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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prefer a more compact phone and are okay with a smaller screen, the iPhone 12 mini with its 5.4-inch display might be the one for you, plus it tends to be less expensive than the Pixel 6. However, if battery life is a priority, the Google Pixel 6, with a substantially larger battery, will last longer. For those who need more storage at the base level, the Pixel 6 also starts with twice the storage capacity. Camera enthusiasts might lean towards the Pixel for its higher resolution cameras and specialized features like Magic Eraser. The iPhone runs on iOS and the Pixel on Android, which can be a determining factor based on the ecosystem you're invested in or prefer. 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 mini
- Very good display quality
Advantages of the Google Pixel 6
- The Google Pixel 6 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 12 mini.
Key differences
Photo Quality
7.1
7.7
The Google Pixel 6 and Apple iPhone 12 mini both have good photos, though the Google Pixel 6 takes somewhat better photos.
The Google Pixel 6 takes very good photos because it has a better software experience for photos and a higher selfie score compared to the Apple iPhone 12 mini. Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 mini's camera is competent with good dynamic range and low-light performance, but its versatility and selfie capabilities are rated lower.
Battery
5.1 Hours
6.9 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has 5.1 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel 6 has 6.9 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Google Pixel 6 is 6.4 inches.
Cost
$300
$270
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
$450
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a price of $300 and the Google Pixel 6 costs $270.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
7.3
7.7
The Google Pixel 6 and Apple iPhone 12 mini both have good overall cameras quality.
The Google Pixel 6 edges out the Apple iPhone 12 mini in terms of selfie quality due to a higher selfie score, which is very important for self-portraits, and it also provides a superior photos software experience, important for overall user satisfaction with the camera. However, the iPhone 12 mini is a strong competitor, offering good selfie quality and maintaining high standards in video software experience and stabilization, which are somewhat important for capturing high-quality video content.
Video Quality
7.2
7.0
The Apple iPhone 12 mini and Google Pixel 6 both have good videos.
The Apple iPhone 12 mini offers superior video stabilization and dynamic range, resulting in smoother footage with better exposure across various lighting situations, whereas the Google Pixel 6, despite having a higher video resolution and framerate, falls short in software experience and low light performance, leading to less impressive video outcomes. The iPhone 12 mini's microphone quality is also rated higher than the Pixel 6, contributing to clearer audio capture during video recording.
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How the Apple iPhone 12 mini and the Google Pixel 6 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 mini | Google Pixel 6 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $270 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | ||
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 13, 2020 | October 28, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.4" | 6.4" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 476 | 411 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A14 | Tensor | |
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 | 7.8/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.1 Hours | 6.9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2227 mAh | 4614 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 12 W | 21 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.18" x 2.53" | 6.24" x 2.94" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.76 oz | 7.30 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 | 5.2 | |
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, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Purple, Green, White, Black, Red | Stormy Black, Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 12 mini
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
James Peckham | September 2022
"If you’re going to opt for an iPhone and you want a smaller device without buying up the latest iPhone 13 mini, this is the perfect option for you – and it’s one of the smallest 5G phones on the market too. The camera is versatile, the screen is fantastic, it comes with reams of power and the added benefits of 5G and MagSafe mean this is a phone that will last you for years to come."
Google Pixel 6
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Police
Taylor Kerns | April 2022
"It punches above its weight in nearly every way: performance is great, build quality is very good, and the cameras positively rip. this is a big phone, which is a bit of a shock after the compact Pixel 4 and Pixel 5. But it’s a very good big phone at a very good price."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 12 mini or the Google Pixel 6
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 Google
Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.
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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
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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
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.
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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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