Comparison iPhone XR vs iPhone 12: Similarities and Differences

Table with its technical specifications

We believe that a table with the technical data is not everything to fully understand a mobile phone like these, however it is important to get at least a prior idea of what their main similarities and differences are on paper.

What about your RAM and battery capacity?

You may have noticed that in the previous table we did not mention these data and it is not that we have forgotten them, but that we did not add them because they are not officially known. Apple always tends to ignore this information from their iPhone and does so with a reason that is fundamental for them, and that is that thanks to the fact that they design the software and hardware themselves, they can allow the integration between the two to be better and have lower capacities than its competitors in these aspects and yet give equal and even better performance in many cases.

In any case, it has been unofficially known which are the capacities of both thanks to the different performance tests and disassemblies carried out by professionals in the field. In this way, it has been established that the RAM of the iPhone XR is 3 GB, while the iPhone 12 has 4 GB. As far as battery capacity is concerned, we have 2,942 mAh and 2,775 mAh respectively. And yes, the iPhone 12 has less capacity than the XR, but it is not an error as we will explain in a later section.

Similarities and differences in design

The design of both devices is curious to analyze, since we have seen that both have a 6.1-inch screen and yet the iPhone XR is heavier and has larger dimensions. This is due to the design change on the sides that the iPhone 12 incorporates, which has completely straight frames with curved corners, while the other has a curved edge on all four sides that has been common since the iPhone 6. On the Front end bezels were optimized on the 12, having a few millimeters thicker on the XR. However, the characteristic ‘notch’ in which the Face ID is located is of the same size in both cases.

At the back we also find differences in terms of the camera module and the position of the Apple logo. The iPhone XR mounts a single lens accompanied by a flash, microphone and noise sensor at the bottom of it. The iPhone 12 for its part incorporates a square module in which all the elements are integrated, in addition to having the iconic apple in the central part.

As for colors, you have already seen that both have a wide palette to choose from, although the colors of the iPhone XR tend to be more vivid than those of the 12 even in those colors that are shared, such as red. If you are a fan of colors and do not want to go for the classic black and white, any of them could meet your taste.

Both are water and dust resistant

Although the guarantee does not cover liquid damage , like the vast majority of brands, it does offer some resistance to these elements. The iPhone XR has an IP67 certification by which it is established that it can be submerged for a maximum of 30 minutes up to 1 meter deep. The iPhone 12 for its part has IP68 , which allows you to submerge for 30 minutes as well, but with a limit of up to 6 meters deep.

Now, is this data reliable? It is recommended that you never submerge the iPhone, since in the end this resistance is lost with the passage of time. The seal that the device has against these elements becomes weaker and therefore there is a greater chance that it can be damaged. In any case, you can gain peace of mind in the event of possible accidents.

Two very different screens on these iPhones

You will have already seen that, despite sharing size, the technology of the panels of these devices is different, which also makes the resolutions change in favor of the iPhone 12. The OLED screen of the latter is wonderful, with more vivid colors and Pure blacks, with a calibration of the rest of the colors that does not lose naturalness. Undoubtedly in this section it beats the iPhone XR by a lot, but this does not mean that the latter has a bad screen.

LCD screens like those of the iPhone XR have worse performance as a general rule, however, it must be said that the one of this device looks really good in any light situation. Content will not be played at the highest resolutions, this being a handicap if you tend to consume a lot of multimedia content on your mobile, but it is not a drama, nor will you notice that it is bad. Of course, if you are very picky about this point or have had a phone with an OLED panel before, you may feel that you have taken a step back.

More than enough storage (or not)

The 64 GB base that both terminals have today seem to be already a scarce amount of memory for most, especially if many photos and videos are usually accumulated on top. However, it may be enough if it is combined with cloud storage services such as iCloud, which can be used to avoid consuming excessive space on any of the devices. The 128 GB should already be a more than acceptable capacity for most cases. The 256 GB is no longer available for the iPhone XR at Apple, although it is still marketed in other authorized stores. If these 256 GB of maximum that they have seem insufficient, it is likely that what you need is already an iPhone ‘Pro’ with a capacity of 512 GB.

IPhone XR vs iPhone 12 performance

There is evidence between the two devices and it is that the iPhone XR has a processor that is two generations behind the iPhone 12. Is there a notable difference? Yes, especially in heavier processes such as photo editing. Is it a very relevant differential point? Probably not. Both devices move smoothly, open apps correctly and have a neural engine that helps perform certain processes more quickly. The difference in day-to-day life could be invaluable for many users, but if you allocate your iPhone to an important part of your work that requires a lot of power, the 14 Bionic of the iPhone 12 will go more with you.

