📱 Overview & Release Dates
| Feature | iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | September 2019 | October 2020 |
| Starting Price (2019/2020) | $999 (11 Pro), $1,099 (11 Pro Max) | $999 (12 Pro), $1,099 (12 Pro Max) |
| Current Price (2026, Used/Refurbished) | $300–$500 (depending on condition) | $400–$600 (depending on condition) |
| Discontinuation Date | September 2020 (replaced by 12 Pro) | September 2021 (replaced by 13 Pro) |
🎨 Design & Build Quality
iPhone 11 Pro
- Materials: Surgical-grade stainless steel frame, textured matte glass back.
- Colors: Midnight Green, Space Gray, Silver, Gold.
- Display:
- 5.8″ (11 Pro) / 6.5″ (11 Pro Max) Super Retina XDR OLED.
- Resolution: 2436 × 1125 (11 Pro) / 2688 × 1242 (11 Pro Max).
- Brightness: 800 nits (typical), 1200 nits (peak).
- Notch: Wide notch (TrueDepth camera system).
- Protection: Ion-X strengthened glass.
- Weight:
- 11 Pro: 188g.
- 11 Pro Max: 226g.
- Water Resistance: IP68 (up to 4 meters for 30 minutes).
iPhone 12 Pro
- Materials: Surgical-grade stainless steel frame, glossy glass back.
- Colors: Pacific Blue, Graphite, Silver, Gold.
- Display:
- 6.1″ (12 Pro) / 6.7″ (12 Pro Max) Super Retina XDR OLED.
- Resolution: 2532 × 1170 (12 Pro) / 2778 × 1284 (12 Pro Max).
- Brightness: 625 nits (typical), 1200 nits (peak).
- Notch: Slightly smaller notch (same TrueDepth system).
- Protection: Ceramic Shield (4x better drop performance).
- Weight:
- 12 Pro: 189g.
- 12 Pro Max: 228g.
- Water Resistance: IP68 (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes).
🏆 Winner: iPhone 12 Pro – Ceramic Shield, brighter display, and slightly more modern design.
⚡ Performance & Hardware
iPhone 11 Pro
- Chipset: A13 Bionic (7nm).
- CPU: 6-core (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores).
- GPU: 4-core.
- Neural Engine: 8-core (for AI tasks).
- RAM: 4GB.
- Storage Options: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB.
- Benchmark Performance:
- Antutu Score: ~500,000.
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~1,300.
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~3,500.
iPhone 12 Pro
- Chipset: A14 Bionic (5nm).
- CPU: 6-core (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores).
- GPU: 4-core (~20% faster than A13).
- Neural Engine: 16-core (2x faster for AI tasks).
- RAM: 6GB (2GB more than 11 Pro).
- Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB (no 64GB option).
- Benchmark Performance:
- Antutu Score: ~600,000.
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~1,600 (~23% faster than A13).
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~4,200 (~20% faster than A13).
🏆 Winner: iPhone 12 Pro – Faster chip, more RAM, and better future-proofing.
📸 Camera Comparison
iPhone 11 Pro
- Rear Cameras:
- 12MP Wide (f/1.8, 26mm, OIS, 100% Focus Pixels).
- 12MP Ultra Wide (f/2.4, 13mm, 120° FOV).
- 12MP Telephoto (f/2.0, 52mm, 2x optical zoom, OIS).
- Front Camera: 12MP TrueDepth (f/2.2).
- Video:
- 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps (slo-mo).
- Deep Fusion (introduced with iOS 13).
- Night Mode (all cameras).
- Features:
- Smart HDR.
- Portrait Mode (with advanced bokeh and Depth Control).
iPhone 12 Pro
- Rear Cameras:
- 12MP Wide (f/1.6, 26mm, OIS, 7-element lens, 27% more light).
- 12MP Ultra Wide (f/2.4, 13mm, 120° FOV).
- 12MP Telephoto (f/2.0, 52mm, 2x optical zoom, OIS).
- LiDAR Scanner (for faster autofocus in low light and AR applications).
- Front Camera: 12MP TrueDepth (f/2.2, Night Mode).
- Video:
- 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps (slo-mo).
- Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps).
- Night Mode (all cameras, improved).
- Features:
- Deep Fusion + Smart HDR 3.
- ProRAW (added via iOS 14.3 update).
- Better low-light performance (thanks to LiDAR and wider aperture).
🏆 Winner: iPhone 12 Pro – LiDAR, ProRAW, better low-light performance, and Dolby Vision HDR.
