iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: A 5-Year Upgrade Comparison
If you bought an iPhone 12 Pro in 2020, you're well overdue for an upgrade in 2026. iPhone 17 Pro was runner-up Best Camera at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. The 5-year gap is one of the largest meaningful upgrades possible in iPhone history.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
iPhone 12 Pro
Apple · 2020 · From $999
iPhone 17 Pro
Apple · 2025 · From $999
Round wins
iPhone 12 Pro: 0 · iPhone 17 Pro: 7
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz | 6.3-inch OLED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Processor | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A19 Pro |
| RAM | 6GB | 8GB |
| Camera | 12MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP 2x telephoto + LiDAR | 48MP main + 48MP ultrawide + 12MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery | 2,815 mAh | 3,700 mAh |
| OS | iOS 14 | iOS 19 |
| Starting price | $999 | $999 |
| Released | 2020 | 2025 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Display
Winner: iPhone 17 ProiPhone 17 Pro: ~4,000 nits peak ProMotion 120Hz. iPhone 12 Pro: 1,200 nits peak at 60Hz. Massive improvement.
Performance
Winner: iPhone 17 ProA19 Pro is roughly 100% faster than A14 Bionic across CPU/GPU. Material gap for everything.
Apple Intelligence
Winner: iPhone 17 ProiPhone 12 Pro does NOT support Apple Intelligence. The 17 Pro fully does. Decisive.
Camera
Winner: iPhone 17 ProTriple 48MP system on 17 Pro vs 12MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP 2x telephoto on 12 Pro. ProRes Log video on the 17 Pro is in another universe.
Build
Winner: iPhone 17 ProiPhone 17 Pro: titanium, USB-C, Action Button, Camera Control. iPhone 12 Pro: stainless steel, Lightning, mute switch. Modernization across the board.
Battery
Winner: iPhone 17 ProiPhone 17 Pro: 7–8 hours screen-on. iPhone 12 Pro on a 5-year-old battery: 3–4 hours typical. Transformative for daily use.
Software longevity
Winner: iPhone 17 ProiPhone 17 Pro: ~5 more years of iOS support. 12 Pro: ~1 more year. The 12 Pro is at the edge.
Final verdict
Yes, upgrade — the 5-year gap is transformative across literally every spec. USB-C, titanium, Apple Intelligence, ProRes, dramatically better cameras, and 5+ more years of iOS support. The iPhone 12 Pro is now at the edge of its useful life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I upgrade from iPhone 12 Pro to iPhone 17 Pro?
Yes — the 5-year gap is transformative. Apple Intelligence, USB-C, titanium, ProRes Log, and massive camera/display improvements. The 12 Pro is also at the edge of its useful iOS support window.
Does iPhone 12 Pro still get iOS updates?
iOS 18 is supported but iOS 19 dropped the iPhone 12 Pro from the major-update list — only security patches now. Roughly 1 year of meaningful support remaining.
iPhone 12 Pro or new mid-range phone in 2026?
Almost any current mid-range phone (iPhone 16, Pixel 8a, Galaxy S24) is meaningfully better than a 5-year-old iPhone 12 Pro.