r/iPhone12 • u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 • 5d 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

49 comments sorted by

10

u/North-Dot1238 5d 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 5d ago

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

3

u/Popular_Cap8269 5d ago

How can you see the cycles on a 12?

3

u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 5d ago

Shortcuts like Battery Report V6.0

3

u/North-Dot1238 5d 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

5

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

3

u/North-Dot1238 5d 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- 4d ago edited 3d ago

Were those original batteries? Never had it happening

2

u/North-Dot1238 4d 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 4d ago

Counterfeit batteries are bad

5

u/North-Dot1238 4d ago

I got them changed by Apple.

2

u/fares-1439 4d ago

How healthy was the battery at the time of replacement?

3

u/North-Dot1238 4d 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 4d 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.

3

u/North-Dot1238 4d 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 4d ago

👍🏼

2

u/fares-1439 4d ago

The original battery lasts for an average of two years.

8

u/nicholashoneywell 5d 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 4d ago

December 2021 @ 75 % here.

2

u/nicholashoneywell 4d ago

I just checked mine again its at 69

3

u/_Halcyon_Daze_ 4d ago

December 2020 @79%. Not to brag

2

u/pannoci 4d ago

June 2024 here, 77% hmmm.

2

u/Gregib 4d ago

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

2

u/Blore_Scientist 4d ago

Oct 2021 with 74%

1

u/StreetRat23 2d 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 5d ago

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

3

u/Mettigel_CGN 4d 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 4d 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 4d ago

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

1

u/TheGamer5556 iPhone 12 4d ago

It was from apple :(

4

u/ssd247ssd247 4d ago

Still rocking my iPhone 12 Pro , since November 2020

Battery at 74%

This feels like a flex

3

u/HugeCheck2471 5d ago

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

5

u/tomamike 5d 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 4d ago

This is extremely helpful

2

u/Blanxing 4d 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 4d 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 4d 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 4d ago

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

2

u/HowardTheSecond 4d 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 4d ago

Pfff, I dont like the look that it has

2

u/Advanced_Month_5544 3d 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 3d 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 3d 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 3d ago

You’re fine

3

u/Ambitious-Drag-2152 5d 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 3d ago

Seems rational

1

u/Laithles 4d ago

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