iPhone 12 vs iPhone 8
The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 8 are two Apple products from different product lines: related by name, separate by design. Scoring each area separately, the iPhone 12 comes out on top 4 times out of 5. Its lead is sharpest in display.
At a glance
- Display iPhone 12 wins
- Performance iPhone 12 wins
- Memory & Storage Tie
- Camera iPhone 12 wins
- Battery & Charging iPhone 12 wins
- Price iPhone 8 wins
- Display2.1
- Memory & Storage0.4
- Camera1.1
- Battery & Charging1.2
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage0.4
- Camera0.0
- Battery & Charging0.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The iPhone 12 has 4 h more rated video playback
The iPhone 8 lists 13 h; the iPhone 12 comes in at 17 h. That’s not a rounding error. Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint.
-
The iPhone 12 has 92% higher peak brightness
At 1,200 nits versus 625 nits, this is a decisive lead for the iPhone 12, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
-
The iPhone 12 has an extra rear camera
If rear cameras is one of your priorities, this settles it: the iPhone 12 leads clearly with 2 to the iPhone 8’s 1. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
-
The iPhone 8 has a 0.56 oz lighter build
The gap on weight is slim (5.22 oz against 5.78 oz), yet it tips toward the iPhone 8. A few grams won’t matter, but bigger gaps add up in a pocket or a small bag over a full day.
-
The iPhone 12 has a 1.4-inch larger screen
Neither number is the right one in general (6.1 in on the iPhone 12, 4.7 in on the iPhone 8), only the right one for you. Screen size is personal. If you watch a lot on your phone, the extra area pays off; if you text one-handed on the go, compact is kinder.
Design & Size
- iPhone 12 5.78 in × 2.81 in × 0.29 in
- iPhone 8 5.45 in × 2.65 in × 0.29 in
In overall size, the iPhone 12 is ahead, which is good news only if a bigger phone is what you want. The iPhone 12 weighs in 0.56 oz above the iPhone 8.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.78 in | 5.45 in |
| Width | 2.81 in | 2.65 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in | 0.29 in |
| Weight | 5.78 oz | 5.22 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 (winner) | IP67 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Display
iPhone 12 leads
When it comes to display, the iPhone 12 is comfortably ahead. The iPhone 12 adds 92% higher peak brightness. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility. Anyone shopping mainly on display should start with the iPhone 12.
Peak brightness
iPhone 12: 1,200 nits iPhone 8: 625 nits If you use your phone outdoors a lot, the iPhone 12’s brighter panel is the one that holds up better at midday.
Screen size
iPhone 12: 6.1 in iPhone 8: 4.7 in A larger display also means a larger phone overall, so this is as much about your hands and pockets as it is about the picture.
Performance
iPhone 12 leads
The iPhone 12 has the slight upper hand on performance. The iPhone 12 has the edge with a newer 5 nm chip process. Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict. If performance is your priority, the iPhone 12 is the phone to pick.
Process node
iPhone 12: 5 nm iPhone 8: 10 nm A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life.
Memory & Storage
Too close to call
Both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 8 cover memory & storage equally well on paper. If memory & storage was going to be your tiebreaker, you’ll need a different one.
Camera
iPhone 12 leads
The iPhone 8 is outclassed on camera; the iPhone 12 leads by a clear margin. Here the iPhone 12 offers an extra rear camera. The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the iPhone 12 gives you more lenses to choose from. Net result: the iPhone 12 leads this part of the comparison.
Rear cameras
iPhone 12: 2 iPhone 8: 1 More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the iPhone 12’s extra lens adds.
Front camera
iPhone 12: 12 MP iPhone 8: 7 MP A sharper selfie camera helps with video calls, vlogs and group selfies.
Battery & Charging
iPhone 12 leads
Look at the battery & charging table and one name keeps coming out on top: the iPhone 12. Choose the iPhone 12 and you get 4 h more rated video playback. Rated video playback is the manufacturer’s own endurance figure, so it reflects efficiency as well as battery size. The takeaway: on battery & charging, the iPhone 12 is the stronger phone.
Rated video playback
iPhone 12: 17 h iPhone 8: 13 h More rated playback suggests the iPhone 12 lasts longer on a long flight or an evening of streaming.
Wireless charging
iPhone 12: 15 W iPhone 8: 8 W Wireless charging is usually slower than a cable, so this edge matters mainly to people who value the convenience.
Software & Updates
For software & updates, the spec sheet lists components and formats rather than figures we can rank. The table shows what the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 8 each bring.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 4.7 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Super Retina XDR) | LCD (Retina HD) |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 1334 x 750 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi (winner) | 326 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,200 nits (winner) | 625 nits |
| Always-on display | No | No |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A14 Bionic | A11 Bionic |
| CPU cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process node | 5 nm (winner) | 10 nm Oldest chip process |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | N/A (not specified) |
| Rear cameras | 2 (winner) | 1 |
| Front camera | 12 MP (winner) | 7 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 | 4K60 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 17 h (winner) | 13 h |
| Wireless charging | 15 W (winner) | 8 W |
| Port | Lightning | Lightning |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 14 | iOS 11 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.78 in | 5.45 in |
| Width | 2.81 in | 2.65 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in | 0.29 in |
| Weight | 5.78 oz | 5.22 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 (winner) | IP67 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 | $699 (winner) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
The iPhone 8 has a small price advantage of $100 at launch. The iPhone 12’s premium of $100 isn’t just for the name; it brings 4 h more rated video playback and 92% higher peak brightness.
Prices shown are US launch prices as of October 2020. Retail prices change often, so it’s worth checking current offers.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 12 if…
- you stream a lot of video on the go (17 h vs 13 h rated playback)
- you use your phone outdoors a lot (1,200 nits vs 625 nits peak brightness)
- you like switching between focal lengths (2 vs 1 cameras)
- you care about efficiency under the hood (5 nm vs 10 nm process node)
- you want the newer generation
Choose the iPhone 8 if…
- you want the lighter phone (5.22 oz vs 5.78 oz)
- you’re working to a firm budget and $100 matters
- you rarely use the areas where the newer model improves
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 8?
The iPhone 12 wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless you care more about a 0.56 oz lighter build than anything else.
Should I upgrade from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 12?
It’s one of the more worthwhile generational jumps: the iPhone 12 offers 4 h more rated video playback, 92% higher peak brightness and an extra rear camera compared with the iPhone 8.
Does the iPhone 12 last longer on a charge than the iPhone 8?
The iPhone 12 does better here. It lists 17 h for rated video playback, while the iPhone 8 lists 13 h.
Which is larger, the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 8?
Going by the official dimensions, the iPhone 12 is the bigger of the two at 5.78 × 2.81 × 0.29 in. The iPhone 8 measures 5.45 × 2.65 × 0.29 in.
Does the iPhone 12 perform better than the iPhone 8?
The iPhone 12 should be the quicker of the two, with a newer 5 nm chip process on its side.
Does the iPhone 12 have a stronger camera setup than the iPhone 8?
The iPhone 12 has the edge for photography, offering an extra rear camera and a sharper 12 MP selfie camera.
Executive Summary
Choosing between siblings is my favorite kind of puzzle. The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 8 share a lot, so the details decide. It’s hard to argue with 4 h more rated video playback, which is exactly what the iPhone 12 brings. I’d also count 92% higher peak brightness in the iPhone 12’s favor. In fairness to the iPhone 8, a 0.56 oz lighter build is a genuine strength.
I’d steer display fans toward the iPhone 12 and portability fans toward the iPhone 8.
My pick: the iPhone 12 is the one I’d buy, unless your top priority is a 0.56 oz lighter build.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.