On October 13, Apple officially presented the new range iPhone 12, a new range that, unlike previous years, is made up of 4 terminals. A month earlier, Samsung introduced the economy version of the Galaxy S20, version that this year has been baptized as Galaxy S20FE (Fan Edition).
With the launch of the new iPhone 12 range, theory suggests that we would have to compare the new iPhone 12 Pro range with the Galaxy S20, but practice points to the opposite. The reason: they are 9 months apart. The logical thing is to compare the last two launches of both companies since both terminals reach the market to attract the same type of users: iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.
Samsung has not wanted to delay the launch of the budget version of the Galaxy S20 (last year the budget version of the Galaxy S10 arrived in early January) in order to compete with the new entry-level iPhone range. Both terminals offer us features that make them high-end, although for price, we could consider them medium-high range.
Galaxy S20 FE vs. iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 mini
| Galaxy S20FE | iPhone 12 | iPhone 12mini | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.5 inch AMOLED 120 Hz | 6.1 inch OLED 60 Hz | 5.4 inch OLED 60 Hz |
| Screen resolution | 2.400 × 1080 with 405 dpi | 2.532 × 1.170 with 460 dpi | 2.340 × 1.080 with 476 dpi |
| Processor | Snapdragon 865 (5G) / Exynos 990 S (4G) | A14 Bionic | A14 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Operating System | Android 10 OneUI 2.5 | iOS 14 | iOS 14 |
| Storage | 128GB - 256GB (expandable up to 1TB) | 64GB - 128GB - 256GB | 64GB - 128GB - 256GB |
| Rear cameras | 12 MP Ultra Wide - 12 MP Wide - 8 MP Telephoto with 3x Optical Zoom | 12 MP Ultra Wide - 12 MP Wide - 2x Optical Zoom | 12 MP Ultra Wide - 12 MP Wide - 2x Optical Zoom |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Battery | 4.500 mAh | Unknown | Unknown |
| Security | Screen fingerprint reader | Face ID | Face ID |
| Dimensions | × × 74.5 159.8 8.4 mm | × × 71.5 146.7 7.4 mm | × × 64.2 131.5 7.4 mm |
| Weight : | 190 grams | 162 grams | 133 grams |
| Colours | Cloud Navy - Cloud Lavander - Cloud Mint - Clound Red - Cloud White - Cloud Orange | White - Black - Blue - Green - (PRODUCT) RED | White - Black - Blue - Green - (PRODUCT) RED |
| 4G version price | €609 - 128GB / 729 euros - 256 GB | No 4G version | No 4G version |
| 5G version price | €759 - 128GB / 829 euros - 256 GB | 909 euros - 64 GB / 959 euros - 128 GB / 1.079 euros - 256 GB | 809 euros - 64 GB / 859 euros - 128 GB / 979 euros - 256 GB |
Points in common
Both the Galaxy S20 FE and the iPhone 12, use OLED type screensScreens that, in the case of iPhones, are manufactured by Samsung but calibrated by Apple, so the colors displayed may vary from one terminal to another.
This type of screen is the best solution when it comes to not only showing more vivid colors, but also when it comes to reduce battery consumption making use of applications that do take advantage of black in the applications as a background, something that unfortunately does not happen with most Google applications, but in all compatible applications in Apple's iOS ecosystem that offers a dark mode.
Another point that both terminals have in common is that they are compatible with fast charge, which allows charging half of the battery in just 3 minutes using a 20W charger. Fast charging systems, in the long run, affect battery life by getting excessively hot during the charging process.
Screen
Both terminals have a OLED-type screen, both manufactured by Samsung as I mentioned in the previous section, but here the coincidences end. While the screen of the Galaxy S20 FE reaches 6,5 inches, the screen of the iPhone 12 is 6,1 inches and that of the iPhone 12 mini is only 5,4 inches.
The three terminals share practically the same resolution as is the pixel density on the screen. If we talk about Hz on the screen, el Galaxy S20 Fe offers us a screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, while the entire iPhone 12 range (including the Pro models) continue to use a 60 Hz refresh rate. In this sense, for yet another year, Apple continues to lag behind, with the iPad Pro being the only Apple device that does offer 120 Hz of screen refresh.
