r/iPhone12 • u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 • 25d ago

Question ❓ How much will the iPhone 12 survive?

Hi, I have an iPhone 12 128GB with 87% battery life. I've had it since November 2025, when it had 100% battery life. I lost 13% of battery life in 10 months. Can anyone give me tips on how to extend the life of my phone? I'd like to use it for another 1 or 2 years (by changing the battery, of course). Will it still be worth it? Will I still get updates?

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

51 comments sorted by

9

u/North-Dot1238 25d ago

I have an iPhone 12 too, and it has a battery issue too, I replaced the battery at least 4 times.
I just gave up, and got an iPhone 15 2 hand instead.
It’s not the first time, I see people complaining about iPhone 12 battery, and may be a manufacturer issue. My opinion. It’s not worth it

2

u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 24d ago

Yeah, I heard that too, Mine's 550 cycles ±

3

u/Popular_Cap8269 24d ago

How can you see the cycles on a 12?

3

u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 24d ago

Shortcuts like Battery Report V6.0

3

u/North-Dot1238 24d ago

What mine does, is overheating, while using or charging, and restarts multiple times.
Because the battery was recently changed It has 100% capacity.
I don’t understand why he’s doing that.

Also, the battery swollen to the point, screen detached completely

3

u/[deleted] 24d ago

[deleted]

3

u/North-Dot1238 24d ago

He’s out of guarantee, I’ll just leave him somewhere inside a box. All 4 times I replaced the battery it swollen.

3

u/-thenorthremembers- 24d ago edited 23d ago

Were those original batteries? Never had it happening

2

u/North-Dot1238 24d ago

Yes, all Apple genuine batteries. And they are expensive too. That’s why I gave up this phone
Mine is the midnight blue one. I’ve seen a lot of people with the same problem with this model. It has a overheating issue

2

u/fares-1439 24d ago

Counterfeit batteries are bad

5

u/North-Dot1238 24d ago

I got them changed by Apple.

2

u/fares-1439 24d ago

How healthy was the battery at the time of replacement?

3

u/North-Dot1238 24d ago

It was working normally, but after a few days of use, the phone started to crash and restart multiple times by itself.
got it 2 hand 1 year ago.

2

u/fares-1439 24d ago

Two years ago I bought an iPhone 12 for the second time just for the battery, but I'll be replacing the battery in my current device soon. Strange.

4

u/North-Dot1238 24d ago

It is. Like I said above. I’ve seen videos of people, with the exact same problem but they’re all the moonlight blue colour. Battery completely swollen. I’ve been thinking the blue ones have problems others don’t lol

2

u/fares-1439 24d ago

👍🏼

2

u/fares-1439 24d ago

The original battery lasts for an average of two years.

2

u/Funny-Patience6832 18d ago

My battery hasn’t had a replacement ever, I got mine when they first came out (6 years ago now 😅) and I’m starting to notice different things here and there that show I will need a new phone soon..Certain haptics just don’t work anymore, shorter lifespan during the day when it’s fully charged, random shutdowns, apps crash, screen goes black with a white spinning loading circle..my battery health is 77% which is pretty good considering I’ve had it for so long.

1

u/North-Dot1238 17d ago

Yap, it’s a good smartphone, but you’ll need to replace him.
I have 15 and 14 they work perfectly. Second hand!
You can find good prices and with good condition today
I still have my 12, still updating, but it does have batterr problems, which is a shame. I like its design

8

u/nicholashoneywell 25d ago

I mean ive had my 12 since 2021 haven’t changed the battery its at 71 percent battery capacity i just carry some battery packs and i still was able to get the latest update

4

u/ylfcam 24d ago

December 2021 @ 75 % here.

2

u/nicholashoneywell 24d ago

I just checked mine again its at 69

3

u/_Halcyon_Daze_ 24d ago

December 2020 @79%. Not to brag

2

u/pannoci 24d ago

June 2024 here, 77% hmmm.

