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Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 17e

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleiPhone 12AppleiPhone 17e
Overview
ReleasedOctober 2020March 2026
Display
Screen size6.1″6.1″
Resolution2532 × 11702532 × 1170
Sharpness457 pixels per inch457 pixels per inch
PanelOLEDOLED
Refresh rate60 Hz60 Hz
Peak brightness1,200 nits1,200 nits
Display typeSuper Retina XDR all-screen OLED display with a notch for the TrueDepth camera; 6.06 inches measured as a standard rectangleSuper Retina XDR OLED display
Pixel density460 ppi460 ppi
Brightness detail625 nits max (typical); 1,200 nits max (HDR)800 nits max (typical); 1,200 nits peak (HDR)
Always-on displayNo–
Screen protectionCeramic Shield front; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coatingCeramic Shield 2 front
Display featuresHDR; True Tone; Wide colour (P3); Haptic Touch; 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical)HDR; True Tone; Wide colour (P3); Haptic Touch; 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical); anti-reflective coating
Performance
ChipA14 BionicA19
Memory4 GB8 GB
Storage64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB256 GB, 512 GB
CPU6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores
GPU4-core GPU4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators; hardware-accelerated ray tracing
AI engine16-core Neural Engine16-core Neural Engine
Cameras
Main camera12 MP48 MP
Ultra wide camera12 MPNone
Telephoto cameraNoneNone
Optical zoomNoneNone
Front camera12 MP12 MP
Main camera12MP Main, ƒ/1.6 aperture, optical image stabilisation, seven-element lens, 100% Focus Pixels48MP Fusion Main, 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, optical image stabilisation, Hybrid Focus Pixels; 24MP and 48MP photos
Ultra wide camera12MP Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.4 aperture, 120° field of view, five-element lens–
Front camera12MP TrueDepth camera, ƒ/2.2 aperture12MP TrueDepth camera, ƒ/1.9 aperture, autofocus with Focus Pixels
Zoom2x optical zoom out; digital zoom up to 5x (photos) and 3x (video)12MP 2x Telephoto (52 mm) from the Main camera; digital zoom up to 10x
Video recordingHDR video with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 30 fps; 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; HEVC and H.2644K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p Dolby Vision at 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; HEVC and H.264
Front videoHDR video with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 30 fps; 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps
Camera featuresNight mode; Deep Fusion; Smart HDR 3; Portrait mode with Depth Control; Portrait Lighting with six effects; True Tone flash with slow sync; sapphire crystal lens coverPhotonic Engine; Deep Fusion; Smart HDR 5; next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control; Night mode; Photographic Styles
Battery and charging
Battery2,815 mAh4,005 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)Up to 17 hoursUp to 26 hours
Wireless chargingUp to 15 WUp to 15 W
Battery life detailUp to 11 hours streamed video playback; up to 65 hours audio playback; 2,815 mAh (GSMArena)Up to 21 hours streamed video playback; EU energy label class A, 45 hours per charge, at least 1,000 charge cycles
Wired chargingUp to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)Up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)
Wireless chargingMagSafe up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5WMagSafe and Qi2 up to 15W with a 20W adapter or higher
Connectivity
Satellite messagingNoYes
Mobile network5G (sub-6GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA; UK model A2403Apple C1X modem; 5G (sub-6GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO; UK model A3634
SIMDual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM); dual eSIM support
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMOWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 5.3
Ultra WidebandUltra Wideband chip for spatial awareness–
NFCNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with Power ReserveNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with power reserve
Satellite features–Emergency SOS via satellite; Roadside Assistance via satellite
USBLightning connector; video out up to 1080p through the Lightning Digital AV Adapter (sold separately)USB-C with charging and USB 2 (up to 480Mb/s)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou; digital compass; iBeacon micro-locationGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and NavIC; digital compass; iBeacon micro-location
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight162 g170 g
Thickness7.4 mm7.8 mm
Height × width146.7 × 71.5 mm146.7 × 71.5 mm
Water and dust resistanceIP68IP68
MaterialsCeramic Shield front, glass back and aluminium designAluminium design; glass back
ColoursBlack, White, (PRODUCT)RED, Green, Blue, PurpleBlack, White, Soft Pink
ButtonsRing/Silent switch; side button; volume up/downAction button; side button; volume up/down
Water resistance detailIP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529IP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
BiometricsFace IDFace ID
SensorsBarometer; three-axis gyro; accelerometer; proximity sensor; ambient light sensorBarometer; high dynamic range gyro; high-g accelerometer; proximity sensor; dual ambient light sensors
Speakers–Built-in stereo speakers
MicrophonesStereo recordingBuilt-in microphones; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes
Software
Operating systemiOSiOS
Software at launchiOS 14iOS 26
Software updates–Security, corrective and functionality updates for at least 5 years after it stops being sold (EU product information sheet)
AI featuresApple Intelligence not supportedApple Intelligence; Visual Intelligence
Safety features–Crash Detection
In the box–iPhone 17e, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), documentation; no power adapter

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