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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 15 Plus involves several tradeoffs: the iPhone 12 mini is more affordable, whereas the iPhone 15 Plus has a larger screen and battery, as well as a newer processor that may deliver better performance. The camera system on the iPhone 15 Plus is also more advanced, offering higher quality for photos and videos. Both phones run on iOS, so your choice may come down to whether you value a more compact and economical option, i.e., the iPhone 12 mini, or if you're prepared to invest in the iPhone 15 Plus for its superior display, camera, and battery capacities. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 12 mini
- The Apple iPhone 12 mini has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15 Plus.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 15 Plus
- Very good for taking photos
- Excellent for recording videos
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.3
8.6
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has very good overall camera quality, while the Apple iPhone 12 mini has good overall camera quality.
The iPhone 12 mini offers good selfie quality and overall camera performance that many users find satisfactory for casual photography. However, the iPhone 15 Plus takes it a notch higher with very good scores across selfie quality, low light performance, dynamic range, and software experience, making it an excellent choice for someone seeking superior photographic capabilities and versatility in a smartphone.
Photo Quality
7.1
8.5
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes very good photos, while the Apple iPhone 12 mini takes good photos.
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a selfie camera that takes good photos, while the Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a selfie camera that takes very good photos, making the latter better for selfie enthusiasts. In other areas like resolution, software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, the iPhone 15 Plus also offers improvements over the iPhone 12 mini, contributing to its overall superior photo-taking capabilities.
Video Quality
7.2
9.1
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes excellent videos, while the Apple iPhone 12 mini takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus delivers superior video quality compared to the Apple iPhone 12 mini as it offers enhanced resolution and frame rate capabilities, improved stabilization, greater dynamic range, better low light performance, and higher quality microphones. While the iPhone 12 mini provides a good video experience, the advancements in the iPhone 15 Plus's video features make it the better choice for those prioritizing high-end video capabilities.
Battery
5.1 Hours
8.9 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has 5.1 hours of battery life. The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has 8.9 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Apple iPhone 15 Plus is 6.7 inches.
Cost
$300
$829
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a price of $300 and the Apple iPhone 15 Plus costs $829.
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How the Apple iPhone 12 mini and the Apple iPhone 15 Plus compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 mini | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $829 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Apple | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | iOS | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 13, 2020 | September 22, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.4" | 6.7" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2796 x 1290 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 476 | 460 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A14 | A16 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 48 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.1 Hours | 8.9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2227 mAh | 4383 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 12 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.18" x 2.53" | 6.33" x 3.06" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.76 oz | 7.09 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Purple, Green, White, Black, Red | Yellow, Pink, Blue, Green, Black | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Custom ROM Support | |||
Custom ROM Support | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 12 mini
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
James Peckham | September 2022
"If you’re going to opt for an iPhone and you want a smaller device without buying up the latest iPhone 13 mini, this is the perfect option for you – and it’s one of the smallest 5G phones on the market too. The camera is versatile, the screen is fantastic, it comes with reams of power and the added benefits of 5G and MagSafe mean this is a phone that will last you for years to come."
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Eric Zeman | October 2023
"Apple's iPhone 15 Plus is the phone to get if battery life and budget are your top concerns. It outlasts the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, coming in second only to the top-shelf Pro Max. Otherwise, it includes a larger display than the standard iPhone 15, the same speedy processor, a fine pair of cameras, excellent wireless radios, and a waterproof build."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 12 mini or the Apple iPhone 15 Plus
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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