Same iOS, although they will not update the same years

Precisely the processor mentioned above is the culprit that both iPhones continue to update their software and can continue to be that way for years, being able to enjoy all the visual and functional novelties of iOS, as well as the different security patches that are added in each of those versions. But unfortunately this support will not last forever and at some point they will be out of date and the iPhone XR will do so at least 2 years before. This is not expected to happen in the short term, since by Apple’s history it is expected that the iPhone XR will continue to be updated until 2023 at the latest, but it must be borne in mind that the ’12’ will be even longer lived. In any case, it must be clarified that even when they are outdated they will not be useless, since they can continue to be used with full normality for so many more years.

Is the 5G of the iPhone 12 a real difference?

We assume that the iPhone 12 has 5G connectivity and the iPhone XR does not. But there are many nuances here and it is that the iPhone 12 really has certain limitations that make it not a really remarkable difference in the end with respect to the 4G connectivity of the ‘XR’. First of all, the iPhone 12 that are marketed in the United States have a mmWave antenna that allows a real connection to this type of connectivity, which is extremely faster than 4G. However, outside this territory the devices come without that antenna and therefore the ability to connect to these networks is lower.

In countries like Spain, you can access with an iPhone 12 networks that are apparently called 5G, but actually 4G + or advanced 4G. These are generally faster than 4G speeds, but nowhere near those offered with real 5G. To this must be added the lack of infrastructures that we find for this type of connections, since at the moment the areas in which there is such coverage are still very scarce and although in the future this could change, it must be remembered that with the absence of the mmWave antenna will continue to have a 5G lower than expected.

Therefore, it is evident that the iPhone 12 has better connectivity than the XR, because despite everything it can reach better speeds with mobile data. But in no case should this be a determining factor in your purchase decision for everything discussed in this section.

In which iPhone does the battery last the longest?

Paradoxically, the iPhone XR has a better battery and less autonomy. The internal improvements that the A14 Bionic of the iPhone 12 supposes are added to other factors of optimization of the battery that make it can last longer even with less capacity than the ‘XR’. However, the difference is not overwhelming either. Both phones serve at the end to reach the end of the day without needing to connect them to the current, although it must be said that the iPhone 12 lasts a little longer. Of course, if it is used very intensively or several months have passed since you opened it, the battery will wear out in both cases, offering a worse experience in this regard.

Charger and headphones in the box, included?

If you buy any of these devices from Apple, you will not have the classic wired EarPods headphones or the included power adapter. Apple not only removed these two accessories from the iPhone 12 box, but also removed them from previous generations that are still sold as the iPhone XR. Of course, there are many third-party stores that still sell the iPhone XR and do include these accessories, so it can be an advantage.

Differences we find in the cameras

Let’s first look at the table with the different specifications that we find in both terminals, both in their front and rear cameras. Then the conclusions.

These specifications do not really lie, and the iPhone 12 camera system is far superior to that of the iPhone XR in most sections. In front camera they stand out especially, but also in the rear ones where we find possibilities that the iPhone XR does not have and that are motivated by the Night Mode to take better photographs in low light conditions and the new perspective provided by the ultra wide angle lens with that zoom optical zoom out x2.

If you are a photography lover, it is clear that with the iPhone 12 you will do better, but this does not mean that the iPhone XR performs poorly. If this is a key point for you, we can not recommend this device over the other, but if you do not usually take too many photographs or you think you do not need the latest of the latest provided by the iPhone 12, you can make the most of the ‘XR’. Despite having a single rear lens, it is capable of delivering unbeatable results, especially in video recording. All this motivated, once again, by its processor capable of being another fundamental pillar of photography, such as the lens itself.

If you already have an iPhone XR, is it worth the jump?

At La Manzana Mordida we are very geeks and we like to always have the latest and greatest, not only to bring the best analysis but also because of our personal passion for it. However, we understand that this passion is not the same for everyone. If you have an iPhone XR that works well for you and you are happy with it, recommending the iPhone 12 would be absurd to say the least. It is a terminal that if you take good care of it can still last you for years. Now, if you have a specific need that requires a better camera, a better screen or you just want to and you can indulge yourself, you will undoubtedly notice the change a lot when you go to the iPhone 12 and you will enjoy it.

If you have another previous iPhone or another mobile

Positions in this position that you do not have either of the two devices, perhaps the most advisable is the iPhone 12. Being more recent and having better features it is more valid from now on, since it will last you more years than the XR. However, if you do not have very high demands and / or your budget is not very high, you will be able to find in the iPhone XR a perfect device with which to enjoy all the benefits offered by the Apple ecosystem on iOS and without losing certain features. that, despite everything, are still very interesting in the iPhone XR as is the camera or its good performance.