Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
The Verdict
iPhone 12 delivers a refined, practical flagship experience with exceptional build quality, reliable performance, and strong camera capabilities at a mid-range flagship price. Galaxy Z Fold 3 represents cutting-edge foldable technology with a massive 7.6-inch inner display, superior 120Hz refresh rates on both screens, and more RAM and storage, but weighs significantly more at 271g and costs more than double. iPhone 12 excels in processing speed via A14 Bionic, display brightness at 1200 nits, and overall refinement for everyday users. Z Fold 3 impresses with productivity potential, the under-display camera innovation, telephoto lens, and larger battery capacity of 4400mAh versus 2815mAh. For most users seeking reliability and everyday performance, iPhone 12 remains the smarter choice. Early adopters willing to pay premium pricing for foldable innovation should consider Z Fold 3, though software maturity and durability remain concerns.
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 Z Fold 3 if…
- →First foldable with IPX8 water resistance
- →S Pen support on inner display
- →120Hz on both inner and cover screens
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 Z Fold 3
Pros
- First foldable with IPX8 water resistance
- S Pen support on inner display
- 120Hz on both inner and cover screens
- Under-display camera for seamless inner screen
- Multi-window multitasking
Cons
- $1799 is prohibitively expensive
- Heavy at 271 g
- Under-display camera quality is poor
- Same cameras as Fold 2
- S Pen not included and no storage silo
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 11, One UI 3.1.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 271 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mm (unfolded) |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP (cover), 4 MP under-display (inner) |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 4400 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 7.6 inches (inner), 6.2 inches (cover) |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, foldable |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2208 x 1768 (inner), 2268 x 832 (cover) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz (both) |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 12 or the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.