Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy A04s
The Quick Answer
Apple iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy A04s occupy vastly different market segments, making this a stark value versus capability comparison.
The Verdict
Apple iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy A04s occupy vastly different market segments, making this a stark value versus capability comparison. The iPhone 12 delivers a superior 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 1200 nits brightness and 60Hz refresh, paired with the exceptionally fast A14 Bionic chipset that outperforms nearly everything in its class. Camera performance heavily favors Apple, with a well-tuned 12MP main sensor featuring optical image stabilization and reliable 4K@60fps video with Dolby Vision HDR. Battery capacity is modest at 2815 mAh, though efficient performance helps offset this. The Galaxy A04s, priced at just $149, prioritizes budget accessibility over refinement. Its 6.5-inch PLS LCD screen offers higher brightness potential on paper but delivers inferior color accuracy and contrast. The 5000 mAh battery provides meaningful longevity, and the 50MP main sensor captures decent daylight shots, but lacks OIS and maxes out at 1080p video. Processing power via the Exynos 850 is notably weaker, resulting in slower app launches and gaming performance. The iPhone 12 is the clear winner for anyone prioritizing performance, camera quality, and display excellence. The Galaxy A04s makes sense only for buyers with minimal budgets who prioritize battery life and basic functionality over experience quality.
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 Samsung Galaxy A04s if…
- →Extremely affordable Samsung phone at $149
- →5000 mAh battery provides multi-day endurance
- →90Hz display is smoother than typical entry-level 60Hz phones
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
Samsung Galaxy A04s
Pros
- Extremely affordable Samsung phone at $149
- 5000 mAh battery provides multi-day endurance
- 90Hz display is smoother than typical entry-level 60Hz phones
- NFC support for contactless payments at the budget tier
- 50 MP main camera takes acceptable daylight photos
Cons
- HD+ resolution is pixelated on the 6.5-inch screen
- Exynos 850 is very slow — struggles with basic multitasking
- Only 15W charging takes hours for a full charge
- No 5G connectivity
- 2 MP macro and depth cameras are useless
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy A04s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 12 (One UI Core 4.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 1080p@30fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 3 GB / 4 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 15W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (8x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G52 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Samsung Exynos 850 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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