The Apple iPhone 12 Pro marked a significant turning point in Apple’s smartphone legacy. Launched in October 2020, it was a perfect blend of top-tier performance, elegant design, enhanced photography features, and improved durability. Even years after its launch, the Launched in October 2020, it was a perfect blend of top-tier performance, elegant design, enhanced photography features, and improved durability. Even years after its launch, the iPhone 12 Pro remains a solid choice for those who seek a powerful iPhone experience without stepping into the ultra-premium pricing of the latest models.
Apple focused heavily on refining the premium segment with this release, providing users with a device that boasted 5G connectivity, a powerful A14 Bionic chip, an upgraded LiDAR scanner for improved AR capabilities, and a new Super Retina XDR OLED display, all wrapped in a stainless-steel body with Ceramic Shield protection. This article explores every aspect of the iPhone 12 Pro, including design, display, performance, camera, software, battery life, and how it holds up in 2025 compared to newer iPhones.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro 2025: Stunning Design with Premium Finish
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro brought back the beloved flat-edged design reminiscent of the iPhone 4 and 5 era, which made it stand out from the curvier predecessors like the iPhone 11 series. Its surgical-grade stainless steel frame offered a glossy, durable touch, while the textured matte glass on the back ensured a premium grip. The front of the device featured Apple’s Ceramic Shield, which Apple claimed offered four times better drop performance compared to previous models.
With its IP68 water and dust resistance rating, the iPhone 12 Pro was built to withstand everyday accidents. Available in four colors—Graphite, Silver, Gold, and Pacific Blue—the phone exuded elegance and class. The flat edges gave the iPhone 12 Pro a more industrial and professional look, which was widely appreciated by users and tech reviewers alike. Even today, this design remains iconic, setting a benchmark for premium smartphone aesthetics and ergonomics.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Super Retina XDR Display for Visual Brilliance
Apple equipped the iPhone 12 Pro with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, which delivered stunning visuals with high brightness, true blacks, and superior color accuracy. With a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels and support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision, this display was ideal for media consumption, gaming, and professional use.
The display’s peak brightness reached up to 1200 nits for HDR content, making it perfect for outdoor usage and content creation. Whether you were watching 4K HDR videos, editing photos, or playing graphically intensive games, the iPhone 12 Pro’s display delivered smooth, vivid, and immersive visuals.
The thin bezels and precise color calibration further elevated the viewing experience. Apple’s True Tone technology also adapted the screen’s color temperature according to ambient lighting, making it comfortable on the eyes during long usage. Even in 2025, this display remains highly competitive against modern OLED panels found in newer smartphones.
Apple iPhone 12 ProA14 Bionic Chip: The Powerhouse of Performance
At the heart of the iPhone 12 Pro lies Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, which was the world’s first 5nm chipset at the time of its launch. The A14 Bionic was a major leap in performance and power efficiency, featuring a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine capable of 11 trillion operations per second. This chip offered seamless multitasking, ultra-fast app launches, and incredible responsiveness across all use cases.
Gaming on the iPhone 12 Pro felt fluid and lag-free, even with graphically demanding titles. Augmented Reality (AR) applications ran smoothly, thanks to the powerful Neural Engine and LiDAR scanner integration. The A14 Bionic also improved machine learning tasks and camera processing, enabling smart features like Deep Fusion and Smart HDR 3. In benchmark tests, it consistently outperformed flagship Android counterparts of its time, and even in 2025, it delivers a solid user experience that competes with mid-range and upper mid-range devices.
Apple iPhone 12 ProTriple Camera System with LiDAR: Redefining Mobile Photography
Photography has always been a strong suit for Apple, and the iPhone 12 Pro took mobile photography to a new level with its triple-camera system. The setup included a 12MP wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 120° field of view, and a 12MP telephoto lens capable of 2x optical zoom. Apple’s Deep Fusion technology, Night Mode, and Smart HDR 3 worked together to deliver stunning shots in any lighting condition.
The LiDAR scanner, introduced for the first time on an iPhone, enabled faster autofocus in low light and significantly improved portrait shots in night mode. Night Mode was also extended to the ultra-wide and front cameras, allowing users to capture clearer low-light selfies and landscapes
. The iPhone 12 Pro’s camera offered ProRAW support, giving photographers greater control over editing and color correction. For videographers, the iPhone 12 Pro was the first to offer Dolby Vision HDR recording at up to 60fps, making it a favorite among content creators. The camera’s stabilization, depth-sensing capabilities, and color accuracy ensured that every photo and video maintained Apple’s hallmark quality.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Software and Ecosystem Advantage
Running on iOS 14 out of the box and now upgradable to iOS 18 in 2025, the iPhone 12 Pro benefits from Apple’s long-term software support. The operating system brings a refined user interface, better widgets, enhanced privacy controls, and smoother animations. With features like Focus Mode, Live Text, App Library, and improved Siri, users can enjoy a smart, seamless experience across their devices.
