Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy A05s
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 delivers premium flagship performance with its A14 Bionic chip, stunning 6.1-inch OLED display at 1200 nits, and exceptional camera system featuring Dolby Vision video recording. Build quality stands out with Ceramic Shield and IP68 water resistance, while MagSafe charging adds modern convenience. Battery life runs approximately one day with moderate use. Samsung's Galaxy A05s targets budget-conscious users with a larger 6.7-inch screen, bigger 5000mAh battery, and faster 25W charging, yet suffers from lower resolution LCD panel, weaker Snapdragon 680 processor, and plastic construction. Camera specs appear better on paper with 50MP main sensor, but real-world performance lags significantly behind the iPhone 12's advanced computational photography. For most users, iPhone 12's superior display quality, processing power, and ecosystem justify the five-fold price difference, though the Galaxy A05s suits those prioritizing battery life and screen size on tight budgets.
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 A05s if…
- →Extremely affordable at $159 for a Samsung smartphone
- →Large 5000 mAh battery provides two-day endurance
- →Big 6.7-inch display for media consumption
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 A05s
Pros
- Extremely affordable at $159 for a Samsung smartphone
- Large 5000 mAh battery provides two-day endurance
- Big 6.7-inch display for media consumption
- 50 MP main camera takes acceptable daylight photos
- 25W charging is decent for the budget segment
Cons
- HD+ resolution is noticeably pixelated on the 6.7-inch screen
- No 5G — 4G LTE only
- Snapdragon 680 is slow for multitasking
- No NFC — no contactless payments
- Plastic build feels fragile and cheap
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy A05s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (One UI Core 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 194 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 | 167.0 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.0 |
| 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 | 4 GB / 6 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | 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 |
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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