One of the many things we love about iPhones is how long they last. That longevity lets you buy an older iPhone without sacrificing performance, helping to save money and the environment.
So while Apple may not sell the iPhone 13 or iPhone 12 anymore, that doesn’t mean they’re outdated. Both phones are widely available from refurbished dealers, and are still in high demand. (If you’re wondering where to buy a refurbished phone, read our guide on the best places to buy a refurbished iPhone in Canada.)
If you’re looking for a used iPhone right now, you may be wondering: is the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 still good in 2024? And should I buy the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13? In this post we’ll break down a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.
Not sure what to expect from a refurbished iPhone? Check out this comprehensive guide to buying refurbished.
Are the iPhone 12 and 13 still good in 2024?
In brief: yes, both the iPhone 12 and 13 are still good in 2024. Both phones will do everything a regular smartphone user will need, with the iPhone 13 offering a slightly improved experience with a bit more longevity.
Is the iPhone 12 still good in 2024?
In a word, yes.
Though it doesn’t have the most versatile camera or fastest processors today, it still takes a darn good picture and runs the latest apps.
And based on Apple’s typical support cycle, it’s expected to get software updates for at least a couple more years.
Overall, for most users with average needs, the iPhone 12 is still a good phone in 2024.
Is the iPhone 13 still good in 2024?
The iPhone 13 is a very good phone, even three years after its release date.
Compared to the iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 boasts a superior camera, especially for low light photography and action shots. It also has a noticeably longer-lasting battery and an updated processor.
And it should get software updates for at least a few more years making it a longer lasting investment.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: How much do they cost?
How much is a refurbished iPhone 12?
The price of a refurbished iPhone 12 in Canada depends on the seller, as well as the storage capacity and the exterior condition of the phone. At the time of writing in late 2024, they range around $350 - $600.
At launch in late 2020, the iPhone 12 retailed starting at $1,129 in Canada. It was marked down to $949 the next year with the release of the iPhone 13.
Here at Orchard, you can snag a refurbished iPhone 12 starting at $399. For a more affordable option, check out the similar (but smaller) iPhone 12 Mini.
How much is a refurbished iPhone 13?
Prices of the iPhone 13 in Canada vary by seller, as well as the storage capacity and exterior condition of the phone. At the time of writing in late 2024, they fall into the $525 - $800 range.
When the iPhone 13 launched in late 2021, pricing started at $1,099. This price was dropped to $999 with the launch of the iPhone 14 the next year.
At Orchard, a refurbished iPhone 13 starts at $605. A smaller but more cost-effective option is the iPhone 13 Mini.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: Design and display
Looks-wise, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 are very similar. They have basically the same dimensions, so they’ll feel about the same in your hand. The iPhone 13 is about 10 grams heavier and just 0.15mm thicker.
The only visible design difference between the two is the size of the front camera notch, which is 20% smaller on the iPhone 13. (We’ve yet to determine if that makes it 20% nicer to look at.)
Take the two phones outside on a sunny day, though, and you’ll definitely notice a difference in the screens. The iPhone 13’s maximum screen brightness is 28% higher than the iPhone 12’s, making for easier viewing and less squinting.
In terms of colour options, both phones are available in black, white, blue, green and red. Apple got a little creative with the names for the iPhone 13: black is “Midnight” and white is “Starlight.”
Note that blue and green look pretty different between the two phones, so check pictures before you buy.
The iPhone 12 is also available in purple (a light lavender colour) while the iPhone 13 comes in a pale, delicate pink.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: Software support
The latest version of iOS may not seem like a big deal, but it’s actually pretty important. On top of the cool new features, it comes with key performance and security upgrades that keep your phone running smoothly and safely. And if your iOS version falls too far behind, you may not be able to use certain apps.
That’s why wise shoppers look for iPhones that will get at least a few more years of software updates. Read on to see how this applies to the iPhone 12 and 13.
How long will the iPhone 12 continue to receive software support?
Strictly speaking, no one knows exactly how long the iPhone 12 will continue to receive software support. But we can make an educated guess.
Generally, iPhones receive 6 to 8 years of software updates, with most getting 7 years.
Assuming the iPhone 12 will receive 7 years of updates, it should be supported at least through late 2027 – 3 more years at the time of writing.
How long will the iPhone 13 continue to receive software support?
As with the iPhone 12, there’s no crystal ball that can say exactly when the iPhone 13 will stop receiving software updates.
