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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the iPhone 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 depends on your preferences. If you want a phone with a potentially longer battery life and better overall camera quality, the Galaxy S23 could be the better option. However, the iPhone 12 offers its own advantages, such as a familiar iOS experience and high-quality video capabilities. Both phones boast OLED screens with similar sizes and high peak brightness for vivid display quality. In terms of memory, the Galaxy S23 starts with more storage, which is beneficial if you tend to keep a lot of media on your device. Keep in mind that the Galaxy S23 is a more recent release and may offer more updated technology, but the iPhone 12 is still competitive, especially if you're invested in the Apple ecosystem. 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
- The Apple iPhone 12 has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.3
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has very good overall camera quality, while the Apple iPhone 12 has good overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a better overall camera experience, with superior software, dynamic range, low-light performance, versatility, and selfie quality compared to the Apple iPhone 12. These enhancements make the Galaxy S23's excellent camera a very compelling feature, especially for those prioritizing selfie capabilities and various shooting conditions, despite the iPhone 12's solid performance in these areas.
Photo Quality
7.1
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos, while the Apple iPhone 12 takes good photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes excellent photos partly due to its higher selfie quality, better photos software experience, improved dynamic range, superior low light performance, and greater camera versatility compared to the Apple iPhone 12, which takes good photos. While the iPhone 12 provides a good photography experience for its price point, investing in the Galaxy S23 will yield better photo results at a likely higher cost.
Video Quality
7.2
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Apple iPhone 12 both have good videos, though the Samsung Galaxy S23 takes somewhat better videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 offers superior video capabilities compared to the Apple iPhone 12, with a higher rating in software experience and stabilization that can lead to smoother and more visually pleasing videos. Additionally, the S23 is said to excel in aspects like dynamic range and low-light performance, which means videos will likely look better in various lighting conditions and have more detail in the brightest and darkest parts of the scene.
Battery
6.2 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 has 6.2 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Cost
$600
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple iPhone 12 has a price of $600 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $700 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 23, 2020 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 422 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A14 | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.2 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2815 mAh | 3900 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" | 5.76" x 2.79" | |
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 | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
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 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 | |
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 | Pink Gold, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Green, Lime, Graphite | |
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 S23
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | February 2023
"The 6.1-inch S23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the US, partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it’s also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset responsible for some of that battery performance improvement is slightly different — and slightly faster — than the 8 Gen 2 in other Android flagships."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 12 or the Samsung Galaxy S23
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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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
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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
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
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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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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.
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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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