Processor
As usual and since Apple dispensed with Samsung processors with the launch of the iPhone 3GS, the Cupertino-based company implements its own processorsIn this case, the A14 Bionic processor, a processor that offers us plenty of power to record videos in 4K HDR at 60 fps without getting messy.
In the case of Samsung, the Korean company has opted for two different processors depending on the type of connectivity. For the 5G version, it has opted for the Snapdragon 865 processor, a processor that integrates a 5G modem, while for the 4G version (Apple has not launched any model with this connectivity) it has used the Exynos 990 processor manufactured and designed by the company. Korean.
Memory and storage
Talk about memory and compare it in performance between an iPhone and an Android smartphone it's like comparing churros with merino. Apple's operating system for mobile devices (iOS) does not require a lot of RAM to carry out the processes, since the processor takes care of it. On Android, it's the opposite, the more RAM, the better the terminal will work.
While the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini are accompanied by 4 GB of RAM, the Galaxy S20 FE is managed by 6 GB of RAM. The iPhone 12 Pro if they are managed by the same amount of RAM as the Samsung model, that these enter us in the comparison.
Samsung offers us two versions of storage: 128 and 256 GB, space that we can expand up to 1 TB using microSD cards. In the case of the iPhone, we talk about three versions of storage: 64, 128 and 256 GB, space that cannot be expanded as has always been usual in the iPhone range.
Cameras
Model Samsung It offers us 3 cameras on the back: Ultra wide angle, wide angle (both with 12 MP resolution) and an 8 MP telephoto that offers us a 3x optical zoom. For his part, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini share the same camera system consisting of a ultra wide angle and a wide angle with 2x optical zoom.
Both terminals have improved their processing algorithms in night shots, so there should not be much difference in the captures made. Where the iPhone wins, within the cameras section, it is in video, where it has always been the king of the telephony market, a position that it has managed to maintain despite having lost the first position as best camera a few years ago .
Security
Face ID is fine as long as you don't wear a mask. In the times in which we find ourselves, the use of the mask has become an obstacle when interacting with the smartphone, since it does not work with the mask on, which forces us to have to unlock the terminal over and over again. Once with the code, a code that everyone around you probably already knows.
The most comfortable and just as fast solution to unlocking the phone is through a fingerprint sensorWhether it's under the screen (like the Galaxy S20 FE) or on the side like the 8th generation iPad that Apple introduced a month ago. A button with a fingerprint sensor on the side, like the Sony Xperia Z5 used, would have been an excellent option in these times for the iPhone 12 range.
Price
| Galaxy S20FE 4G | Galaxy S20FE 5G | iPhone 12 | iPhone 12mini | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 GB | - | - | $909 | $809 |
| 128 GB | $609 | $759 | $959 | $859 |
| 256 GB | $729 | $829 | $1.079 | $979 |
Better option?
If we are looking for a terminal with high performance, we do not care about the operating system, clearly the Galaxy S20 SE is the best option, for the following reasons:
- Larger screen size (a very important part when choosing a terminal)
- El storage space minimum (128 GB)
- The comfort that the on-screen fingerprint sensor (now that we are required to wear a mask)
- La 120 Hz display
- The price. While the version 5G of the Galaxy S20 FE with 128 GB of storage is priced at 759 euros, the iPhone 12 (the 6,1-inch model) with 5G connectivity and 128 GB of storage (which we cannot expand) is priced at 959 euros, 200 euros more expensive.
While it is true, in the absence of performance tests, that Apple's A14 Bionic processor will be much more powerful than the Snapdragon 865 (a processor that has been on the market for almost a year) very few users take full advantage of the latest generation processors.
If you are looking for a terminal that will last you a few years, the logical thing is to choose a model with 5G connectivity. But if you are one of those who regularly change phones, The 4G option that Samsung offers us is ideal for 609 euros, since it is 100 euros cheaper than the 5G model. When it comes to selling it within a year, not being compatible with 5G networks will not be a problem because, despite what the operators say to attract new customers, 5G technology will not be available in most countries with a wide coverage for up to 3 or 4 years.
Another aspect to take into account, depending on how you look at it, is that both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 mini, do not include the charger and headphones, something that if we are going to find in the Galaxy S20 FE. In the case of the iPhone it is more problematic, since the included cable is from lightning to USB-C, it does not have USB-A like traditional chargers, so we would be forced to buy one independently.