🔋 Battery Life & Charging
iPhone 11 Pro
- Battery Capacity:
- 11 Pro: 3046mAh.
- 11 Pro Max: 3969mAh.
- Battery Life (Apple Claims):
- 11 Pro: Up to 18 hours video playback.
- 11 Pro Max: Up to 20 hours video playback.
- Charging:
- 18W Fast Charging (50% in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter).
- Wireless Charging: 7.5W (Qi).
iPhone 12 Pro
- Battery Capacity:
- 12 Pro: 2815mAh (slightly smaller than 11 Pro).
- 12 Pro Max: 3687mAh (slightly smaller than 11 Pro Max).
- Battery Life (Apple Claims):
- 12 Pro: Up to 17 hours video playback.
- 12 Pro Max: Up to 20 hours video playback.
- Charging:
- 20W Fast Charging (50% in ~30 minutes).
- Wireless Charging: 15W (MagSafe) + 7.5W (Qi).
🏆 Winner: iPhone 11 Pro Max – Slightly better battery life, but iPhone 12 Pro has faster charging and MagSafe.
💻 Software & Updates
iPhone 11 Pro
- Original iOS: iOS 13.
- Current iOS Support (2026): iOS 17 (likely last major update).
- Expected Lifespan: ~6–7 years of updates (2019–2026).
iPhone 12 Pro
- Original iOS: iOS 14.
- Current iOS Support (2026): iOS 17 (likely 2–3 more years of updates).
- Expected Lifespan: ~7–8 years of updates (2020–2027+).
🏆 Winner: iPhone 12 Pro – Longer software support.
💰 Price & Value (2026)
| Model | Original Price (2019/2020) | 2026 Refurbished Price | Value for Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 Pro | $999 | $300–$500 | Great (budget flagship) |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | $1,099 | $400–$600 | Great (bigger battery, better cameras) |
| iPhone 12 Pro | $999 | $400–$600 | Better (faster, better cameras, MagSafe) |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | $1,099 | $500–$700 | Best (longer support, LiDAR) |
🏆 Winner: iPhone 11 Pro (Max) – Better value for budget buyers, but iPhone 12 Pro offers more future-proof features.
🔍 Key Differences Summary
| Feature | iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.8″/6.5″ OLED, 800 nits | 6.1″/6.7″ OLED, 625 nits, Ceramic Shield | 12 Pro |
| Chipset | A13 Bionic (7nm) | A14 Bionic (5nm, 20% faster) | 12 Pro |
| RAM | 4GB | 6GB | 12 Pro |
| Storage Options | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 12 Pro (no 64GB) |
| Rear Cameras | Triple 12MP | Triple 12MP + LiDAR | 12 Pro |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP + Night Mode | 12 Pro |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Deep Fusion | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision, ProRAW | 12 Pro |
| Battery Life | 18–20 hours | 17–20 hours | 11 Pro Max |
| Charging | 18W, 7.5W Qi | 20W, 15W MagSafe | 12 Pro |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (4m) | IP68 (6m) | 12 Pro |
| Software Support | iOS 17 (likely last) | iOS 17+ (2–3 more years) | 12 Pro |
| 2026 Price (Refurbished) | $300–$600 | $400–$700 | 11 Pro (better value) |
🏆 Verdict: Which iPhone Should You Buy in 2026?
Pick the iPhone 11 Pro if you:
✅ Want a budget-friendly flagship – Great value for the price.
✅ Prioritize battery life – 11 Pro Max has the best battery.
✅ Don’t need 5G – Saves money if you’re not on a 5G network.
✅ Are okay with slightly older software – Still runs iOS 17 well.
Pick the iPhone 12 Pro if you:
✅ Want better performance – A14 Bionic is faster and more future-proof.
✅ Care about camera upgrades – LiDAR, ProRAW, Dolby Vision, and better low-light performance.
✅ Prefer MagSafe and faster charging – 15W wireless charging is convenient.
✅ Want longer software support – Will likely get iOS 18 and beyond.
🎤 Final Thoughts
- For most users in 2026: The iPhone 12 Pro is the better choice—it’s faster, has better cameras, and will last longer in terms of software updates.
- For budget-conscious buyers: The iPhone 11 Pro (especially the Max) is a fantastic deal—it still holds up well and offers great battery life and performance for the price.
If you’re choosing between the two today, the iPhone 12 Pro is the clear winner—but the 11 Pro is still a fantastic phone for the money.
