Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Nothing Phone (2a)
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro delivers premium build quality with its stainless steel frame and IP68 rating, paired with the powerful A14 Bionic chip and excellent Dolby Vision video recording at 4K@60fps. Its 60Hz OLED display, however, feels dated compared to modern standards. Nothing Phone (2a) counters with a significantly larger 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, more versatile camera setup including a 50MP main sensor with OIS, and a massive 5000mAh battery supporting 45W charging,all at just $349. The iPhone excels in raw processing power, ecosystem integration, and video features, while the Nothing Phone (2a) offers substantially better value with superior display refresh rates, battery longevity, and practical camera versatility. Budget-conscious users seeking modern features will find the Nothing Phone (2a) compelling; those prioritizing performance and ecosystem benefits should choose the iPhone 12 Pro.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro if…
- →First iPhone with LiDAR scanner for AR and Night mode portraits
- →Introduced MagSafe magnetic accessory ecosystem
- →First 5nm chip (A14 Bionic) on any smartphone
Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) if…
- →Distinctive transparent design with Glyph Interface
- →Clean Nothing OS with minimal bloat
- →Solid 50 MP dual camera setup
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Pros
- First iPhone with LiDAR scanner for AR and Night mode portraits
- Introduced MagSafe magnetic accessory ecosystem
- First 5nm chip (A14 Bionic) on any smartphone
- ProRAW format for professional photo editing
- Flat-edge design revival praised for aesthetics
Cons
- No 120Hz ProMotion display at Pro pricing
- Small 2815 mAh battery requires charging daily
- Charger removed from box controversially
- 2.5x telephoto falls short of Android competition
Nothing Phone (2a)
Pros
- Distinctive transparent design with Glyph Interface
- Clean Nothing OS with minimal bloat
- Solid 50 MP dual camera setup
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Plastic build at this price
- No wireless charging
- Only IP54 splash resistance
- Mid-tier Dimensity chipset rather than Snapdragon
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Nothing Phone (2a) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 190 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame, plastic back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP54 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Samsung GN9 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2412 x 1084 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 1300 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 + 6x2.0 GHz A510) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
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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