Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S10+
The Verdict
iPhone 12 delivers superior processing power via the A14 Bionic chip, which outpaces Snapdragon 855 in real-world performance and efficiency. Display quality favors Samsung with its 3040x1440 AMOLED screen versus iPhone's 2532x1170 OLED, offering noticeably sharper visuals. Camera systems differ in philosophy: iPhone excels with computational photography and Dolby Vision video, while Galaxy S10+ provides more versatile hardware with telephoto and dual-aperture capabilities. Battery life strongly favors Samsung's 4100 mAh versus 2815 mAh, though iPhone charges faster. Software advantages lean Apple's way with iOS 14 versus dated Android 9. At $799, iPhone 12 offers better value for performance-focused users seeking longevity. Galaxy S10+ suits those prioritizing display fidelity and expandable storage at premium pricing. iPhone 12 emerges as the more future-proof choice.
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 S10+ if…
- →Gorgeous Dynamic AMOLED display with HDR10+
- →Headphone jack retained
- →microSD card slot with up to 1 TB option
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 S10+
Pros
- Gorgeous Dynamic AMOLED display with HDR10+
- Headphone jack retained
- microSD card slot with up to 1 TB option
- Dual aperture main camera was innovative
- Reverse wireless charging (Wireless PowerShare)
Cons
- No 5G support (separate 5G model existed)
- 60Hz display refresh rate
- Slow 15W wired charging
- Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner was slow
- Punch-hole selfie cutout was distracting
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy S10+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 9, One UI 1.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 175 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, dual aperture, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP + 8 MP depth |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 4100 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 15W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.78 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 640 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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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