Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
The Verdict
iPhone 12 Pro delivers flagship performance with the A14 Bionic chipset, superior camera system featuring 4K Dolby Vision video and 2.5x telephoto, and a premium OLED display with 800 nits brightness. Its 6GB RAM and 20W charging feel dated compared to competitors, while the 2815 mAh battery struggles with daily use. Galaxy A16 5G offers exceptional value at one-fifth the price, featuring a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED display, 90Hz refresh rate, impressive 50MP main camera, and a substantial 5000 mAh battery with faster 25W charging. MediaTek processor handles everyday tasks adequately but lags in demanding games. Build quality differs significantly,stainless steel versus plastic. For professionals prioritizing computational photography and video, iPhone 12 Pro justifies its premium. Budget-conscious users seeking screen real estate and battery longevity should choose Galaxy A16 5G.
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 A16 5G if…
- →Six generations of OS updates — unprecedented for a $199 phone
- →5G connectivity at true budget pricing
- →Large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display
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 A16 5G
Pros
- Six generations of OS updates — unprecedented for a $199 phone
- 5G connectivity at true budget pricing
- Large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display
- All-day 5000 mAh battery easily lasts through heavy use
- NFC for contactless payments included
Cons
- Only 4 GB RAM feels tight for multitasking
- Camera quality falls off sharply in low light
- 90Hz display is a step below 120Hz competitors
- IP54 is splash-resistant only — not waterproof
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 14 (One UI 6.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 192 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP54 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 13 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | 2 MP, f/2.4, macro |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | — |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 800 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| 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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