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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more compact phone that's easier to handle and pocket, the Apple iPhone 12 mini is a good choice, especially if you prefer iOS and are looking for a lower-cost option. However, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra offers a much larger screen, which is ideal for media consumption and productivity, and includes a stylus for note-taking or drawing. The Note20 Ultra also has a higher refresh rate for smoother scrolling and a better overall camera system if photography and videography are important to you. Keep in mind, though, the Note20 Ultra is larger and heavier, which may not suit everyone's comfort. 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
- The Apple iPhone 12 mini has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
- The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 12 mini.
Key differences
Video Quality
7.2
5.9
The Apple iPhone 12 mini takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra takes poor videos.
The iPhone 12 mini is considered to take good videos because it has top scores for video resolution and framerate, stabilization, and dynamic range, complemented by very good low light performance and microphone quality. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a fair rating for video software experience and mic quality, which affects its overall video performance, despite having good scores in resolution/framerate, stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance.
Battery
5.1 Hours
6.4 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has 5.1 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has 6.4 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is 6.9 inches.
Cost
$300
$450
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a price of $300 and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra costs $450.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
7.3
7.3
The Apple iPhone 12 mini and Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra both have good overall cameras quality.
The Apple iPhone 12 mini is recognized for superior selfie capabilities, likely due to better selfie camera quality, which is essential for those who frequently take self-portraits or use video calling. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has a lower evaluation in this aspect, indicating its selfie camera may not perform as well as the iPhone 12 mini's in terms of clarity and overall selfie-taking experience.
Photo Quality
7.1
7.3
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Apple iPhone 12 mini both have good photos.
The iPhone 12 mini boasts a high-quality selfie camera, which is especially significant as selfies are very important to many users, complemented by an overall best photos software experience that enhances image capture. In contrast, despite the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra's fair performance in photos overall, including selfies, its camera versatility and software experience don't match the iPhone 12 mini's excellence in these areas.
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How the Apple iPhone 12 mini and the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 13, 2020 | August 21, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.4" | 6.9" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3088 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 476 | 496 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A14 | SD865+ | |
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 | 7.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.1 Hours | 6.4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2227 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 12 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.18" x 2.53" | 6.49" x 3.04" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.76 oz | 7.34 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 | 5.0 | |
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 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 | |
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 | Mystic Black, White, Mystic Bronze | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
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."
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Matt Swider | July 2021
"The Note 20 Ultra has it all – almost: a big screen, superb camera, high refresh rate, the S Pen, in-screen fingerprint sensor, super-fast specs, 5G speeds, a fancy curved display. This phone is built for power users who want everything but the fastest charging speeds."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 12 mini or the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
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
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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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