The iPhone 12 was a massive milestone for Apple, reintroducing the flat-edge design and bringing 5G to the masses.
You can pick an iPhone 12 (including the Pro and Pro Max models) for next to nothing these days, and it is still widely supported by Apple.
But there is one massive caveat you need to know about:
The battery life sucks, so unless you’re going to run it in a battery case I’d go with a newer model like the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus – both are cheap also and both have great battery life, especially the latter.
Or, just have a look at some of the most popular refurbished phones you can buy right now – there’s loads of awesome options.
And if you’re unsure about what phone to get (and you want to go refurbished and save 40%), take our quick Find Me My Perfect Phone Quiz – it pulls from over 580+ refurbished phones in our database.
Here is the bottom line on whether the iPhone 12 is still worth your money.
The Bottom Line: Yes, But With With One, Massive Caveat
If you are looking for the absolute cheapest entry point into the “modern” iPhone experience (5G, OLED screen, and MagSafe), the iPhone 12 is a fantastic value, especially on the refurbished market.
However, if you can stretch your budget by just $50–$100, the iPhone 14 offers significantly better battery life and double the base storage, making it the better long-term investment for most people.
Best Alternative To iPhone 12 In 2026
iPhone 14 Plus 128GB – Red – Unlocked
Big-screen iPhone battery life at under $400 refurbished.
- Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz
- Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 12MP wide + 12MP ultra wide
- All-day-plus battery life
- Long iOS updates ahead
- Large sharp OLED screen
- Solid build and water resistance
- 60Hz refresh rate lags rivals
- Slow 20W charging
Big battery fans upgrading from older phones should jump on this—years of updates keep it fresh. Refurb savings from Back Market hit 40-50% off new prices. Go for it, I'd take the higher storage option.
iPhone 14 256GB – Purple – Unlocked
iPhone 14's A15 power and iOS 18 support at under $300 refurb.
- Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz
- Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 12MP + 12MP dual camera
- A15 still handles everything smoothly
- iOS 18 support for years ahead
- IP68 build survives real life
- Solid cameras for everyday snaps
- 60Hz display lags behind 120Hz rivals
- Battery average for heavy users
Budget iOS users upgrading old phones should pick this for reliable performance and long updates. Refurb from Back Market at $266-$418 beats new prices easily. Go for 128GB minimum—I'd never regret the extra space.
iPhone 14 Pro 256GB – Space Black – Unlocked
Pro camera and display at half the new phone price.
- Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 48MP + 12MP + 12MP triple system
- 48MP camera with excellent detail and zoom performance
- 120Hz OLED display is bright and smooth
- A16 chip still handles heavy apps and games
- Six to seven years of iOS updates guaranteed
- Battery life is good but not exceptional — expect one full day
- No USB-C yet; still uses Lightning charging
Buy this if you want a proper flagship camera and display without spending £1000+ on a new phone. The refurbished angle makes it a no-brainer — you're saving serious money on a phone that will get updates for the next six or seven years. Back Market's refurbs come in great condition with warranty backing, so you're not buying blind.
Why the iPhone 12 Still Holds Up
A Design That Hasn’t Aged
Unlike the iPhone 11, which looks a bit “vintage” with its curved edges and thick LCD bezels, the iPhone 12 looks almost identical to the newest models.
It features the same Super Retina XDR (OLED) display found in much more expensive phones, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors that still put mid-range Androids to shame.
5G and MagSafe
The iPhone 12 was the first to include 5G connectivity, meaning it’s still “future-proof” for modern data speeds.
It also introduced MagSafe, giving you access to the entire ecosystem of magnetic chargers, wallets, and mounts that Apple continues to support today.
The A14 Bionic: Still Snappy
Apple’s silicon is legendary for its longevity. The A14 Bionic chip inside the 12 is still more than capable of handling iOS 18, social media, and casual gaming without breaking a sweat.
Unless you’re a heavy video editor or a pro gamer, you won’t notice much of a performance lag.
The Downsides (The “2026 Reality Check”)
- Battery Life: This is the iPhone 12’s Achilles’ heel. While it was fine at launch, the battery is smaller than the iPhone 13’s. If you’re buying refurbished, the battery health might already be depleted, meaning you’ll likely need a midday charge.
- Base Storage: The entry-level iPhone 12 comes with 64GB. In 2025, that is barely enough for your OS and a few high-res photos. You’ll almost certainly need to pay for iCloud or hunt for the 128GB model.
- The “Support” Clock: Released in 2020, the iPhone 12 is likely to receive major iOS updates until roughly 2026 or 2027. You’re looking at about 2 more years of “new” features before it moves to security-only updates.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13: The Tipping Point
The iPhone 13 righted a lot of the wrongs of the iPhone 12, most notably its awful battery life. Battery life is very important, you don’t want to be worrying about.
Out of these two phones, the smarter choice is the iPhone 13; it only costs marginally more and the battery life is orders of magnitude better.
If you’re cross-shopping these two, here is what that extra bit of cash for the iPhone 13 gets you:
- Double the storage (128GB base vs 64GB).
- 2+ extra hours of battery life (a massive real-world difference).
- Brighter screen and a smaller notch.
- Sensor-shift stabilization for better low-light photos.
What I’d Get Instead of The iPhone 12…
Switch up to the base model iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 (currently the best value option right now for performance and longevity) and the difference is night and day.
So, here’s how I’d lay things out from the perspective of today:
- Buy the iPhone 12 if: You are on a strict budget, you want a beautiful OLED screen for the lowest price possible, and you don’t mind carrying a portable charger. It is the perfect “starter” iPhone for a teenager or a reliable backup device.
- Skip the iPhone 12 if: You plan on keeping the phone for 3+ years or you take a lot of photos and videos. In that case, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 is the “sweet spot” of the current market.
I recently bought the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I got it refurbished and it cost me less than price of a base model iPhone 17. I need photo and video for work, so a Pro Max makes sense for me. I also need plenty of storage.
If you want the best possible performance and things like Apple Intelligence and market-leading video capture, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is arguably the best value smartphone you can buy right now.
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