Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Vivo Y36
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro justifies its $999 price through flagship performance and premium build quality. Its A14 Bionic chipset outpaces the Snapdragon 680 significantly, delivering superior app performance and gaming capabilities.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro justifies its $999 price through flagship performance and premium build quality. Its A14 Bionic chipset outpaces the Snapdragon 680 significantly, delivering superior app performance and gaming capabilities. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 800 nits brightness and ProMotion support eclipses the Vivo's 6.64-inch IPS LCD screen running at 90Hz. Camera performance heavily favors iPhone 12 Pro with its telephoto lens, Dolby Vision 4K recording at 60fps, and computational photography prowess, compared to Vivo's basic 50MP sensor and 1080p30 video. Build quality stands apart: stainless steel frame, IP68 water resistance, and wireless charging versus plastic construction with no durability rating. Battery capacity disadvantages the iPhone (2815 mAh vs 5000 mAh), though real-world endurance remains competitive due to iOS optimization. Vivo Y36 targets budget buyers offering larger screen real estate, expandable storage, and respectable fast charging at one-fifth the price. However, performance gaps are substantial. iPhone 12 Pro delivers flagship features including 5G, NFC, and three-year software support. For professionals and power users, iPhone 12 Pro remains the stronger choice; budget-conscious buyers accepting performance compromises should consider the Vivo Y36.
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 Vivo Y36 if…
- →44W fast charging is quick for a budget phone
- →5000 mAh battery provides reliable two-day endurance
- →50 MP main camera takes acceptable 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
Vivo Y36
Pros
- 44W fast charging is quick for a budget phone
- 5000 mAh battery provides reliable two-day endurance
- 50 MP main camera takes acceptable daylight photos
- 8 GB RAM is generous for the price range
- 90Hz display is smoother than entry-level 60Hz phones
Cons
- No 5G support — 4G LTE only
- No NFC for contactless payments
- Snapdragon 680 is weak for gaming or heavy multitasking
- 2 MP depth sensor adds negligible value
- No water resistance rating
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Vivo Y36 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (Funtouch OS 13) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 190 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 164.0 x 76.1 x 8.0 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 16 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 1080p@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Depth | — | 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 | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 44W FlashCharge |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.64 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2388 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x1.9 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 610 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 |
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