1. Design and Build
iPhone 12:
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.
Flat-edge design with an aluminum frame.
Ceramic Shield front for improved durability.
Available in various colors.
iPhone 16:
Slightly larger 6.2-inch ProMotion OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate (even in the base model).
Titanium frame, similar to the Pro models of previous generations, making it more lightweight and premium.
Dynamic Island replaces the notch for a more immersive screen experience.
Likely available in a more refined color palette.
2. Display
iPhone 12:
60Hz refresh rate.
6.1-inch, 1170 x 2532 resolution.
iPhone 16:
120Hz ProMotion technology for smoother scrolling and better animations.
Slightly larger 6.2-inch display with an upgraded resolution.
Better outdoor visibility and energy efficiency.
3. Performance
iPhone 12:
A14 Bionic chip, still powerful but now a few generations old.
4-core GPU, great for everyday tasks but less powerful for high-end gaming or multitasking.
iPhone 16:
A19 Bionic chip, a significant leap in CPU and GPU performance, more energy-efficient, and with improved AI capabilities.
The latest neural engine for advanced AI features, faster app loading, and better multitasking.
Superior gaming performance, especially for AR/VR applications.
4. Camera System
iPhone 12:
Dual 12MP cameras (wide and ultra-wide).
Night mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3.
4K Dolby Vision HDR recording.
iPhone 16:
Likely to have a triple-camera system with improved low-light performance and AI-driven image processing.
Main, ultra-wide, and a new telephoto sensor.
New computational photography features, including Smart HDR 6 and improved Deep Fusion.
Enhanced video capabilities with ProRes and possible 8K video recording.
5. Battery Life and Charging
iPhone 12:
Decent battery life, around 17 hours of video playback.
20W fast charging, MagSafe wireless charging.
iPhone 16:
Improved battery life with more efficient power management from the A19 chip.
Potentially 18-20% more battery capacity.
Faster charging speeds and improved MagSafe capabilities.
6. Software Features
iPhone 12:
iOS 14 at launch, upgradable to iOS 18.
iPhone 16:
Ships with iOS 18, designed to take advantage of new AI features, improved privacy controls, and expanded widgets and customization.
7. Connectivity
iPhone 12:
5G support, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0.
iPhone 16:
Likely to include Wi-Fi 7, better 5G performance, and upgraded Bluetooth 5.3 for improved wireless connectivity.
8. Price
iPhone 12:
Initially launched at $799, but now available at lower prices.
iPhone 16:
Expected starting price is around $999 for the base model due to advanced features and materials.
Conclusion:
iPhone 16 is a significant upgrade in almost every area, from display and performance to camera and battery life. It also has a more premium design and advanced AI-driven features.
iPhone 12 is still a solid device but lacks many of the advanced features found in the iPhone 16, especially in terms of performance, display refresh rate, and camera capabilities.
If you're considering upgrading from an iPhone 12 to an iPhone 16, you'll notice a major leap in overall experience, especially if you're interested in photography, gaming, or smoother software performance.
