The time of year is finally here: Apple has launched its new lineup of its flagship iPhone. With one fell swoop, Apple has dropped four new iPhone 12 models, offering consumers a broad spectrum of features and price points.
If you’re in the market for a new iPhone but interested in a mid-level choice, then you’ll probably be looking at the new iPhone 12 or 2018’s iPhone XR. We’re comparing these devices to determine which is the best option of the two and — if you’re already rocking an iPhone XR — whether it’s time to upgrade.
Specs
iPhone 12
iPhone XR
Size
138.4 by 67.3 by 7.3mm (5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches)
150.9 by 75.7 by 8.3mm (5.94 by 2.98 by 0.33 inches)
Weight
5.78 ounces (164 grams)
6.84 ounces (194 grams)
Screen size
6.1-inch OLED
6.1-inch Retina IPS LCD
Screen resolution
2532 x 1170 pixel resolution (460 ppi)
1792 x 828 pixel resolution (326 ppi)
Operating system
iOS 14
iOS 14
Storage space
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
64GB, 128GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
Tap-to-pay services
Apple Pay
Apple Pay
Processor
Apple A14 Bionic
Apple A12 Bionic
RAM
3GB
3GB
Camera
Dual-wide and ultrawide rear, 12MP TrueDepth front
Single 12MP rear, 7MP front
Video
4K at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 fps
4K at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps
Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0
Ports
Lightning
Lightning
Fingerprint sensor
Yes, front-mounted
No
Water resistance
IP68
IP67
Battery
TBC
18W fast charging
Qi wireless charging
2,942mAh
15W fast-charging
Qi wireless charging
App marketplace
Apple App Store
Apple App Store
Network support
AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon
AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon
Colors
Black, blue, green, white, and (Product)RED
Blue, white, black, yellow, coral, red
Price
$799
$499
Buy from
Apple
Apple
Review score
News
4.5 stars
Design, display, durability
Digital Trends graphic
While the iPhone 12 features the same 6.1-inch display as the XR, the new iPhone 12 features an OLED display, whereas the XR uses a regular LCD display. The OLED display brings a richer visual experience to the new iPhone 12, as OLED displays feature true blacks and a wider contrast ratio. It also has a much higher pixel density than the XR display, so it’ll look sharper and crisper.
The iPhone 12 brings back one of the most lauded designs in the history of the iPhone, the iPhone 4, ditching the sloped sides for an aluminum frame and a glass back. Considering the iPhone XR’s design has been around for three years, we’re in favor of this beautiful resurrection of a retro design. The iPhone 12 also features a new Ceramic Shield technology that Apple claims will bring a new level of toughness to your smartphone glass. Apple claims this will lead to better drop performance and fewer shattered screens.
With a gorgeous new design and improved durability, the iPhone 12 is the clear winner.
Winner: Apple iPhone 12
Performance, battery life, charging
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The iPhone 12 is launching with Apple’s new groundbreaking A14 processor. We got a peek at the performance of this new 5nm chip in the most recent iPad Air. It represents a huge leap forward in performance, with almost 12 billion transistors. Apple promises blazing speeds and performance from this new chip, and given Apple’s past performance, we believe them.
The iPhone XR is rocking the A12 Bionic from 2018. The A12 is certainly a powerful processor that can stand on its own, but with the leaps in processing power each year, two years certainly make a difference. Furthermore, if you’re looking to pick up a new device today, it’s usually best to grab the one that will last the longest — and Apple’s A14 Bionic will be running iOS smoothly for years to come.
Battery life is still something of a question, though. Rumors have it that the iPhone 12 will have a smaller battery than its predecessors, and that includes the iPhone XR. The iPhone XR showcased excellent all-day battery life, and we hope the iPhone 12 will be able to match this — though we can’t be certain until we’ve completed our tests. Both phones include fast charging and wireless charging, though the iPhone 12 will have faster 18W charging as well.
Still, battery questions aside, the faster processor means this is another win for the iPhone 12.
Winner: Apple iPhone 12
Camera
While the iPhone XR features a single rear 12-megapixel lens, the iPhone 12 has dual wide and ultrawide rear lenses, both clocking in at 12MP each, giving it an immediate edge. The iPhone 12 also supports Night Mode, which isn’t supported on the iPhone XR. While the XR will still take good low light photos, it won’t be able to match the iPhone 12’s software for low light performance.
The iPhone XR and the iPhone have similar video recording capabilities at 4K and 1080p, but the iPhone 12 also brings HDR video recording. While that’s not an enormous upgrade, it’s worth noting.
Both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone XR feature fantastic and almost identical cameras and photo or video performance — but camera technology has moved on a lot in two years. The iPhone 12 is absolutely going to be the winner here.
Winner: iPhone 12
Software and updates
iPhone XR Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Both of these iPhones are capable of running the latest firmware which is iOS 14. Since both these devices will get identical updates for years to come, it’s a foregone conclusion that these devices are a tie in this particular category.
Winner: Tie
Special features
The iPhone 12 will be 5G capable at launch and is officially the first 5G-enabled iPhone to date. We’ve taken a look at 5G before, and while it’s a neat party trick to have 5G speeds, access to true 5G networks are limited to certain large metro areas. This should not detract from the reality that a 5G phone is more future-proofed than one that only runs 4G LTE, but don’t buy into the hype — yet.
While both the iPhone XR and iPhone 12 support wireless charging, the iPhone 12 is taking it up a notch with MagSafe for iPhone. Owners of the Apple Watch will be familiar with this technology that helps you align your charger with your device’s wireless charging coils. Apple hopes this will make charging easier, as well as open a whole new ecosystem of cases and chargers that can magnetically clip to the back of the phone.
Winner: Apple iPhone 12
Price and availability
The iPhone XR will now be available starting at $499. It’s available on all major U.S. carriers. The new iPhone 12 will be available for pre-order from October 16, with a full release on October 23. Prices will start at $799.
Overall winner: iPhone 12
While the iPhone 12 and the iPhone XR share some close specs in terms of processing power and likely perform identically in light day-to-day use, the gorgeous new design, 5G compatibility, MagSafe charging, and slightly improved camera make the iPhone 12 the clear winner.
If you already have an iPhone XR, perhaps consider waiting one more upgrade cycle — but if you’re looking for a new phone, and are stuck between these two, then the new iPhone 12 is the way to go. It’s powerful, beautiful, and will keep you up to date for years to come.