Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy A34
The Verdict
iPhone 12 delivers superior display quality with its 1200-nit Super Retina XDR OLED panel and industry-leading A14 Bionic performance, paired with excellent camera capabilities including Dolby Vision video recording. Galaxy A34 compensates with a larger 6.6-inch screen, 120Hz refresh rate, significantly bigger 5000 mAh battery, and higher resolution 48 MP main camera, while costing under half the price. Performance-wise, A14 Bionic crushes the Dimensity 1080 for demanding tasks and gaming. Battery endurance heavily favors Samsung due to capacity advantage despite lower efficiency. Camera systems differ philosophically: iPhone emphasizes computational photography and video prowess, while Galaxy A34 offers megapixel count. iPhone 12 remains the better all-around flagship with superior software experience and long-term support, but Galaxy A34 offers exceptional value for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing battery life and screen size. Choose iPhone 12 for premium performance and reliability, Galaxy A34 for practical value.
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 A34 if…
- →IP67 water and dust resistance at an affordable price
- →Vivid 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- →Large 5000 mAh battery provides solid endurance
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 A34
Pros
- IP67 water and dust resistance at an affordable price
- Vivid 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- Large 5000 mAh battery provides solid endurance
- Four years of OS updates promised
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing
Cons
- Only 6 GB RAM in base configuration
- No OIS on the 48 MP main camera
- Wi-Fi 5 limits wireless speeds
- Macro lens instead of a proper telephoto
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy A34 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 199 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Polycarbonate back, aluminum-look frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 48 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@30fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 5 MP macro |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | — |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz + 6x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | MediaTek Dimensity 1080 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| 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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