Apple iPhone 12 Pro
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until October 2027 · Buy-by October 2025
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~7-year update track record — on that basis the iPhone 12 Pro should be supported until around October 2027. Buying it today still gets you about 1.4 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Apple's documentation · last verified 2026-06-11 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
47% above the $300–600 median ($12.54/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
A still-capable stainless-steel Pro with a telephoto lens and LiDAR, but its small battery and shrinking update window limit its long-term appeal.
Pros
- Triple camera with 2x telephoto and LiDAR covers wide, zoom and depth shots
- Premium stainless-steel and Ceramic Shield build still feels solid
- A14 Bionic remains fast enough for everyday apps and many games
- Bright OLED display and IP68 water resistance hold up well in 2026
Cons
- Small 2815mAh battery means weaker endurance, worse with an aged cell
- Update window is running short, likely ending around 2027
- Still uses Lightning rather than USB-C and charges relatively slowly
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz, up to 1200 nits peak (HDR) |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP — wide, ƒ/1.6, OIS |
| ultra-wide | 12MP |
| telephoto | 12MP — 2x optical zoom; LiDAR scanner aids depth and low-light autofocus |
| front | 12MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 2,815 mAh |
| Charging | Wired ~50% in 30 min with 20W+; MagSafe 15W wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 187 g |
| Materials | Surgical-grade stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | iOS 14 at launch |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Lightning |
| Update policy | ~7 years of updates (our estimate from Apple's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the iPhone 12 Pro get updates?
Apple does not give a fixed promise, but its phones tend to get about seven years of iOS and security updates. The iPhone 12 Pro launched in October 2020, so support is likely to wind down around 2027, meaning only a year or two of updates remain as of 2026.
Is a used iPhone 12 Pro worth it in 2026?
Only at the right price. Around 300 dollars it offers a Pro camera with telephoto and LiDAR plus a premium build, but the small battery, Lightning port and short remaining update window mean it is best as a budget pick rather than a long-term one.
Should I replace the battery on a used iPhone 12 Pro?
Often yes. The original 2815mAh battery is small to begin with, and many units from 2020 are now well below 85 percent health. Budgeting for a battery replacement can meaningfully improve daily endurance on a used iPhone 12 Pro.
What does the LiDAR scanner on the iPhone 12 Pro do?
LiDAR measures depth quickly, improving autofocus in low light, enabling Night mode portraits and powering augmented reality apps. It is a Pro-only feature that the standard iPhone 12 lacks, and it still works well for AR and depth-based photography.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-11.