Apple iPhone 12 vs Google Pixel 4 XL
The Verdict
iPhone 12 delivers superior display technology with its 60Hz Super Retina XDR OLED panel (1200 nits) versus Pixel 4 XL's 90Hz P-OLED (600 nits), though the Pixel offers sharper 1440p resolution. Apple's A14 Bionic significantly outperforms the Snapdragon 855 in real-world performance and efficiency. Camera performance differs strategically: iPhone 12 excels at video (4K@60fps with Dolby Vision), while Pixel 4 XL's computational photography and 2x telephoto zoom provide excellent still images. Battery capacity favors Pixel 4 XL (3700 mAh vs 2815 mAh), but iPhone 12's efficiency and faster 20W charging offset this gap. iPhone 12 includes 5G connectivity and MagSafe wireless charging, both absent on Pixel 4 XL. At $799 versus $899, iPhone 12 offers better value with newer hardware, faster performance, and superior display quality. Pixel 4 XL suits users prioritizing computational photography and zoom versatility.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if…
- →Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- →90Hz smooth display
- →Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Google Pixel 4 XL
Pros
- Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- 90Hz smooth display
- Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
- Excellent telephoto camera for portraits
- Face unlock with 3D face recognition
Cons
- No ultrawide camera
- Large forehead bezel for Soli radar
- No fingerprint scanner at all
- Motion Sense was gimmicky and limited
- Battery life was mediocre
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Google Pixel 4 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 10 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 193 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@30fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Telephoto | — | 16 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 3700 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 18W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 11W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | P-OLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.78 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 640 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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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