Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A04s
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro commands a 6.7x price premium over Samsung's Galaxy A04s, and that investment delivers substantial differences in core performance areas.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro commands a 6.7x price premium over Samsung's Galaxy A04s, and that investment delivers substantial differences in core performance areas. The iPhone 12 Pro features a superior 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 2532 x 1170 resolution and 800 nits brightness, compared to the Galaxy A04s' 6.5-inch PLS LCD screen at 1600 x 720 with 400 nits. Processing power heavily favors Apple's A14 Bionic chipset, which outperforms the Exynos 850 in both speed and efficiency. Camera capabilities show stark contrasts: the iPhone delivers a professional triple-camera setup with 2.5x telephoto, 4K 60fps Dolby Vision video, and superior computational photography, while the Galaxy A04s offers a higher megapixel count (50MP main) but inferior low-light performance and basic 1080p 30fps video. Battery capacity favors the Galaxy A04s at 5000 mAh versus 2815 mAh, though the iPhone's efficiency typically achieves comparable real-world longevity. The iPhone 12 Pro includes IP68 water resistance, 5G connectivity, and premium materials, while the Galaxy A04s lacks water resistance and relies on dated wireless standards. For budget-conscious users seeking basic functionality, the Galaxy A04s delivers adequate performance. However, the iPhone 12 Pro justifies its price through superior display quality, processing power, camera versatility, and overall ecosystem advantages for anyone willing to invest.
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 Samsung Galaxy A04s if…
- →Extremely affordable Samsung phone at $149
- →5000 mAh battery provides multi-day endurance
- →90Hz display is smoother than typical entry-level 60Hz phones
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
Samsung Galaxy A04s
Pros
- Extremely affordable Samsung phone at $149
- 5000 mAh battery provides multi-day endurance
- 90Hz display is smoother than typical entry-level 60Hz phones
- NFC support for contactless payments at the budget tier
- 50 MP main camera takes acceptable daylight photos
Cons
- HD+ resolution is pixelated on the 6.5-inch screen
- Exynos 850 is very slow — struggles with basic multitasking
- Only 15W charging takes hours for a full charge
- No 5G connectivity
- 2 MP macro and depth cameras are useless
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A04s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 12 (One UI Core 4.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 195 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 3 GB / 4 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 15W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (8x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G52 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Samsung Exynos 850 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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