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Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Updated Apr 2026phones
Apple iPhone 12
Apple
Apple iPhone 12
$799
8.3/10
VS
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
$699
8.1/10

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.

ValueFE 5G
CameraiPhone 12
BatteryFE 5G
DisplayiPhone 12
PerformanceiPhone 12

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

Apple iPhone 12
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Value
8.0
8.5
Camera
8.7
8.3
Battery
7.2
8.6
Display
9.0
8.2
Performance
9.1
8.4

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

SpecApple iPhone 12Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
SoftwareiOS 14Android 10 (One UI 2.5)
Body
Weight164 g190 g
MaterialAluminum frame, Ceramic Shield frontAluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 3 front, plastic (Glastic) back
IP ratingIP68IP68
Dimensions146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm
Camera
Main camera12 MP, f/1.6, OIS12 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
Front camera12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.232 MP, f/2.0
Video4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR4K@60fps
Ultrawide12 MP, f/2.412 MP, f/2.2
Telephoto8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS
Memory
RAM4 GB6 GB / 8 GB
Storage options64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB128 GB, 256 GB
Battery
Capacity2815 mAh4500 mAh
Charging20W wired25W wired
Wireless charging15W MagSafe15W, Wireless PowerShare
Display
Size6.1 inches6.5 inches
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLEDSuper AMOLED
Resolution2532 x 11702400 x 1080
Refresh rate60Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)1200800
Processor
CPUHexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.80 GHz)
GPUApple GPU (4-core)Adreno 650
ChipsetApple A14 BionicQualcomm Snapdragon 865
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBLightningUSB-C 3.0
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.05.0

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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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