But if we assume the same 7 years of support, that means it will get updates for (at a minimum) 4 more years, until at least fall 2028.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: Battery life
What is the battery life on the iPhone 12?
Apple claims the iPhone 12 will run for up to 17 hours of screen-on time. Like all of Apple’s battery estimates, take this with a grain of salt. Their perfect testing conditions don’t exactly translate to the real world.
A more realistic result is between 8.5 hours (Tom’s Guide) and 12.5 hours (Anandtech). The specific battery life you’ll get depends on many factors like screen brightness, mobile network, notifications and other settings.
What is the battery life on the iPhone 13?
Apple’s “perfect world” battery estimate is up to 19 hours of screen-on time for the iPhone 13. That number may be idealistic, but it’s undeniable that the iPhone 13 has substantially better battery performance than the iPhone 12.
Web surfing tests performed by Tom’s Guide found a battery life of about 10.5 hours, and GSMArena reached 16 hours. Depending on your settings and mobile network, you should expect to see battery life somewhere in that range.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: Camera
The difference in camera quality from one iPhone generation to the next just isn’t as big as it used to be. The iPhone 12 and 13 have similar camera specs and will take good quality photos and videos in most conditions.
Where the iPhone 13 shines is in its improved low-light performance and Cinematic Video feature. However, you generally can’t go wrong with an iPhone camera, and most users will be pretty pleased with the shots they get from the iPhone 12.
Wide and ultra-wide lenses on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13
The main camera on an iPhone is the wide-angle lens. On paper, the wide angle lenses on the iPhone 12 and 13 have similar specs. They both capture 12 megapixels and have a focal aperture of f/1.6.
However, the iPhone 13 has a new and improved sensor. The two key upgrades are:
- It captures 47% more light, for better low-light shots and richer details in any light.
- Its sensor-shift optical image stabilization keeps your images sharp even if you’re moving around.
Both phones have an ultra-wide lens, which means you can capture a wider area with .5x optical zoom (or a zoom in with 2x optical zoom). The difference here is processing improvements on the iPhone 13 that can improve images taken in challenging conditions.
To sum it up: While no one would ever accuse the iPhone 12 of taking a bad picture, you’ll definitely see some improvements on the iPhone 13.
Cinematic mode on the iPhone 12 and 13
Cinematic Video mode is a new feature with the iPhone 13, and is not supported on the iPhone 12.
Cinematic Video automatically focuses on the subject of a shot, and applies an increased blur to the background (or foreground), achieving a movie-like feel. If the initial choice of subject is incorrect, you can even change it after the fact.
You can see how it looks in this fun little video from Apple’s iPhone 13 launch event:
iPhone Cinematic Mode - Whodunnit - Shot on iPhone 13 - YouTube
Low-light photography on the iPhone 12 and 13
Low-light photography is probably the most significant improvement between the iPhone 12 and 13 cameras. Tom’s Guide shared an example photo of flowers taken in low light.
- The photo from the iPhone 12, while passable, is a little soft and blurry.
- The iPhone 13 shot is sharp and vibrant, with rich colors and dewdrops that seem to sparkle.
Most people probably don’t take that many photos in the dark, but for those times when you want to, this is a point in favour of the iPhone 13.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: Chip, Performance and 5G
Chip, performance and 5G on the iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 sports an A14 Bionic chip. While terms like that don’t really mean much to most, the upshot is that it was the latest and greatest Apple processor when the phone came out.
Of course, that was four years ago and Apple has continued to upgrade its processors since. Still, the iPhone 12 will have no issues handling most tasks you want to throw at it.
In Canada, the iPhone 12 should offer robust 5G coverage, especially in urban areas, though it doesn’t cover as many bands as the iPhone 13. While it’s missing the n29, n30, n48 and n258 bands, these are largely incremental improvements on the iPhone 12’s broad range of bands, which includes:
- Sub-6GHz: n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79
- mmWave (US only): n260 (39 GHz), n261 (28 GHz)
Check with your carrier to see what coverage you’ll get.
Chip, performance and 5G on the iPhone 13
The chip in the iPhone 13 is an A15 Bionic chip. Interestingly, Apple used the same chip for the base iPhone 14 model, reserving the A16 for the 14 Pro and Pro Max.
This is a sign that the A15 chip was a particularly good release, and reviews generally agree that it performed notably better than the A14 chip in the iPhone 12. (The Cinematic Video mode on the iPhone 13 is also made possible by this chip.)
