How Good Is the iPhone 12 Camera?

Editor's Note: Since its debut, Apple no longer manufactures the iPhone 12 series. You may still be able to find the iPhone 12 series from authorized resellers or carriers like Amazon, BestBuy, and Verizon.

Apple originally released the iPhone 12 series on October 23, 2020, including the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Common amongst all models of the 12 series lineup was a serious camera upgrade:

• The camera specs for the iPhone 12 series include:  12MP (megapixels) rear cameras (ultra-wide and wide) on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.Triple-rear (ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto) lenses on the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, as well as a LiDAR sensor.
• Improved Night Mode, 10-bit HDR (high dynamic range) recording, as well as Dolby Video recording.
• Night Mode available on the front-facing selfie camera.

iPhone 12 models

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Apple introduced the full iPhone 12 series  featuring four different models, including the innovative mini and Pro Max versions. Screen size varies across the iPhone 12 lineup:

• iPhone 12 mini—5.4”
• iPhone 12—6.1”
• iPhone 12 Pro—6.1”
• iPhone 12 Pro Max—6.7”

While the display may range in size, the impressive iPhone 12 camera quality rings true across all models. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini have the same dual camera systems. While the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have triple-camera systems.

Here’s how all four 2020 iPhone 12 models compare:

iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 cameras

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Rear dual camera systems aren't a new feature for iPhones, but the iPhone 12 series maintains the trend with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. (But Apple did add a third rear camera to the Pro and Pro Max versions.) 

Similar to the iPhone 11, both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini feature 12MP wide and ultra-wide lenses on both rear cameras. That means the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini camera specs are the same.

It's important to note that the only significant difference between the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 is size. All other features, including the cameras, are the same.

While the hardware of the iPhone 12 series didn’t come with significant upgrades from the iPhone 11, the A14 processor boosted software capabilities of the new cameras. Night Mode got a solid upgrade with the iPhone 12. Both wide and ultra-wide cameras have Night Mode capabilities too. The wide camera brings in 27% more light into your shots when compared to previous models. Improvements in Deep Fusion and HDR also accentuate the details of the photos and really make them pop.

iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max cameras

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If you want a smartphone with high-quality cameras, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max only improved the iPhone lineup.

The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max were the first of any iPhone to feature triple-rear cameras. These high-end phones came with three 12MP lenses (ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto).

The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max also come with a similar triple-camera setup. As with the iPhone 12 and 12 mini, the innovative 7-element wide camera brings in 27% more light for higher quality pictures during night or day. Image stabilization can make up to 5,000 adjustments per second, and the new addition of LiDar will help your focus shots up to 6x faster in low light.

Where the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 are essentially the same phone in different sizes, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have more differences between each other, mostly in their camera systems. The bigger size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max allowed Apple to increase the main camera sensor by 47%, which improves low-light pictures even more. Plus, the bigger telephoto lens can shoot photos with 5x optical zoom. 

One of the most awe-inspiring features Apple introduced with the iPhone 12is the Apple ProRAW software update for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. You can shoot in a RAW, uncompressed format and still  use any editing and sensor features of the iPhone.

iPhone 12 front-facing camera

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The models of the iPhone 12 series stick to the front-notch display to make room for the front-facing camera and sensors. While many competitors had already adapted under-display cameras in order to provide notch-free phones, Apple didn't follow suit with the iPhone 12.

Although all models of the iPhone 12 still feature notches, they are a tad smaller given Apple found a way to shrink the size of the front-facing camera.

Notch aside, there were some upgrades to the front-facing TrueDepth camera. Night Mode, Deep Fusion, HDR, and Dolby Vision were all added to the selfie camera.

iPhone 12 video recording

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Apple iPhones have long stood out for their video recording capabilities, and the iPhone 12 set of devices stands out even further. First, HDR recording improved from 8-bit to 10-bit, adding 60x more color. Second, Apple added Dolby Vision capture to the phones. 

Instead of editing video to the standard, the iPhone 12's records right into Dolby Vision. Naturally, you can also edit your Dolby Vision shots right on your phone.

Is the iPhone 12 camera still high quality in 2025?

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The iPhone 12's camera remains impressively capable in 2025, even as newer models continue developing even better quality cameras. With a 12MP dual-lens system, Night Mode, and Smart HDR 3, the iPhone 12 still delivers high-quality, detailed photos in daylight and decent low-light performance. 

However, compared to the iPhone 16 series, the gap widens in key areas. The iPhone 16 gives you:

• A 48MP main sensor with enhanced pixel-binning for sharper shots
• Improved processing for Night Mode and Smart HDR 5
• Advanced AI-driven features like Focus and Depth Control for studio-quality portraits

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max go further with a tetraprism 5x optical zoom, a Photonic Engine for smarter noise reduction, and an AI-powered scene optimization that adjusts settings automatically for zero shutter lag.

While the iPhone 12 lacks the cutting-edge tools of the iPhone 16, its core imaging qualities (color accuracy, 4K video, and HDR balance) hold up well for everyday use. For casual photographers, the iPhone is still a reliable choice among top smartphone cameras. But for those chasing pro-level creativity and innovation, the iPhone 16's upgrades shouldn’t be ignored.