Apple iPhone 12 vs Google Pixel 7 Pro
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 delivers a compact, premium experience with its refined A14 Bionic chip and stellar OLED display, though the 60Hz refresh rate feels dated at this price point. Google's Pixel 7 Pro counters with a larger 6.7-inch adaptive 120Hz display, significantly larger 5000 mAh battery, and a more advanced camera system featuring a 50 MP main sensor with 5x optical zoom. Processing power differs notably: the A14 Bionic still performs exceptionally, but the Tensor G2 excels at computational photography and AI tasks. Camera performance slightly favors the Pixel with its superior zoom capabilities and Google's renowned processing, while the iPhone 12 remains solid for everyday shooting. Battery life decisively goes to the Pixel with its 78% larger capacity and superior charging speeds at 30W versus 20W. For most users seeking longevity, camera versatility, and display quality, the Pixel 7 Pro's higher price justifies the upgrades. However, those valuing compact size and iOS ecosystem should consider the iPhone 12.
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 7 Pro if…
- →Excellent 5x periscope telephoto at this price point
- →Best-in-class computational photography with Magic Eraser
- →LTPO display drops to 1Hz to save battery
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 7 Pro
Pros
- Excellent 5x periscope telephoto at this price point
- Best-in-class computational photography with Magic Eraser
- LTPO display drops to 1Hz to save battery
- Guaranteed five years of OS updates
- Large 5000 mAh battery with wireless charging
Cons
- Tensor G2 trails Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in raw performance
- Slow 30W wired charging vs Chinese rivals
- Runs warm under sustained gaming loads
- Heavy at 212 g
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Google Pixel 7 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 212 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.85, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10.8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2, 125.8-degree |
| Telephoto | — | 48 MP, f/3.5, 5x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 23W (Pixel Stand 2nd gen) |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3120 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Google Tensor G2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| 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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