Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
The Verdict
Both phones deliver strong performance at their respective price points, though they prioritize different strengths. The iPhone 12 excels with its superior display technology, featuring a sharper 2532x1170 resolution on a smaller 6.1-inch OLED panel with exceptional 1200 nits brightness and accurate color reproduction via Super Retina XDR. Its A14 Bionic chip remains one of the fastest processors available, enabling smooth performance and excellent app optimization. However, the Galaxy S20 FE counters with a larger 6.5-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display that feels more fluid for scrolling, plus a significantly larger 4500 mAh battery compared to the iPhone's 2815 mAh capacity. The S20 FE also adds a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and a higher resolution front camera at 32MP. The iPhone edges ahead in camera consistency and video recording, while the Samsung offers more versatility with its quad-camera setup and superior battery endurance. Design-wise, the iPhone feels more premium with its Ceramic Shield and lighter build at 164g versus Samsung's 190g plastic back. At their launch prices, the $100 difference favors the S20 FE for battery life and display size, while the iPhone 12 remains the better choice for users prioritizing processing power, camera quality, and compact design. The S20 FE delivers more value if longevity between charges matters most.
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 S20 FE 5G if…
- →Flagship Snapdragon 865 at a reduced Fan Edition price
- →120Hz Super AMOLED display is vibrant and smooth
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare at this price point
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 S20 FE 5G
Pros
- Flagship Snapdragon 865 at a reduced Fan Edition price
- 120Hz Super AMOLED display is vibrant and smooth
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare at this price point
- IP68 water resistance and wireless charging
- MicroSD expansion for additional storage
Cons
- Plastic Glastic back instead of glass at flagship pricing
- 25W charging is slow compared to competitors
- Software updates have reached end of life
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- 32 MP front camera can oversharpen selfies
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 10 (One UI 2.5) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 190 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 3 front, plastic (Glastic) back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB / 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 800 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.80 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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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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