Home Phone comparison Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Apple iPhone Air - Which is better?

Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone Air

66 out 100
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
VS
88 out 100
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Apple iPhone Air

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPhone 12 Pro Manufactured in October, 2020, with display 6.1 with chipsetApple A14 Bionic, vs Apple iPhone Air, Manufactured in September, 2025with chipsetApple A19 Pro. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    Reasons to choose Apple iPhone Air
    • Larger display: 6.5in
    • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
    • Lighter design: 165g vs 189g
    • Higher battery capacity: 3149mAh vs 2815mAh
    • Newer Bluetooth version: 6.0 vs 5

    Versions

    Available versions and configurations
    Memory Options - 6/128 GB
    - 6/256 GB
    - 6/512 GB    		 - 8/256 GB
    - 8/512 GB
    - 8/1024 GB

    Review

    Key Specs Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Apple iPhone Air
    Display
    Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
    Camera
    Main & front camera tests
    Performance
    App & system performance
    Games
    3D gaming performance
    Battery
    Battery life, charging speed & type
    Connectivity
    Connectivity features
    NanoReview Score
    Overall score by NanoReview
    Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
    Customize your score
    Function
    Importance (Weight)
    Display:
    Camera:
    Performance:
    Gaming:
    Battery:
    Connectivity:
    Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

    Tests & specs

    Specs & test comparison
    Smartphones:
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    vs
    Apple iPhone Air

    Display

    Display quality comparison
    Type OLED OLED
    Size 6.1 in 6.5 in
    Resolution 1170x2532 pixels 1260x2736 pixels
    Aspect ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
    Pixel density 460 ppi 460 ppi
    Refresh rate 60 Hz 120 Hz
    Adaptive refresh rate No Yes (1-120 Hz)
    Max brightness 800 nits 3000 nits
    HDR support Yes Dolby Vision Yes, Dolby Vision
    Screen-to-body ratio 87.1 % 88.9 %
    Features DCI-P3 - DCI-P3
    - Always-On Display
    Display test
    Peak brightness (auto)
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    796 nits
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a
    sRGB gamut99.6 %n/a
    PWM (Flicker)277 Hzn/a
    Response time3.6 msn/a
    Contrast∞ Infiniten/a
    Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPhone 12 Pro]

    Design & Build

    Design and ergonomics comparison
    Height 146.7 mm (5.78 in) 156.2 mm (6.15 in)
    Width 71.5 mm (2.81 in) 74.7 mm (2.94 in)
    Thickness 7.4 mm (0.29 in) 5.6 mm (0.22 in)
    Weight 189 g (6.67 oz) 165 g (5.82 oz)
    Water resistance IP68 IP68
    Back panel Glass Glass
    Frame Metal Metal
    Colors - Silver
    - Gold
    - Gray
    - Blue    		 - White
    - Black
    - Gold
    - Blue
    Fingerprint sensor No No
    Screen-to-body ratio
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    87.1 %
    Apple iPhone Air
    88.9 %

    Performance

    Testing Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Apple iPhone Air In benchmarks
    Processor
    Chipset Apple A14 Bionic Apple A19 Pro
    Max Frequency 3100 MHz 4300 MHz
    CPU Cores 6 (2 + 4) 6 (2 + 4)
    Architecture - 4/1.8 (Icestorm)
    - 2/3.1 (Firestorm)    		 4/2.51 ()
    Process TSMC TSMC
    Transistor Size 5 nm 3 nm
    Neural Processor Apple Neural Engine Neural Engine
    Graphics Apple A14 GPU n/a
    GPU Cores 256 n/a
    GPU Frequency 1278 MHz n/a
    FLOPS 654.3 GFLOPS n/a
    GeekBench v6
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    1941
    Apple iPhone Air
    3756
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    5005
    Apple iPhone Air
    10670
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)19413756
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)500510670
    AnTuTu 10
    AnTuTu 10
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    1105744
    Apple iPhone Air
    2118157
    CPU262691511982
    GPU387783790667
    Memory169306370651
    UX285964444857
    NanoReview Score11057442118157
    3DMark Wild Life
    3DMark Wild Life
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    7431
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a
    Max Surface Temp.38.1 °Cn/a
    Stability76 %n/a
    Graphics Test44 fpsn/a
    Graphics Score7431n/a
    Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPhone 12 Pro]

