Apple has released new leather and silicone cases for iPhone 13 and 13 Pro. But could you use a case for the iPhone 12 or 12 Pro instead?
One of the benefits of Apple’s previous strategy of offering S-generations of iPhones was the fact that the cases of the predecessor would also fit the new devices.
You might think that the same would be true of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro: on paper the dimensions have hardly changed:
- iPhone 12: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.4mm
- iPhone 13: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.65mm
- iPhone 12 Pro: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.4mm
- iPhone 13 Pro: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.65mm
However, you will notice that the new iPhones are fractionally thicker. The difference might be indeterminable when holding the iPhones, but that difference of 0.15mm is likely to mean that iPhone 12 series cases will not fit the new iPhones.
You might try squashing the new iPhone into an old case thinking that it’s a close enough fit, but remember the reason you bought the case: to protect your iPhone. If the edge of the case doesn’t overlap the edge of your screen your iPhone won’t be protected.
That’s not the only difference. If you compare the back of the two devices you will see differences in the layout of the cameras.
In the case of the iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro the camera module is larger on the newer iPhone. Apple does not list any dimensions on its comparison page, but this can be seen by the position of the Apple logo. The logo is perfectly centered on the back of both models, but in the case of the camera module of the iPhone 13 Pro the logo is much closer to the camera section.
Want to buy one of Apple’s new cases? Here’s a selection:
- iPhone 13 Silicone Case with MagSafe, £49/$49
- iPhone 13 Clear Case with MagSafe, £49/$49
- iPhone 13 Leather Case with MagSafe, £59/$59
- iPhone 13 Pro Silicone Case with MagSafe, £49/$49
- iPhone 13 Pro Clear Case with MagSafe, £49/$49
- iPhone 13 Pro Leather Case with MagSafe, £59/$59
Read our round up of the best cases for iPhone 13.
So, the iPhone 12 cases won’t fit the iPhone 13, but the iPhone 13 cases will fit the iPhone 13 Pro right? Wrong!
To complete the confusion: an iPhone 13 case will not fit an iPhone 13 Pro due to the larger camera module discussed above.
So, while in 2020 an iPhone 12 case fit on an iPhone 12 Pro this is not the case in 2021.
We are pulling together an overview of the best iPhone 13 cases, so stay tuned! In the meantime, here’s: The best iPhone 12 and 12 Pro cases, but remember they are no good for the new iPhones!
This article originally appeared on Macwelt. Translation by Karen Haslam.
Simply answered. No. The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max cases do not fit the new iPhone 12 series.
It’s always great when your old case fits your new phone. However, this year Apple has made some dramatic changes to the iPhone. The biggest change is the shape, which now includes a square edge. Using an old case on your new device depends on some different factors. The new device must be the same size as your old phone and the cut-outs must match the placement of the new camera, ports and buttons.
What’s different about the iPhone 12?
The iPhone 12 has been launched in four different models, all with bigger and better cameras. The four models include the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The good news is that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are the same size.
Both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 have similar screen sizes; however, the overall design of the iPhone 12 is dissimilar so any iPhone 11 case will not fit it. The fit would be loose and the buttons and ports would not line up correctly.
What’s the conclusion?
The best advice we can give you is to buy yourself a new case that has been specifically designed for the shape and size of the iPhone 12. As an iPhone 11 case will not fit, you will need to find a new design.
There are several iPhone 12 case designs to choose from. We offer simple designs that are slim fitting to your device and provide protection against every day hazards, such as scratches, drops and bumps.
You can view all the iPhone 12 cases here.
Looking for your next case? Check out oncase for the best designed phone cases out there.
Lifeproof Wake Iphone 11 Pro Versus Iphone 12 Pro (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore)
Best Answer: No, your old cases will not fit the iPhone 12 series, including the iPhone 12 Pro. The entire iPhone 12 lineup has a different
design than the last few iterations of iPhone, since it features new flat edges and sides rather than the curved ones from years' past. These flat sides also mean smaller bezels, so the screen size and physical size are also new.Go Pro or go home:
iPhone 12 Pro (opens in new tab) (From $999 at
Apple)Will your old case fit the iPhone 12 Pro?
Will my old case fit the iPhone 12 Pro? No, the designs are completely unique.
Lifeproof Wake Interior Differences Ridges (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore)
Unfortunately, if you want to put a case on your new iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro, you're going to have to buy an entirely new case for it. That's because the iPhone 12 line has a brand new design with flat edges, unlike the curved edges that Apple has featured since the iPhone 6. With the new flat sides, the iPhone 12 Pro has a depth of 7.4mm versus the 8.1mm of the iPhone 11 Pro. While these differences seem negligible to the naked eye, it's enough to make old iPhone 11 Pro cases impossible to fit on the new iPhone 12.
Will my old iPhone 11 Pro case fit the iPhone 12 Pro? No, the screen sizes are different.
And unlike the iPhone 11 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro now has a 6.1-inch screen, which is a tad bigger than the 5.8-inch screen of the previous generation. So your old iPhone 11 Pro cases definitely won't fit just because of the difference in screen size. The iPhone 12 Pro is 5.78-inches tall, while the iPhone 11 Pro is 5.67-inches — so while it's a small difference, it makes it backwards compatibility for cases impossible.
Will my old iPhone 11 case fit the iPhone 12 Pro? No, the dimensions vary.
While the iPhone 11 had a 6.1-inch screen, that doesn't mean that old iPhone 11 cases are going to fit the iPhone 12 Pro either. Because of the flat edges, you have narrower bezels that give you more screen estate, but a smaller overall size. Remember, the iPhone 12 Pro is 5.78-inches tall, while the iPhone 11 is, believe it or not, 5.94-inches — that's quite a difference. So even though the iPhone 11 had a 6.1-inch screen, it is physically bigger than the iPhone 12 Pro. So no, you can't use an iPhone 11 case on an iPhone 12 Pro (or regular iPhone 12, for that matter).
Can I buy an iPhone 12 Pro case for my old iPhone 11? No, the iPhone 11 is too wide.
No, you cannot buy an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro case for your iPhone 11. The iPhone 12 Pro is 2.82-inches wide, while the iPhone 11 is 2.98-inches. The iPhone 11 is just too wide for the narrower iPhone 12 Pro cases, so you can't just buy one and expect it to fit on old devices. It just isn't going to happen.
Will my old case fit the iPhone 12 Pro? No, you're going to have to buy a new case.
In short, you will have to purchase a brand new iPhone 12 Pro case if you want to protect it. Because of the new design and subtle differences in product dimensions, your old case will not fit the new iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro.
Make sure to check out some of the best iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro cases available right now if you need to pick up some extra protection.
Our pick
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Hi,
Speed
The new iPhone 12 Pro has A14 Bionic, 5G, LiDAR, telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom, support for Dolby Vision video recording, and so much more. It's also insanely fast, and the new flat-edge design is a big improvement.
Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed.
When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.