The integration with the Apple ecosystem makes the iPhone 12 Pro a powerful tool for professionals and creatives. Whether it’s using Handoff between Mac and iPhone, AirDrop for instant file sharing, or Continuity Camera for document scanning, Apple ensures the iPhone works fluidly with other Apple products. The App Store continues to offer a premium selection of apps, games, and utilities optimized for the A14 chip, providing a fluid experience with regular updates and high security. With iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage, and Apple Pay, the iPhone 12 Pro remains a central hub in Apple’s expanding ecosystem.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro 5G Connectivity and Future-Proofing
The iPhone 12 Pro was Apple’s first device to support 5G connectivity, marking a major shift toward future-ready performance. It supported both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G in select regions, offering faster download and upload speeds, lower latency, and better overall network efficiency. Although 5G infrastructure was still developing during the iPhone 12 Pro’s launch, it became more widespread by 2023 and 2024, making the device a valuable long-term investment.
Streaming high-definition content, cloud gaming, video conferencing, and downloading large files on the go became much smoother and faster with 5G. Apple also introduced Smart Data Mode, which intelligently switched between 5G and LTE to optimize battery life based on usage. As we step into 2025, 5G networks have matured globally, allowing the iPhone 12 Pro to take full advantage of high-speed mobile internet, making it still relevant and useful for everyday use.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Battery Life and Charging Capabilities
Apple improved the battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro compared to its predecessor, offering up to 17 hours of video playback and optimized battery charging features to extend overall battery health. The 2815mAh battery might seem modest by today’s standards, but the efficient A14 chip and iOS optimization ensured all-day usage for most users.
The iPhone 12 Pro supported 20W fast charging via Lightning cable and MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W. MagSafe also enabled magnetic accessories such as cases, wallets, and stands, adding a level of convenience and innovation to charging and customization. Although it didn’t come with a charger in the box, Apple’s decision was part of its environmental goals, aiming to reduce e-waste. In 2025, with improved charger availability and MagSafe accessories, the iPhone 12 Pro remains functional and convenient when it comes to power management and charging.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Storage Options and Pricing Evolution
The iPhone 12 Pro was offered in three storage variants—128GB, 256GB, and 512GB—catering to different user needs. With the rise in high-resolution photos, ProRAW image formats, and 4K Dolby Vision videos, the 256GB and 512GB options became more popular among professionals and creatives. At launch, the iPhone 12 Pro was priced starting at $999, aligning with Apple’s flagship pricing structure.
However, as newer models like the iPhone 13 Pro, 14 Pro, and 15 Pro Max entered the market, the price of the iPhone 12 Pro reduced significantly in secondary and refurbished markets. In 2025, it stands as one of the best value-for-money premium iPhones, especially for users who don’t necessarily need the latest features but still want powerful performance and flagship capabilities at a reduced price.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Longevity and Current Relevance in 2025
Despite being nearly five years old, the iPhone 12 Pro remains a solid performer in 2025. Thanks to Apple’s commitment to software updates and premium hardware build, the device continues to receive security patches and iOS upgrades. Its performance still matches many mid-range and upper mid-range Android phones, and its camera system remains competitive in terms of photo and video quality.
While newer iPhones offer features like 120Hz ProMotion displays, Dynamic Island, and USB-C charging, the iPhone 12 Pro covers all essential features needed for a reliable, premium smartphone experience. For users upgrading from older models like iPhone 8, X, or XR, the iPhone 12 Pro presents a substantial jump in performance, photography, and 5G connectivity. Its current relevance is boosted further by its compatibility with Apple services like Apple Fitness+, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, and iCloud+, making it a complete package for digital lifestyle enthusiasts.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Final Verdict: Still a Flagship Experience Worth Having
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro remains one of the most successful and iconic iPhones in Apple’s history. Its powerful A14 Bionic chip, impressive OLED display, advanced triple-camera system with LiDAR, and future-proof 5G connectivity collectively offer a complete flagship experience.
While newer iPhones bring incremental improvements, the core strengths of the iPhone 12 Pro continue to deliver exceptional value, performance, and usability. Whether you are a content creator, a tech-savvy professional, or a user looking for a reliable and premium smartphone at a competitive price in 2025, the iPhone 12 Pro still holds strong. With Apple’s long-term support, refined design, and deep integration within the ecosystem, it stands tall as a smart investment that doesn’t compromise on quality.