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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a more affordable option, the Apple iPhone 12 mini provides significant savings while offering quality camera capabilities and a compact form factor. Conversely, if you value a more recent device with enhanced camera features, better battery life, and a higher refresh rate screen, which can provide smoother visuals, the Samsung Galaxy S23 could be worth the extra investment. The iPhone 12 mini comes with iOS and the Galaxy S23 with Android, presenting distinct ecosystem choices. Consider whether a larger screen and the potential for better performance are worth the higher price you'd pay for the Galaxy S23. 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 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 mini has good overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 boasts an excellent camera system featuring very good software experiences for both photos and videos, superior versatility, and performance in dynamic range and low light conditions, coupled with a higher selfie camera quality, which makes its overall camera performance stand out. Although the Apple iPhone 12 mini delivers good quality across most aspects, including a good selfie camera, its photo and video capabilities are outperformed by the Galaxy S23, especially in terms of software experience and advanced features like camera versatility.
Photo Quality
7.1
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos, while the Apple iPhone 12 mini takes good photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes excellent photos, thanks in part to its very good photos software experience and selfie quality, superior to the good software experience and selfie quality of the Apple iPhone 12 mini. Furthermore, the Galaxy S23 benefits from higher scores in dynamic range and low light performance, contributing to its excellent photography capabilities compared to the iPhone 12 mini.
Video Quality
7.2
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Apple iPhone 12 mini both have good videos, though the Samsung Galaxy S23 takes somewhat better videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 surpasses the iPhone 12 mini in video resolution and framerate, offering a more fluid and crisp viewing experience, coupled with excellent results in video software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality. Consequently, if video creation is a priority for you, the Galaxy S23's advanced capabilities may justify its higher price point over the iPhone 12 mini, which delivers good video quality but doesn't achieve the same top-tier performance as the S23.
Battery
5.1 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has 5.1 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$300
$700
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has a price of $300 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
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How the Apple iPhone 12 mini and the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $700 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 13, 2020 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.4" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 476 | 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 | 5.1 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2227 mAh | 3900 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" | 5.76" x 2.79" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.76 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 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 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 mini 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.
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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.
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