Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20+
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro delivers a more refined and compact experience with its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, while Samsung's Galaxy S20+ emphasizes raw specifications and screen real estate with its 6.7-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel offering 3200 x 1440 resolution versus the iPhone's 2532 x 1170.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro delivers a more refined and compact experience with its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, while Samsung's Galaxy S20+ emphasizes raw specifications and screen real estate with its 6.7-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel offering 3200 x 1440 resolution versus the iPhone's 2532 x 1170. The S20+ boasts superior battery capacity at 4500 mAh compared to 2815 mAh, along with faster 25W charging and more aggressive zoom capabilities via its 64MP telephoto lens with 3x hybrid zoom. However, the iPhone 12 Pro's A14 Bionic processor delivers faster single-core performance and more consistent app optimization across iOS 14, while Apple's computational photography and Dolby Vision video recording produce exceptional results in real-world scenarios. Samsung compensates with 12GB RAM versus Apple's 6GB, though the iPhone's architecture makes efficient use of its memory. The S20+ edges out on screen tech and specs, but the iPhone 12 Pro commands a lower $999 price point against $1199, making it better value for those prioritizing performance and software experience over display specifications and battery capacity. The S20+ wins for multimedia enthusiasts who need the larger screen and longer battery life.
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 S20+ if…
- →QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display
- →5G connectivity
- →microSD card slot retained
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 S20+
Pros
- QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display
- 5G connectivity
- microSD card slot retained
- 12 GB RAM for multitasking
- Good triple camera system
Cons
- 120Hz locked to FHD+ at launch
- $1199 starting price was high
- Slow 25W charging
- DepthVision ToF sensor rarely useful
- Fingerprint sensor sometimes slow
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S20+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 10, One UI 2.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 186 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | 64 MP, f/2.0, 3x hybrid zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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