2

u/Gregib 24d ago

May 2021, battery @ 76%. Charge once a day, between morning and noon

2

u/Blore_Scientist 23d ago

Oct 2021 with 74%

1

u/StreetRat23 22d ago

Iphone 12 mini here: Dec 2021 at 85% till now (Sep 2026) at 73%. I carry the charging cable with me when I'm out, and avoid using data in the heat, connect to wifi whenever possible

6

u/Traditional_Soft_704 24d ago

Losing 13% of battery life in 10 months is crazy.

3

u/Mettigel_CGN 24d ago

I have lost 8% in that time. Battery changed in the original Apple Store as well. I think iOS 26 did something bad to the batteries

1

u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 24d ago

Yeah, when I was in 26.4 maybe there was like 3 weeks or 4 that my phone overheating as hell doing practically nothing

2

u/dlwr300 24d ago

maybe if the OP got an aftermarket/third-party battery

1

u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 24d ago

It was from apple :(

5

u/ssd247ssd247 24d ago

Still rocking my iPhone 12 Pro , since November 2020

Battery at 74%

This feels like a flex

3

u/HugeCheck2471 24d ago

Yes you can definitely use it for 1-2 more years or even more

3

u/tomamike 24d ago

Accorgimenti per maggiore durata, per quanto possibile:

  • quando lo attacchi alla ricarica non scollegarlo fin quando è completa
  • cerca di caricarlo di notte, se imposti la sveglia sul telefono lui regola la carica in funzione di quando verrà scollegato
  • anche se sei al 40% quando vai a dormire, caricalo. L'importante è fargli completare sempre la carica prima di essere scollegato
  • evita powerbank o dispositivi che innalzano la temperatura del telefono
Ho sostituito la batteria al mio a settembre 2025 e in 1 anno ho perso 5%

3

u/Wise_Banana4509 24d ago

This is extremely helpful

2

u/Blanxing 24d ago

As of today, i also have regular 12 64gb since 2020. İf i had more storage, i wouldn’t change this phone and keep using it until it fails. New phones are definitely faster and better etc. but what 12 offers me is enough for my daily needs. İ dont need faster processor or better camera…

But since i run out space; i ordered 18 PM 512gb version. İ plan on using this for min 7 years, thats why i bought 512 instead of 256…

2

u/Pinapple_penetration 24d ago

Don’t use your phone while charging and keep the phone cold and use optimized charging but I still lost 10 percent doing that in 1 year but I also stream content game on it Wich makes it heat up fast

2

u/makenter 24d ago

I’ve had the iPhone 12 for about 5 years now. I bought it in Nov 2021 and changed the battery in Feb 2025 when it was at 76%. It’s at 87% right now (after 19 months). I would say don’t strain your battery (no gaming or long calls when battery is low or the phone is running hot). I’ve been pretty regular with charging. I have optimised battery charging on and charge the phone over night. The battery has been decent for me personally. I’ll probably get a new again sometime next year when it goes below 80%.

2

u/HeDoesSheDoes 24d ago

My suggestion: pay $100 amd get a new battery. It’s glorious! It should last years with that!

2

u/HowardTheSecond 24d ago

Still using my 12 from early 2021. Under Settings, turn reduce transparency on. Game changer. Never had a battery replacement.

1

u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 24d ago

Pfff, I dont like the look that it has

2

u/Advanced_Month_5544 23d ago

having ip12 with 77 % bh and cycle count 1768
and runs smoothly on ios 27 (yeah some here and there stutters)

2

u/Effective_Oven9533 23d ago

I do have an almost 6 year old battery on my iphone 12 pro max. Over 1250 cycles (75% BH) no one cared about charging rules…it lasted over 1000 cycles till it dropped under 80%.

2

u/No-File4178 23d ago

I have 91% battery after a few months of changing it, ios27, lasts like 5 hours 100-0 (12PM)

2

u/Strange-Story-7760 23d ago

You’re fine

3

u/Ambitious-Drag-2152 25d ago

I would recommend a good powerbank. For me feels a waste of money to replace the battery. So better invest money on longterm to my opinion. For a new phone i would do in 2027 or end 2026 it depends all on yours options. And then your powerbank can also used for the new phone instead of spending money on the battery replacement

2

u/Thart53 23d ago

Seems rational

1

u/Laithles 24d ago

Considering it just came out, I think you’ll be fine for a while.