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Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy A04s

By SpecPair Editorialphones
Verified specs·AI-assisted analysis·Editorially reviewed
Apple iPhone 12
Apple
Apple iPhone 12
$799
8.3/10
Winner
VS
Samsung Galaxy A04s
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A04s
$149
6.1/10

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.

ValueGalaxy A04s
CameraiPhone 12
BatteryGalaxy A04s
DisplayiPhone 12
PerformanceiPhone 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 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

Apple iPhone 12
Samsung Galaxy A04s
Value
7.6
8.9
Camera
8.7
6.4
Battery
7.1
8.2
Display
9.1
5.8
Performance
9.2
5.2

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

SpecApple iPhone 12Samsung Galaxy A04s
SoftwareiOS 14Android 12 (One UI Core 4.1)
Body
Weight164 g195 g
MaterialAluminum frame, Ceramic Shield frontPlastic frame and back
IP ratingIP68None
Dimensions146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm
Camera
Main camera12 MP, f/1.6, OIS50 MP, f/1.8
Front camera12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.25 MP, f/2.2
Video4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR1080p@30fps
Ultrawide12 MP, f/2.4
Depth2 MP, f/2.4
Macro2 MP, f/2.4
Memory
RAM4 GB3 GB / 4 GB
Storage options64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB
Battery
Capacity2815 mAh5000 mAh
Charging20W wired15W wired
Wireless charging15W MagSafeNo
Display
Size6.1 inches6.5 inches
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLEDPLS LCD
Resolution2532 x 11701600 x 720
Refresh rate60Hz90Hz
Brightness (nits)1200400
Processor
CPUHexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)Octa-core (8x2.0 GHz)
GPUApple GPU (4-core)Mali-G52
ChipsetApple A14 BionicSamsung Exynos 850
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBLightningUSB-C 2.0
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth5.05.0

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Spec data verified from manufacturer sources. Analysis AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. How we compare · Last verified

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