Apple iPhone 12 mini vs Samsung Galaxy S20
The Quick Answer
iPhone 12 mini excels in processing speed and display quality with the A14 Bionic chip delivering superior single-core performance and the 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen producing exceptional clarity despite its 60Hz refresh rate.
The Verdict
iPhone 12 mini excels in processing speed and display quality with the A14 Bionic chip delivering superior single-core performance and the 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen producing exceptional clarity despite its 60Hz refresh rate. Galaxy S20 counters with a larger 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display running 120Hz, double the RAM at 12GB, and a notably larger 4000mAh battery versus 2227mAh. Camera capabilities differ significantly: S20 offers 8K video recording and a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x hybrid zoom, while iPhone 12 mini provides 4K at 60fps with Dolby Vision and cleaner computational photography. At $699, iPhone 12 mini represents better value for those prioritizing processing power, durability, and form factor. Galaxy S20 at $999 appeals to users wanting a larger display, higher refresh rate, expandable refresh capabilities, and advanced zoom photography. Battery life gives S20 the advantage with 79% more capacity. iPhone 12 mini's compact 133g design and superior single-threaded performance make it the smarter choice for everyday performance and longevity, though S20 justifies its premium for multimedia consumption and camera zoom requirements.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 mini if…
- →Lightest 5G iPhone at just 133 g
- →Compact form factor perfect for one-handed use
- →Same A14 Bionic as larger iPhone 12 models
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 if…
- →Compact flagship with 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED
- →5G support across all S20 models
- →12 GB RAM was generous
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Pros
- Lightest 5G iPhone at just 133 g
- Compact form factor perfect for one-handed use
- Same A14 Bionic as larger iPhone 12 models
- Beautiful OLED display despite small size
- MagSafe accessory support
Cons
- Very small 2227 mAh battery with poor endurance
- No telephoto camera
- 60Hz display refresh rate
- 5G usage drains battery quickly
- Discontinued after poor sales
Samsung Galaxy S20
Pros
- Compact flagship with 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED
- 5G support across all S20 models
- 12 GB RAM was generous
- microSD card slot
- Lightweight at 163 g
Cons
- 120Hz required FHD+ resolution at launch
- $999 base price was a $100 increase
- Slow 25W charging
- 64 MP telephoto hybrid zoom not as sharp as optical
- 8K video was impractical due to file sizes
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy S20 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 10, One UI 2.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 133 g | 163 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 64 MP, f/2.0, 3x hybrid zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2227 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.4 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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