Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 delivers flagship performance with its powerful A14 Bionic chip, superior 60Hz OLED display with 1200 nits brightness, and professional-grade camera system capable of 4K Dolby Vision recording. Samsung's Galaxy A14 5G counters with a larger 6.6-inch screen, higher 90Hz refresh rate, bigger 5000 mAh battery, and a 50 MP main camera, all at a quarter of the price. Processing power heavily favors the iPhone, which excels in gaming and app performance, while the Galaxy A14 struggles with its MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor. Display quality distinctly favors Apple's OLED technology with superior color accuracy and contrast. However, the Galaxy A14 offers better everyday battery longevity and a larger screen for content consumption. At $799, iPhone 12 targets premium users seeking top-tier performance and camera capabilities. At $199, Galaxy A14 serves budget-conscious buyers willing to compromise on performance for value. For most users, iPhone 12 remains the better investment despite higher cost.
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 A14 5G if…
- →5G connectivity at an ultra-affordable $199 price point
- →Large 5000 mAh battery provides excellent endurance
- →90Hz display refresh rate is smooth for the price class
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 A14 5G
Pros
- 5G connectivity at an ultra-affordable $199 price point
- Large 5000 mAh battery provides excellent endurance
- 90Hz display refresh rate is smooth for the price class
- Two years of OS updates for a budget phone
- 50 MP main camera takes decent daylight photos
Cons
- PLS LCD panel has poor viewing angles and contrast
- Only 15W charging is very slow for the 5000 mAh battery
- No water resistance or IP rating
- Plastic build feels cheap and is prone to scratches
- Mediocre low-light camera performance
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy A14 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (One UI Core 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 202 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 | 167.7 x 78.7 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 | 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 |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 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 | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2408 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz + 6x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | MediaTek Dimensity 700 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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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