Apple iPhone Geek Squad Certified Refurbished 12 5G Black 64GB Review

A premium phone with a bargain-bin battery. You get Apple's best-in-class display and solid performance for $200, but you'll be chained to a charger.

Let's cut to the chase. The refurbished iPhone 12 is a fantastic piece of hardware that's been kneecapped by one of the worst batteries we've ever seen in our database. That's the one thing you need to know. For around $200, you get a phone with a top-tier display, a still-impressive A14 Bionic chip, and 5G connectivity. It feels premium, it runs smooth, and it takes great photos. But you'll be spending a lot of time with it plugged into a wall.

The performance is a pleasant surprise, honestly. The A14 Bionic chip is still a powerhouse, landing in the 88th percentile. Apps open fast, games run without a hitch, and iOS 15 (or newer) feels perfectly smooth on it. It's a reminder of how far ahead Apple's silicon was. The real shocker is the battery, which scored in the 1st percentile. It's dead last. You'll be lucky to get through a full day of moderate use, and that's on a fresh battery. The hardware is fast, but it's on a very short leash.

At $205, it's a complicated value. The core experience—screen, speed, feel—is way better than anything else at this price. But the battery is such a massive flaw that it almost negates the whole package. It's worth it only if you're always near an outlet or you carry a power bank like it's your wallet.

The most relevant competitor is the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. It'll cost more, but you get a modern 120Hz screen, much better battery life, and a more versatile camera system. If you're on a strict budget, the Motorola Moto G Stylus offers way longer battery life and a stylus for less money, but you sacrifice the premium feel and raw performance. The Pixel 10 is in another league price-wise, but its camera and software smokes this iPhone. The iPhone 12 wins on pure hardware polish for the dollar, but loses on endurance.

If you need a phone that lasts all day, skip this immediately. Go look at a Motorola G series phone or a refurbished iPhone 13 instead. Also, if you want modern features like a 120Hz screen or a killer zoom camera, this isn't it.

We can only recommend this with a giant, flashing asterisk. If you want the Apple ecosystem and that premium feel for the absolute lowest entry price, and you can live with terrible battery life, go for it. For everyone else, the battery is a deal-breaker. Spend a little more on a refurbished iPhone 13 or a modern Android phone like the S25 FE. You'll thank yourself by 3 PM.