Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 remains a solid flagship at $799, featuring the powerful A14 Bionic chip, a sharp 6.1-inch OLED display, and reliable dual-camera setup with 4K video recording. Its lightweight design (164g) and MagSafe charging are practical advantages. However, Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra ($1199.99) operates in a different league entirely. The larger 6.8-inch 120Hz display with 2200 nits peak brightness dwarfs the iPhone's 60Hz panel, and the camera system is substantially more advanced: 200MP main sensor, 10x periscope telephoto, and 8K video capabilities versus the iPhone's more modest 12MP setup. The S23 Ultra's 5000mAh battery with 45W charging significantly outlasts the iPhone 12's 2815mAh cell, and 12GB RAM with up to 1TB storage exceeds the iPhone's 4GB and 256GB maximum. The iPhone 12 excels at efficiency, gaming, and ecosystem integration, making it excellent for budget-conscious buyers seeking premium performance. The S23 Ultra justifies its $400 premium through superior display technology, significantly better zoom capabilities, faster charging, and raw computational power. For professional photography or extended battery life, the S23 Ultra is essential. For everyday use with strong software performance, the iPhone 12 delivers remarkable 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 S23 Ultra if…
- →200 MP main camera with versatile 3x and 10x telephoto lenses
- →Built-in S Pen with Bluetooth air actions retained
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers class-leading performance
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 S23 Ultra
Pros
- 200 MP main camera with versatile 3x and 10x telephoto lenses
- Built-in S Pen with Bluetooth air actions retained
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers class-leading performance
- Bright 2200-nit display readable in direct sunlight
- IP68 dust and water resistance
Cons
- Very heavy at 234 g, tiring for extended use
- Thick 8.9 mm body compared to rivals
- 45W charging is slow for a $1199 flagship
- No significant camera hardware upgrade over S22 Ultra main sensor
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 234 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP 10x periscope + 10 MP 3x optical |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 2200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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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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