Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 12 delivers premium performance and imaging prowess at $799, while Samsung's Galaxy A34 5G targets budget-conscious buyers at $399 with some surprising advantages.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 delivers premium performance and imaging prowess at $799, while Samsung's Galaxy A34 5G targets budget-conscious buyers at $399 with some surprising advantages. The iPhone 12 features the formidable A14 Bionic chip, ensuring smooth performance and longevity with iOS 14 optimization. Its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display hits 1200 nits brightness, and the 12MP dual camera system captures exceptional detail with OIS and Dolby Vision HDR video. However, the 2815 mAh battery and 60Hz refresh rate feel dated. The Galaxy A34 5G counters with a larger 6.6-inch Super AMOLED screen running at 120Hz refresh, making scrolling noticeably smoother. Its 5000 mAh battery provides significantly longer runtime, and the 48MP main sensor with PDAF and OIS captures more megapixels, though 4K maxes at 30fps. The A34 ships with more RAM (6-8GB versus 4GB) and includes USB-C. Build quality favors iPhone 12 with Ceramic Shield and aluminum, versus the A34's plastic construction. MediaTek's Dimensity 1080 lags Apple's A14 in raw speed, but handles daily tasks competently. For gaming, video editing, and long-term support, iPhone 12 justifies its premium. Budget shoppers valuing battery life and screen refresh will appreciate the Galaxy A34's approach.
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 5G if…
- →IP67 water resistance is rare in the mid-range segment
- →120Hz Super AMOLED display is vibrant and smooth
- →5000 mAh battery provides reliable all-day 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 5G
Pros
- IP67 water resistance is rare in the mid-range segment
- 120Hz Super AMOLED display is vibrant and smooth
- 5000 mAh battery provides reliable all-day endurance
- Four OS updates and five years of security patches
- OIS on the 48 MP main camera improves low-light shots
Cons
- Only 25W charging is slow for the 5000 mAh battery
- Dimensity 1080 is mid-range — not ideal for heavy gaming
- Plastic build feels less premium than glass alternatives
- No wireless charging
- 8 MP ultrawide camera produces soft images
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy A34 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 199 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Plastic frame and back, Gorilla Glass 5 front |
| 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, PDAF, 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 |
| Macro | — | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB / 8 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 | No |
| 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 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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