Which iPhone 12 to get - upgrader's guide

Upgrading from a 2019 iPhone

Apple upgrade advice used to be relatively straightforward. Just get the new iPhone! Or skip a year and get the next one. But Apple has been expanding its phone lineup, and this year, there are more options than ever before. Too many options? Let's break them down with Pros&Cons.

If it's not immediately apparent, Android users need not read any further - this article is for iPhone owners looking to upgrade to one of the new iPhone 12's.

There are four new models in Series 12, ranging from the 5.4" mini to the 6.7" Pro Max. They are spread over 54 different SKUs, which are the different combinations of models, storage capacities, and colors.

For context, back in 2018, the number of available SKUs was 36. While in 2017, there were just 20. And with more choice, it's become more difficult than ever to pick the right iPhone to upgrade to. We're here to help.

We went through Apple's catalog of devices back to 2017, that's when the iPhone 8 and X came out, and we considered the pros and cons of upgrading to each of the four iPhone 12 models. There's no single right answer. It depends on your current iPhone experience and what you would want out of your next iPhone - a particular feature or a new size. We've tried to list your options, but the decision will ultimately be yours to make.

This page covers possible upgrade paths if you have a 2019 iPhone, the next page deals with iPhones from 2018 and 2017.

Before you dive in, check out the shared upgrades list below as all four iPhone 12 models enjoy a set of common advantages over their predecessors.

iPhone 12 series shared upgrades

• 5G connectivity (+mmWave in the US)
• All 12-series phones use OLED displays
• Ceramic Shield with better drop resistance
• Night mode for the selfie and ultra wide cameras
• Dolby Vision videos (4K/60 fps on Pros, 4K/30 fps on vanilla)
• LiDAR for the Pros
• Faster MagSafe wireless charging
• Improved water resistance

We won't be repeating the upgrades above so keep them in mind as you check out your upgrade options. Also, don't forget that all the new iPhone 12's come without a charger or headphones in the box. That's definitely a setback to consider for all upgrades this year.

Who is this for? Upgrading to the top iPhone model every year is not for everyone, but if you want the latest and greatest, this is it. The Pro Max got some exclusive upgrades for the main camera module, so if you shoot tons of photos and videos, the new Pro Max will deliver better quality. The chipset is incrementally faster, but more importantly, this year, the Pro duo gets 6 GB of RAM instead of 4 GB, a boon for multitasking. Also, 5G promises to be a major leap in wireless data speeds.

DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON

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Who is this for? Another major upgrade year over year - other than the telephoto camera and LiDAR, this phone is identical to the 12 Pro. This includes using the same OLED and with a higher resolution and HDR10. Basically, this is a Pro for $200 less, as long as you don't use the tele camera often - if you don't, get this one. If you do, skip to the next section.

DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON

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Who is this for? You are fine with your phone's size but you want the new design, the new chipset, the larger screen, 5G even? Well, going directly from 11 Pro to 12 Pro might make all the sense then. Just remember, there is also the iPhone 12 which might be the better deal if the 2x optical zoom is not a make or break for you.

DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON

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Who is this for? This year, the vanilla model is especially well rounded. Teardowns have revealed that it's the exact same hardware as the iPhone 12 Pro with one key exception - the Pro has a telephoto camera (and LiDAR too, though that's less impactful). So, scroll through your gallery and note how often zoomed-in photos appear. Count portrait shots, too, as the 52 mm lens is just right for that. The iPhone 12 has a slightly larger OLED with Dolby Vision and all of the lineup's other bells and whistles, so would you really miss the telephoto cam?

DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON

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Who is this for? Were larger phones really any better, or was there simply a lack of a capable petite flagship? The new SE wasn't it, but the iPhone 12 mini harkens back to the days when Steve Jobs praised phones that can be used single-handed. Moving from the iPhone 11 Pro to the iPhone 12 mini is not an upgrade per se, but it may allow you to rediscover your lost love of small phones.

DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON

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Who is this for? iPhones have been around for over a decade, but some people still haven't owned one. If that was you last year, picking up an iPhone 11 as a relatively cheap and safe way to test out the platform - and if you found that you absolutely love it - then you may want to go all-in and get the most capable iPhone of this generation, the 12 Pro Max.

DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON

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Who is this for? A straightforward case of buyer's remorse - you got the new SE for its size, not its features, a compromise you were willing to make. Then the iPhone 12 mini happened - a small phone that requires no compromise. The chunky top and bottom bezels of the SE are even more of an eyesore than the notch, and with them gone, the mini manages to fit a larger display in a smaller body.

DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON

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The cost calculations assume that you'll sell your old phone and that you're looking at a SIM-free device with base storage. Apple's own trade-in program is a safe bet and the least amount of hassle. However, note that Apple offers the same amount of money for a 64 GB and a 256 GB phone.

So, if you do have a device with more than base storage, it's probably worth the hassle to go through eBay or a similar market place. Even with a base model, you're likely to get more money than Apple offers, so the upgrade can be even cheaper at the expense of some extra effort on your part.