For a higher price, the iPhone 12 mini offers a more powerful processor, a smaller and more compact form factor, and iOS, which might suit you better if you're invested in the Apple ecosystem or prefer its interface. The Galaxy S20 FE, however, will give you a larger display, a plastic back which is more durable against cracks (but may feel less premium), more base storage, and a significantly larger battery, which could equate to longer battery life. The S20 FE also offers a higher refresh rate display for smoother scrolling, which is a feature not present on the iPhone 12 mini. If camera versatility is important to you, the S20 FE includes a wider range of rear camera lenses. On the other hand, if video recording is a priority, note that the iPhone 12 mini can record Dolby Vision HDR video. The choice could come down to prioritizing iOS and more processing power versus a larger screen, longer battery life, and more adaptable camera system for a generally lower price tag with the 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 mini
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 mini has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has only fair overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 12 mini delivers superior selfie quality due to a higher selfie score, which is considered very important in evaluating camera performance, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a fair selfie rating, reflecting a lower performance in this area. When considering other factors such as photos resolution, software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, the iPhone 12 mini generally offers better or comparable performance, which supports its higher overall camera rating.
Photo Quality
7.1/10
6.3/10
The Apple iPhone 12 mini takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE takes only fair photos.
The iPhone 12 mini takes better selfies because its selfie quality is rated as 'Good,' which benefits from its superior software experience and dynamic range in photos, factors marked 'Best' and 'Good' respectively. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE's selfie quality is rated 'Fair,' and it has lower scores in key areas like software experience and dynamic range, with 'Good' and 'Poor' ratings.
Video Quality
7.2/10
5.5/10
The Apple iPhone 12 mini takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 12 mini delivers an impressive video software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality, ensuring that videos are smooth, clear, and sound good even in challenging conditions. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, while also providing a good video software experience and microphone quality, slightly trails behind in stabilization and dynamic range, which may affect video quality in dynamic scenes or low-light situations.
Battery
5.1 Hours
7.8 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has 5.1 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has 7.8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is 6.5 inches.
Cost
$300
$198
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
$450
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a price of $300 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE costs $198.
"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."
"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 mini 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
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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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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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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.