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New Apple iPhone 12 (64GB, Blue) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription

TLDR Review: iPhone 12

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 27th, 2026

Pros

•Easy and smooth setup process, especially for users upgrading from older iPhone models.
•Excellent OLED and HDR display quality that clearly outshines the iPhone 11.
•Strong overall performance suitable for everyday use and more advanced tasks.
•5G capability enhances connectivity despite lacking a 120Hz refresh rate.
•Sleek, ergonomic design paired with hignd features like Siri, Apple Pay, and FaceTime.
•Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem via iCloud improves multitasking and content sharing.
•Retains high resale and tradn value due to Apple’s reputation for quality and workmanship.
•Considered one of the best phones globally in its category, delivering great value for its price.
•Noticeably lighter than the iPhone 11 Pro, making it more comfortable to carry around.

Cons

•Locked to an unknown carrier, causing compatibility issues, notably with Cricket and Xfinity Mobile SIMs.
•Activation problems are frequent, with some devices entering recovery mode and failing to properly set up Apple ID.
•System recovery attempts often fail, suggesting possible hardware defects on some units.
•Product description is misleading about carrier compatibility, leading to unusable phones for some users.
•Replacement units sometimes exhibit the same problems, compounding the frustration.
•No power adapter or earbuds included, necessitating additional purchases to charge and listen out of the box.
•Charging cable switch from US to Lightning or USB-C can be inconvenient for some users.
•The lack of a 120Hz display might disappoint users used to higher refresh rates on competing phones.

Bottom Line

The New Apple iPhone 12 (64GB, Blue) delivers impressive performance, stunning display quality, and solid integration within the Apple ecosystem, making it a strong choice for most buyers looking for a reliable and stylish phone. However, if you’re not locked into a specific carrier, beware of the lock and activation issues reported, especially with Cricket and Xfinity Mobile—these could seriously hamper your experience. Also, factor in the additional cost for essential accessories like a power adapter and earbuds. If carrier flexibility is a priority, you might want to explore unlocked versions or compare with later models that may offer broader compatibility and improved refresh rates.

Lowest at Amazon

$791.90 at Amazon

Lowest at any Popular Retailer

$0.00 at Apple

How we researched this

About this review: We pulled together findings from professional reviews and hundreds of user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from 3 retailers to give you the short version.