Another key improvement in the iPhone 13 is 5G coverage, adding the n29, n30, n48 and n258 (US-only) network bands to prepare the phone for future network upgrades and ensure more robust compatibility worldwide. As always, check the specifics with your carrier.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: Storage
What are the available storage sizes of the iPhone 12?
The iPhone 12 is available in storage tiers of 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB. While the base storage of 64 GB is less than most phones offer these days, it should be enough for users with light to moderate storage needs.
That being said, if your budget isn’t too tight, it may make sense to spend a few extra dollars on more storage space. iPhone storage can’t be expanded, so you can’t change your mind later without getting a new phone. 128 GB is generally considered the standard amount of storage for smartphones today.
What are the available storage sizes of the iPhone 13?
The iPhone 13 doubles the iPhone 12’s storage, with tiers of 128, 256 and 512 GB.
As we mentioned above, 128 GB is a good amount of storage for the average person. But it doesn’t hurt to get more if you can afford it. With 256 GB, most people won’t ever have to think about how much room is left on their phone, which is a pretty nice feeling.
How much storage do I really need?
A good rule of thumb is to see how much storage you’re using on your current device, and get a phone with at least 50% more than that. But in case you’re still not sure:
128 GB is a solid amount for the average phone user. According to Samsung, a 128 GB smartphone can store 900 photos and over 100 apps, with room left over for videos, songs and movies. (My 128 GB phone has 1500 photos and 340 apps, and still has 35 GB left.)
If you download lots of movies or take tons of video, opt for 256 GB to avoid bumping up against your storage limit. You’ll pay less for cloud storage in the long run, and your phone will run more smoothly.
On the other hand, if you don’t take many photos or consume as much media as most, 64 GB may be enough to serve your needs.
512 GB is a luxurious amount of storage, enough for all but the most avid videographers or film downloaders. But if you can afford it and you want it, go for it.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: Specs and Comparison Table
|
Feature |
iPhone 12 |
iPhone 13 |
|
Release date |
October 23, 2020 |
September 24, 2021 |
|
Estimated end of iOS support |
Fall 2027 |
Fall 2028 |
|
Display |
6.1” OLED display with up to 569 nits brightness |
6.1” OLED display with up to 795 nits brightness |
|
Dimensions |
5.78” (146.7 mm) x 2.82” (71.5 mm) x 0.29” (7.4 mm) |
5.78” (146.7 mm) x 2.82” (71.5 mm) x 0.3” (7.65 mm) |
|
Colours |
Black, white, blue, green, red, purple |
Black (Midnight), white (Starlight), blue, green, red, pink |
|
Battery |
2,815 mAh Between 8.5 - 12.5 hours screen-on time |
3,227 mAh Between 10.5 - 16.5 hours screen-on time |
|
Camera |
12 MP dual, f/1.6 |
12 MP dual, f/1.6 Cinematic Video Mode |
|
Selfie camera |
12 MP, f/2.2 |
12 MP, f/2.2 Cinematic Video Mode |
|
Chip |
A14 Bionic |
A15 Bionic |
|
Network |
5G (mmWave US only) |
5G+ (mmWave US Only) |
|
Storage |
64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
|
Price |
$399 CAD and up at Orchard |
$605 CAD and up at Orchard |
Conclusion
Overall, the iPhone 12 and 13 are similar phones that both have a lot to offer. Whether the iPhone 13’s improvements justify the $150 CAD difference between the 128 GB iPhone 13 and 128 GB iPhone 12 is down to your priorities and budget.
The iPhone 13 is the phone we generally recommend if you’re shopping refurbished. It’s a little better at most things than the iPhone 12, with the most significant advantage in its two or more hours of extra battery life. And since it’s a year newer, it’ll most likely be supported with software updates for at least a year longer than the iPhone 12.
Starting at $605 CAD for the 128 GB model, the iPhone 13 represents significant savings over a brand-new phone. It’s a great balance of performance and price.
That being said, four years after its release, the iPhone 12 still stands up as a perfectly functional phone, especially for those on a bit of a tighter budget. For the casual user, it will do everything you need it to, take nice pictures and receive the newest OSs for at least a few more years.
With prices from just $399 CAD for the 64 GB model and $459 CAD for 128 GB (which is the amount of storage we recommend for most users), it’s the perfect affordable iPhone.
