Apple iPhone 12 mini vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 mini targets those prioritizing portability with its 133g frame and compact 5.4-inch display, while Samsung's Galaxy S23+ caters to power users seeking expansive features. The S23+ dominates on specs: its 50MP main camera with dual pixel PDAF, 8K video recording, and 3x optical telephoto vastly outperform the iPhone's 12MP setup. The 6.6-inch 120Hz display on Samsung delivers noticeably smoother scrolling compared to iPhone's 60Hz panel, plus 550 additional nits of brightness. Samsung's 4700mAh battery provides over 24 hours typical use versus the mini's modest 2227mAh requiring daily charging. The A14 Bionic chip still delivers snappy performance for iOS tasks, though Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 edges ahead in raw computational power. iPhone's strength lies in software optimization, compact ergonomics, and MagSafe ecosystem integration. The $300 price gap matters significantly: iPhone 12 mini offers flagship performance in a pocketable form factor, while S23+ justifies premium pricing through superior cameras, displays, and battery endurance. Choose iPhone 12 mini for one-handed use and iOS simplicity; select S23+ for comprehensive multimedia capabilities and longevity between charges.
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 S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
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 S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 133 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2227 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.4 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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