    Memory

    RAM
    RAM Size 6 GB 8 GB
    Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR5X
    Channels 2 4
    Storage
    Storage Capacity- 128 GB
    - 256 GB
    - 512 GB    		256 GB
    Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
    Memory CardNoNo

    Software

    OS iOS 14.1 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2) iOS 26
    OS Size 14 GB n/a

    Battery

    Volume 2815 mAh 3149 mAh
    Max Charging Power 20 W 30 W
    Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
    Removable No No
    Wireless Charging Yes (7.5 W) Yes (20 W)
    Reverse Charging No Yes
    Fast Charging Yes (59% in 30 min) Yes (50% in 30 min)
    Full Charge Time 1:30 h n/a
    Battery Life Test
    Battery Life
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    19:45
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a
    Web Browsing07:12 hn/a
    Video Playback12:00 hn/a
    Games04:33 hn/a
    Standby Mode101 hn/a

    Main camera

    Matrix 12 MP 48 MP
    Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 8064x6048 pixels
    Zoom Optical, 2x Digital
    Flash Dual LED Dual LED
    Stabilization Optical Optical
    8K Recording No No
    4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
    Wide-angle lens 120 ° n/a
    Lenses count Standard: 12 MP
    Telephoto: 12 MP
    Ultra-wide: 12 MP
    Depth    		 Standard: 48 MP
    Features - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support    		 - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support
    Main lens
    Matrix12 MP48 MP
    Aperturef/1.6f/1.6
    Focal length26 mm26 mm
    SensorSony IMX372n/a
    Sensor size1/3.41/1.56
    Pixel size1.4 μm1 μm
    AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
    StabilizationOpticalOptical
    Telephoto
    Matrix12 MPn/a
    Aperturef/2.0n/a
    Focal length52 mmn/a
    Sensor size1/3.4n/a
    Pixel size1 μmn/a
    StabilizationOpticaln/a
    Ultra-wide lens
    Matrix12 MPn/a
    Aperturef/2.4n/a
    Focal length13 mmn/a
    Sensor size1/3.6n/a
    StabilizationDigitaln/a
    Main camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    126
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a
    Video quality
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    130
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a
    Overall camera score
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    127
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a
    Bokeh70n/a
    Preview77n/a
    Zoom111n/a
    Sources: DxOMark [Apple iPhone 12 Pro]

    Front camera

    Matrix 12 MP 18 MP
    Photo resolution 4290x2800 pixels n/a
    Aperture f/2.2 f/1.9
    Focal length 23 mm 23 mm
    Sensor Sony IMX514 n/a
    Sensor size 1/3.6 n/a
    Pixel size n/a 1.12 μm
    Autofocus No Phase autofocus
    Stabilization Digital Optical
    Video resolution 2160p (4K) at 60 fps 2160p (4K) at 60 fps
    TOF 3D sensor Yes Yes
    Selfie camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    127
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a
    Video quality
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    140
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a

    Connectivity

    Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be)
    Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi MiMO
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display    		 - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi MiMO
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display
    Bluetooth version 5 6.0
    Bluetooth features LE, A2DP LE
    USB type No USB Type-C
    USB version n/a 2
    USB features - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode    		 - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - OTG
    DisplayPort n/a No
    GPS - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Galileo
    - QZSS    		 - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo
    - QZSS
    - NAVIC
    NFC* Yes Yes
    Infrared Port No No
    Connectivity
    SIM Count*1n/a
    SIM TypeNanoeSIM
    SIM Moden/aDual SIM Standby
    eSIM Support *YesYes
    Hybrid SlotNoNo
    2G BandsGSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)n/a
    3G BandsUMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
    LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B30/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B46/B48/B66)LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B66/B71)
    LTE category18n/a
    5G SupportYesYes

    Sound

    Speakers Stereo n/a
    3.5 mm Jack No No
    FM Radio No No
    Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
    Speaker Test
    Max Volume
    Apple iPhone 12 Pro
    92.3 dB
    Apple iPhone Air
    n/a

    Other

    Class Flagship Flagship
    Announced October, 2020 yr September, 2025 yr
    Release Date October, 2020 yr September, 2025 yr
    Launch Price ($) 1000 n/a
    MSRP ($) n/a 999
    Sensors - Hall Sensor
    - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor    		 - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor
    Charger Included n/a No
    * Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

    Results

    After analyzing the data, we consider Apple iPhone Air the clear winner in this comparison.

    Survey

    Which smartphone would you pick?
    2 (66.67%)
    1 (33.33%)
    Total Votes: 3

    User comments

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