The Samsung Galaxy S21 and the iPhone 12 are flagship devices overshadowed by their more feature-packed larger siblings, but still worth your attention. The phones feature some of the best technology available right now with industry-leading flagship hardware, and are more affordable than they were when first launched.
Beyond their operating systems, these devices share many similarities, which makes it difficult to choose between them. So which one should you go for? In this comparison, we help you make an informed decision.
Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12: Display
The Galaxy S21 and the iPhone 12 are amazing to look at. The displays are vibrant and have punchy colors with deep blacks. At a glance, both displays look strikingly similar until we dig into details.
The Galaxy S21 flaunts a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with an FHD resolution of 1080x2400, while the iPhone 12 features a marginally smaller and sharper 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with an 1170x2532 resolution.
In terms of display brightness, both phones have great ranges. However, the Galaxy S21 can peak up to 1300 nits making it slightly easier to use in bright daylights than the iPhone 12 that tops off at 1200 nits.
Perhaps the biggest difference here would be the refresh rate. The Galaxy S21 has a variable refresh rate ranging from 48MHz up to 120Hz, giving you smooth scrolling and a more fluid gaming experience. Meanwhile, Apple didn't go for a higher or variable refresh rate with the iPhone 12, so you're stuck at 60Hz.
Design and Build Quality
Both the phones feature new design languages. The refined design distinguishes the Galaxy S21 from its predecessor, the Galaxy S20, and better emphasizes the camera lenses by integrating them with their metal frames.
As for the iPhone 12, it comes with a nostalgic design, taking you back to the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 with the squared-off edges.
The iPhone 12 feels as premium as it looks with its flat all-glass front and back panel held together with an aluminum frame. By contrast, the Galaxy S21 doesn't have the most premium of the builds with a plastic body and a matte finish.
On the front, Samsung comes with an all-screen design and a punch-hole display on the Galaxy S21. Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 features a typical large notch which is hard to ignore.
Comparing the durability of the two phones, the iPhone 12 comes with ceramic shield protection which claims to offer four times better drop protection. The Galaxy S21 competes with the Gorilla Glass Victus on the front with improved scratch and drop protection.
Both phones are backed up by an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The iPhone 12, however, can withstand water up to six meters deep for 30 minutes while the Galaxy S21 can survive at depths of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12: Performance
The Galaxy S21 and the iPhone 12 excel in the performance department with cutting-edge processors capable of handling the most demanding games and heaviest apps that you can throw at them.
Depending on where you live, the Galaxy S21 features the Snapdragon 888 chipset or Samsung's own Exynos 2100 chipset, whereas the iPhone 12 is powered by Apple's in-house A14 Bionic processor. Both phones come with 5G capabilities, allowing you to get faster speeds on your cellular connection.
The most obvious and arguably biggest difference is the operating system, with the Galaxy S21 running Android 11 with its native One UI, while the iPhone 12 runs iOS 14 out of the box. Samsung offers at least three OS updates, and Apple typically five.
As for storage and memory, the Galaxy S21 ships with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, with the top variant featuring a hefty 256GB of storage. The iPhone 12, on the other hand, packs 4GB RAM and comes in three storage capacities---64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Both devices miss out on a microSD card slot.
Furthermore, considering biometrics, the iPhone 12 focuses on the Face ID while the Samsung Galaxy S21 comes with an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12: Battery Life
On paper, the Galaxy S21 outshines iPhone 12 in terms of battery capacity, with the former featuring 4000mAh, while the latter shipping with 2815mAh.
Naturally, it would seem that the Galaxy S21 would have a much longer battery life than the iPhone 12. However, the A14 Bionic chip's efficiency makes the iPhone 12 last pretty much as long as the Galaxy S21. So, you should generally get a day of typical usage from either without worry.
The iPhone 12 takes full advantage of MagSafe's 15W wireless charging speeds. Along with that, it lets you charge 50% in about 30 minutes with a 20W power adapter.
The Galaxy S21 features 25W fast charging capabilities, support 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
It's worth mentioning neither phones come with a power brick out of the box. So, if you don't own one already, make sure to buy one.
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12: Cameras
The Galaxy S21 flaunts a triple-lens camera setup on the back featuring a 12MP f/1.8 main sensor combined with a 64MP f/2.0 telephoto lens, and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide. Additionally, it sports a 10MP f/2.2 selfie camera.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 skips on the telephoto lens, featuring a dual-lens camera setup with a 12MP f/1.6 main shooter and a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide. On the front, it comes with a 12MP f/2.2 shooter.
Using the Galaxy S21, you can shoot up to 8K video, while the iPhone 12 is limited to 4K. On the front, both support 4K video recording.
The pictures from Samsung phones are known for being more contrasty while those from the iPhones tend to be natural but a bit muted at times. Interestingly, the main sensor and the ultra-wide lens on both phones produce nearly identical images with great dynamic ranges and pack plenty of details.
That said, when it comes to portrait mode and night mode, the iPhone 12 has an edge. The S21, on the other hand, with its impressive zoom potential and modes like Director's View offers you more flexibility in terms of overall camera performance.
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12: The Best for You
The Samsung Galaxy S21 launched in January 2021 while the iPhone 12 launched earlier in October 2020 at the same starting price of $799. Since neither is new anymore, you can find good deals on both devices.
The Galaxy S21 offers a better display with a higher refresh rate, a versatile camera setup, a reliable battery capacity, and more storage at the same price point. The iPhone 12, on the other hand, competes with a more premium build, smooth performance, and a seamless iOS experience.
Ultimately, the biggest determining factor comes down to the ecosystem you're used to. However, if any operating system works for you, the Galaxy S21 is a better bang for your buck giving you a great overall experience with minimal compromises.
That said, you are getting extremely capable phones here and you can't go wrong with either.
Meanwhile, read on to find out how the feature-rich larger phones compare.