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Apple iPhone 12 mini vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

By SpecPair Editorialphones
Verified specs·AI-assisted analysis·Editorially reviewed
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple
Apple iPhone 12 mini
$699
8.2/10
VS
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
$1,399
8.4/10

The Quick Answer

Apple's iPhone 12 mini and Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra represent vastly different philosophies.

The Verdict

Apple's iPhone 12 mini and Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra represent vastly different philosophies. The iPhone 12 mini prioritizes portability with its 5.4-inch display and 133g weight, delivering excellent performance through the A14 Bionic chip and sharp 1200-nit OLED screen, though it's limited to 60Hz refresh rates and a modest 2227mAh battery. The Galaxy S20 Ultra dominates on specifications: its 6.9-inch 120Hz display, 108MP main camera with periscope zoom, and 5000mAh battery dwarf the iPhone's offering. However, the S20 Ultra weighs 220g and costs double the price. Camera capabilities differ meaningfully: the Ultra shoots 8K video and offers 4x optical zoom, while the iPhone 12 mini captures exceptional 4K content with superior computational photography for everyday shots. Battery life heavily favors Samsung's larger cell, though the iPhone charges faster at 20W. Performance is comparable, with both phones handling any task effortlessly. The choice depends entirely on priorities: choose the iPhone 12 mini for a premium, pocketable device with excellent cameras and software polish, or the Galaxy S20 Ultra if you demand the largest display, longest battery life, and most ambitious camera hardware regardless of size and cost.

Value12 mini
CameraS20 Ultra
BatteryS20 Ultra
DisplayS20 Ultra
Performance12 mini

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 Ultra if…

  • 100x Space Zoom headline feature
  • 108 MP main camera sensor
  • Large 5000 mAh battery

Category Scores

Apple iPhone 12 mini
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Value
8.6
6.9
Camera
8.4
9.0
Battery
6.8
9.2
Display
8.5
9.1
Performance
8.9
8.8

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 Ultra

Pros

  • 100x Space Zoom headline feature
  • 108 MP main camera sensor
  • Large 5000 mAh battery
  • 45W fast charging
  • Massive 6.9-inch QHD+ display

Cons

  • Autofocus issues at launch required software patches
  • $1399 made it extremely expensive
  • Very heavy and large
  • 120Hz locked to FHD+ resolution at launch
  • 100x zoom quality was mostly a gimmick

Full Specifications

SpecApple iPhone 12 miniSamsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
SoftwareiOS 14Android 10, One UI 2.1
Body
Weight133 g220 g
MaterialAluminum frame, Ceramic Shield frontAluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6
IP ratingIP68IP68
Dimensions131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm
Camera
Main camera12 MP, f/1.6, OIS108 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Front camera12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.240 MP, f/2.2
Video4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR8K@24fps, 4K@60fps
Ultrawide12 MP, f/2.412 MP, f/2.2
Periscope48 MP, f/3.5, 4x optical zoom
Memory
RAM4 GB12 GB
Storage options64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB128 GB, 512 GB
Battery
Capacity2227 mAh5000 mAh
Charging20W wired45W wired
Wireless charging15W MagSafe15W wireless
Display
Size5.4 inches6.9 inches
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution2340 x 10803200 x 1440
Refresh rate60Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)12001200
Processor
CPUHexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)
GPUApple GPU (4-core)Adreno 650
ChipsetApple A14 BionicQualcomm Snapdragon 865
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBLightningUSB-C 3.2
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.05.0

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Spec data verified from manufacturer sources. Analysis AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. How we compare · Last verified

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