 Pro is no exception, coming in modern tones that contrast with the classic colors of the iPhone 12 Pro.

Screen

On the screen we also find one of the main differences, not only due to the size, also because of the technologies that Apple has implemented during all these years. Brightness level or ProMotion are just a few examples.

iPhone 16 Pro screen

• 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.
• Resolution of 2622 x 1206 pixels at 460 p/p.
• Maximum brightness of 1000 nits, 1600 nits in HDR and 2000 nits outdoors.
• Minimum brightness of 1 nit.
• ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rate up to 120 Hz.
• Always active screen.
• True tone.
• Wide color gamut (P3).

iPhone 12 Pro screen

• 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.
• Resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels at 460 p/p.
• Maximum brightness of 800 nits and 1200 nits in HDR.
• True your…
• Wide color gamut (P3).

Cameras

There are many years of difference and Cameras have improved a lot during this timeboth in resolution and in the results obtained. Here are the specifications of each sensor:

iPhone 16 Pro cameras

• main camera: 48-megapixel sensor with f/1.78 aperture, 12-megapixel 2X telephoto lens and 1.22-micrometer pixels.
• Telephoto camera (5x): 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.8 aperture, offering 5X optical zoom.
• ultra wide angle camera: 48-megapixel sensor with pixel-binning technology, offering 0.7 micrometer pixels at full resolution or 1.4 micrometers in 24-megapixel mode and a focal length of 13 mm.

iPhone 12 Pro

• main camera: 12-megapixel sensor with seven-element lens and ƒ/1.6 aperture.
• Telephoto camera (2x): 12-megapixel sensor with six-element lens and ƒ/2 aperture, for 2X optical zoom.
• ultra wide angle camera: 12-megapixel sensor with five-element optics, ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120º field of view.

In addition to these hardware specification improvements, iPhone 16 Pro incorporates advanced software features not available on iPhone 12 Pro, such as:

• Mode of action: Offers surprisingly stable video recording.
• Cinema mode: Allows recording in 4K at 30 f/s and 4K at 24 f/s for a cinematic effect.
• Photographic styles– Settings that change color tones while maintaining natural skin tones.
• Photonic engine– Optimizes image quality in medium or low light conditions on all cameras.
• 48 MP macro photography: Allows you to capture macro images with exceptional detail quality.
• Space photos and videos– Enables 3D content capture for devices such as the Apple Vision Pro.
• Video recording up to 4K at 120 f/s– iPhone 16 Pro lets you record videos with higher resolution and speed than iPhone 12 Pro.

Power

The difference in processor level is also notable. Data shared by Apple shows that The CPU of the A18 Pro chip is 60% faster than that of the A14 Bionicand the GPU is twice as fast. Here are the main data of each chip:

• Chip A18 Pro:
  • 3nm (2nd generation)
  • 6-core processor (2 performance and 4 efficiency)
  • 6-core GPU
  • 16-core neural engine
  • 19 billion transistors
  • Geekbench score: 3626 and 9417.
• A14 Bionic Chip:
  • 5nm
  • 6-core processor (2 performance and 4 efficiency)
  • 4-core GPU
  • 16-core neural engine
  • 15 billion transistors
  • Geekbench score: 1596 and 4201.

Battery

Apple has significantly improved iPhone battery life over the years and the iPhone 16 is a clear example of this. The iPhone 16 Pro doubles the battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro in certain Apple measures:

• iPhone 16 Pro battery life:
  • Video playback: up to 27 hours
  • Video streaming: until 10 p.m.
  • Audio playback: up to 85 hours
• iPhone 12 Pro battery life:
  • Video playback: up to 17 hours
  • Video streaming: up to 11 hours
  • Audio playback: up to 65 hours

Is it worth buying the iPhone 16 Pro if I have an iPhone 12 Pro?

A resounding yes. The changes between these two devices are notable and are noticed from the moment you switch from one to the other. We have significant improvements in design, screen, cameras, processor and battery life. What are the most important aspects of a smartphone.

iPhone 16 Pro

I think that changing the iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 16 Pro is strongly recommended. The iPhone 12 Pro has surely already done more than enough, although it is a device that will continue to be updated for a few years, even if you will not be able to take advantage of the new Apple Intelligence features , which are intended to be very important from now on.

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