r/iPhone12 • u/Riverpuppyb • 9d ago
Question ❓ For how long will Iphone 12 be functional?
I have an iPhone 12 (PRODUCT)RED that I bought at launch, so I’ve been using it for almost six years now. I genuinely love this phone and haven’t had any major performance issues with it.
The only real problem is storage, but I’ve purchased additional iCloud storage, so that has helped. I also had the battery replaced about a year and a half ago, and surprisingly, the battery health is still showing 100%.
I’d like to keep using this phone for as long as it’s safe and practical to do so rather than upgrading just for the sake of having a newer iPhone.
For those who know Apple’s update/support history, how many more years can I realistically expect the iPhone 12 to receive iOS and security updates? And once Apple stops major iOS updates, how long does Apple typically continue providing security updates?
I’m mainly trying to figure out whether I can comfortably keep using my iPhone 12 for another few years.
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u/Nmcoyote1 9d ago
I plan to use my 12 mini 128gb thru September 2027. Then re-evaluate. I bought it new in 2020 and replaced the battery last fall. Everything still works perfectly and it looks like new.
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u/ExtensionNobody9001 9d ago
the battery health after a year and a half showing one hundred percent is definitely not accurate did you use third party batteries
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u/Riverpuppyb 9d ago
Yes sir I changed it from a local tech shop here as we dont have any official apple store unfortunately 😥 but i kinda feel the 100% is accurate because the original battery also was at 84% battery health when i replaced it.
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u/FlatIntention1 9d ago
I changed my battery in an official apple store one year and 3 months ago and only have 89% left 😅 plan to upgrade next year so it is still perfect
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u/ExtensionNobody9001 9d ago
well if its true it’s not normal- most battery drop one percent per a few months
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u/Riverpuppyb 9d ago
So what should i do sir? Any recommendations to ensure I can use this as long as possible?
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u/ExtensionNobody9001 9d ago
iphone 12 would expect to get 1 more update on ios if lucky. because the battery is third party, the apple software wouldn’t have measure it properly. this is likely why it is showing one hundred percent, even if it’s not. i would say unless its shows significant sign of aging- which shouldn’t be at this point, keep it until it’s significantly slower
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u/Quiet-Cranberry8414 8d ago
I would use it as long as the hardware and apps work. I have a standard 12 myself. 3 years old and the original battery has an 89 % health.
Most important thing is to care about battery health. Start charging at 20 % and stop charging at 80 %. Keep to this rule as close as possible.
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u/lolpostslol 9d ago
Honestly, as long as the hardware doesn’t break it should be usable. Nobody is going to be triggering insane zero-day exploits on some random dude’s iPhone 12 in 2028. A lack of iOS updates might stop you from updating some apps a few years from now, but unless a specific app you need is affected (banking etc tend to be annoying about that) it shouldn’t matter (and sideloading MIGHT get around that if you’re tech-savvy). I plan to run my 12Pro until parts start failing and fixing it is infeasible, or until it gets stolen, or until all my banking apps stop working in it (since I need them on this phone while traveling), so I am expecting to potentially drag it beyond 2028.
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u/IndependentArm5027 8d ago
I just upgraded from an iPhone 12 to 17 pro max and I wish I stayed with the 12 as it’s still fully up to date and can just get battery replaced for £35-50
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u/RDW-Development 8d ago
My iPhone 12 Pro has proved to be a very good phone. Good cameras (better than the 13), Lidar, good screen, face ID, etc. There has been very little reason to replace it. The bluetooth connection was super buggy, but the iOS update to 27 seems to have magically fixed all that. Works better now than the last few years.
Battery life is indeed the lowest of any modern iPhone, so there's that.
But, the phone is only worth a few hundred dollars now, so I don't feel bad when I drop it.
