The Apple iPhone 12 offers a sleek glass design, better water resistance, and iOS, which is preferred by users who want a consistent and secure ecosystem with regular updates. It also has a higher-quality dual camera system capable of Dolby Vision video recording, which is excellent for those who prioritize camera performance. However, it comes with a smaller battery and a higher price. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which runs on Android, provides a larger screen with a high refresh rate for smoother scrolling, a bigger battery, and more base storage at a lower cost. It also has expandable storage and a plastic build, which could be less durable than the iPhone's glass, but offers a variety of colors. If you prefer a phone with a solid camera and ecosystem at a higher price, go for the iPhone 12; if you want larger battery life and screen, more storage options, and a more budget-friendly price, consider the Galaxy S20 FE. 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 S20 FE
Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.3/10
6.2/10
The Apple iPhone 12 has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has only fair overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 12 offers a selfie camera rated good, and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE's selfie camera is rated fair; the iPhone 12's superiority may stem from its more sophisticated photo processing software and better performance in areas like dynamic range and low light conditions for selfies.
Photo Quality
7.1/10
6.3/10
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE takes only fair photos.
The Apple iPhone 12 takes better selfies, which is very important for many users, due to its higher selfie photo quality compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. Additionally, the iPhone 12 offers a superior photos software experience, better performance in dynamic range and low light conditions, despite the Galaxy S20 FE providing more versatile camera options.
Video Quality
7.2/10
5.5/10
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 12 produces high-quality videos owing to its superior video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, paired with excellent microphone quality, making it ideal for capturing videos with great detail and sound in various conditions. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, while offering good video resolution and framerate, along with effective video stabilization, falls slightly short in dynamic range and low light performance but still delivers a compelling video software experience for recording videos.
Battery
6.2 Hours
7.8 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 has 6.2 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has 7.8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is 6.5 inches.
Cost
$600
$198
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 12 has a price of $600 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE costs $198.
"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."
"The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a fine phone. The flat display glass may turn off some, but the 120Hz refresh rate turned me on. I really liked the overall size and usability of the phone, and the six different colors mean you’ll likely find a version to suit your personal style. Other pros include solid performance, excellent battery life, and straightforward software."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 12 or the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
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.
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
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8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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81,940
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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
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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.
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Phones Expert
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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.