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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If a high-quality camera is a priority and you're fine with spending more, the Apple iPhone 12 would be a better choice as it delivers better still photo and video quality. However, for a larger screen and more storage at a lower price, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 could be your pick. It also offers features like a stylus, expandable storage via an SD card, and the flexibility of Android's operating system. The iPhone 12 has iOS and is known for its ecosystem and regular updates. Consider the Galaxy Note10 if battery life is crucial, as it slightly outlasts the iPhone 12 in this regard. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 12
- Good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy Note10
- Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.3
5.6
The Apple iPhone 12 has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy Note10 has poor overall camera quality.
The iPhone 12 offers superior selfie quality, dynamic range, and low light performance compared to the Galaxy Note10; this is especially important given the high priority of selfie capabilities. While the Note10 falls short in camera versatility, dynamic range, and particularly underperforms in low light conditions, the iPhone 12 maintains good performance across these aspects with a notable edge in selfie photos, beneficial for users prioritizing front-facing camera quality.
Photo Quality
7.1
5.5
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note10 takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 12 delivers a better overall camera experience with top-notch software, dynamic range, and low light performance, complemented by a high selfie quality, while the Samsung Galaxy Note10 falls short in these areas, particularly struggling with poor dynamic range, low light performance, and selfie quality. Consequently, if capturing high-quality photos and selfies is very important to you, the iPhone 12 is the superior choice despite a potentially higher price point, whereas the Galaxy Note10 may suffice for more basic photography needs at a possibly lower cost.
Video Quality
7.2
5.5
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note10 takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 12 provides a better video experience due to a higher score in video resolution and framerate, better video software, superior video stabilization, and greater dynamic range and low light performance, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Note10 falls short in these aspects, particularly dynamic range and stabilization, leading to poorer video quality. Additionally, the iPhone 12's microphone is rated good, which may contribute to clearer audio capture compared to the Note10's fair rating, further differentiating the video recording capabilities of the two phones.
Battery
6.2 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 has 6.2 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy Note10 has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$600
$249
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 12 has a price of $600 and the Samsung Galaxy Note10 costs $249.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy Note10 is 6.3 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 12 and the Samsung Galaxy Note10 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy Note10 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $249 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 23, 2020 | August 23, 2019 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.3" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2280 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 401 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A14 | SD855 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 256 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.2 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2815 mAh | 3500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.78" x 2.81" | 5.94" x 2.83" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.78 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | No | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 | N/A | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Purple, Green, White, Black, Red | Aura Red, Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 12
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Dig into reviews and images
Pocket-lint
Stuart Miles | March 2022
"The iPhone 12 offers many of the important things that you want from the iPhone: a decent camera, 5G, great screen, fast processor. For the group of people who want a new iPhone without the price tag of the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 13 range, this is a great choice. There's no settling for second best with this smartphone."
Samsung Galaxy Note10
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Adam Ismail, Mark Spoonauer | June 2021
"The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 delivers epic battery life and a super-bright screen in a phenomenally compact design. The regular Note 10 should be a very special phablet — precisely because there's never been one this compact and easy to live with before."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 12 or the Samsung Galaxy Note10
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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