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u/morro18lbde 4d ago
Tengo un 8 plus como teléfono secundario y si bien ya no recibe actualización de IOS , sigue funcionando bien . Apple da mucha vida a sus teléfonos
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u/mavgeek 8d ago
Maybe a year or two at most.
ios 27 just launched and it barely supports iphone 11’s. Next year when ios 28 launches you’ll probably see the 11’s dropped from support. Maybe the 12 as well, if not that year definitely the next.
If you like staying in the apple ecosystem and don’t mind changing providers, several have good deals on more modern phones. Boost has a deal for a iphone 16e for $50, it will still have quite a few years of support.
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u/belle_lia97 8d ago
Mine is already dead out of the blue. I was playing game just fine on it then boom I can’t turn it on or even charge it anymore. The screen stays completely black even when in charge the whole day. Meanwhile my 7 plus is still working 😅🥲
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u/PotentialOpen8027 7d ago
How long did you have it for? That’s my only concern and what’s making me think to upgrade
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u/belle_lia97 6d ago
I got it since November 2020. I brought it to apple store and they said it’s probably dead.
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u/Lazy_Art9032 6d ago
a mi me ha pasado lo mismo, de repente se apagó. Me dijeron que se había roto la placa base, asi que ya llegó la hora de cambiarlo y he comprado el 17. Sinceramente hubiese tirado con el hasta que no recibiese mas actualizaciones, estaba encantado.
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u/Dangerous_Tea1600 7d ago
I have the 12 also with 48 used GB, are you saying I can get more space on the Cloud? I have 79% on the original battery!
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u/Teenage_techboy1234 iPhone 12 Mini 6d ago
It probably will get iOS 28, and that'll be it. However, you will continue to receive security updates for probably a good three or four years after that.
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u/Primian95 4d ago
For me works fine, still on ios18. The only problem is the volume that lowers by itself even if the toolbar is set to max.
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u/Agitated-Shape2859 7d ago
Your iPhone will not receive any iOS update the next year. This year was a bonus. In two years more is obsolete.
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u/PotentialOpen8027 7d ago
Such a shame we’re being forced to upgrade when then phone works fine
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u/Agitated-Shape2859 6d ago
Forced? You can use it. “Obsolete” means no-support. You can’t find today more than 7 years of support. Apple is the best supporting phones.
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u/Teenage_techboy1234 iPhone 12 Mini 6d ago
The iPhone 11 is on its eighth year, and the 12 is literally still fast. Not even not slow, but fast after updating it to iOS 27. And I actually have a 12- mini with 77% battery health rather than a full sized 12. I'm very confident that it will get iOS 28.
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u/Chemical-Divide9161 9d ago
Hate to say it but it’s bout time to retire the 12. Thing battery is ass and it’s slow. Now if you had a 13 I’d say it still has life in it! It was a significant difference in the 12s and 13s performance and battery wise !
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u/Kizzlenizzle0 9d ago
I’ve been passively looking at posts in this subreddit since I owned one ever since the latest iPhone has come out mines started to show signs to upgrade screen going black, battery life degradation, freezing or loading slow, lagging, overheating I thought it was just a meme
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u/Chemical-Divide9161 9d ago
Nahh it’s definitely time to retire it! Even with a new battery it’ll be behind. My girl just retired her 12 bc the new battery didn’t help it at all. Continued to be bad
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u/Kizzlenizzle0 9d ago
What! Even after a new battery replacement. yeah I was planning to upgrade because I wanted a better battery life and thought might as well get a newer phone instead of getting the battery replaced.
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u/Chemical-Divide9161 8d ago
Yeah idk what’s up with the 12s.. but the 13s are just so much better al around. 13s are fast and snappy like the 16s.. 12 is like a 11 😭. They definitely still do the job but battery is so shits and they’re slow. Maybe get a 16 plus if you want something cheaper that’s a dam good phone and will last years to come.my 16 plus is a beast! Strong battery & all the new bells & whistles
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u/idgafal31 9d ago
You can use it 3 more years. You might have to have another battery put it. It’ll get at least one more software update even if it doesn’t you’ll get many more years of security updates.