Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy M54 5G
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro commands a 2.5x price premium over Samsung's Galaxy M54 5G, and the difference in experience justifies some but not all of that gap.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro commands a 2.5x price premium over Samsung's Galaxy M54 5G, and the difference in experience justifies some but not all of that gap. The iPhone 12 Pro features a superior 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 800 nits brightness and 60Hz refresh rate, paired with the blazingly fast A14 Bionic chip that still outperforms the Exynos 1380 in real-world performance. Its 12MP camera system with Dolby Vision 4K video, optical image stabilization on the telephoto lens, and computational photography delivers more consistent results across varying conditions. The IP68 rating and stainless steel construction provide better durability. However, the Galaxy M54 5G offers compelling value with a larger 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display running at 120Hz, a massive 6000mAh battery that nearly doubles the iPhone's endurance, and a 108MP main camera that captures impressive detail in well-lit scenarios. Samsung includes 8GB RAM, USB-C charging, and Android's customization flexibility. For power users who prioritize performance, video quality, and build quality, the iPhone 12 Pro remains the better choice despite its age. Budget-conscious buyers needing larger displays and longer battery life should seriously consider the Galaxy M54 5G, which delivers solid everyday performance at a fraction of the cost.
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 M54 5G if…
- →Massive 6000 mAh battery provides exceptional multi-day endurance
- →120Hz Super AMOLED Plus display is vibrant and smooth
- →108 MP main camera captures detailed daylight photos
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 M54 5G
Pros
- Massive 6000 mAh battery provides exceptional multi-day endurance
- 120Hz Super AMOLED Plus display is vibrant and smooth
- 108 MP main camera captures detailed daylight photos
- 5G connectivity for future-proof network access
- MicroSD expansion for additional storage
Cons
- Only 25W charging is slow for the 6000 mAh battery
- Exynos 1380 is a mid-range chip — struggles with heavy gaming
- No IP rating for water or dust resistance
- Plastic build feels cheap for the price
- 8 MP ultrawide and 2 MP macro are filler cameras
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Samsung Galaxy M54 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 199 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 166.4 x 77.3 x 8.4 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 108 MP, f/1.8, PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 6000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Samsung Exynos 1380 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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