Smartphone Comparison: Apple iPhone 12 mini vs. OnePlus 10 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm | 163 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm | The iPhone 12 mini is significantly smaller and easier to handle with one hand. The OnePlus 10 Pro is larger, making it better for media consumption but less pocketable. |
| Weight | 135g | 201g | The iPhone 12 mini is much lighter, enhancing comfort during extended use. The OnePlus 10 Pro's weight is noticeable during long sessions. |
| Build Quality | Screen Protection: Unknown | Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | The OnePlus 10 Pro's screen has superior scratch and damage resistance compared to the unknown protection on the iPhone. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 5.4" | 6.7" | The OnePlus 10 Pro offers a much larger screen, great for media consumption and multitasking. The iPhone 12 mini is much more compact for users valuing portability. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1440x3216 | The OnePlus 10 Pro has a sharper, more detailed display due to its higher resolution. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 476 | 525 | The OnePlus 10 Pro has slightly sharper text and images. |
| Technology | OLED | Unknown | The iPhone 12 mini has an OLED display with vibrant colors and deep blacks, offering superior visual quality |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The OnePlus 10 Pro offers smoother scrolling and animations due to its higher refresh rate, improving responsiveness. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 1300 nits | The OnePlus 10 Pro is slightly better for outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Both are powerful chipsets. While the Apple A14 Bionic is slightly older, benchmarks indicate a slightly better score, suggesting that software optimization might play a significant role in performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,072,354 | 900,491 | The iPhone 12 mini demonstrates higher benchmark performance, potentially translating to snappier everyday use. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 730 | Both GPUs are high-performing, but the different architectures make direct comparison difficult. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera Resolution | 12MP | 48MP | The OnePlus 10 Pro captures more detailed images with its higher resolution. |
| Standard Camera Aperture | f/1.6 | f/1.8 | The iPhone 12 mini performs better in low light conditions due to a wider aperture. |
| Standard Camera Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/1.43" | The OnePlus 10 Pro has a larger sensor, capable of capturing more light for better low-light performance (though, the aperture affects this). |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 32MP | The OnePlus 10 Pro captures more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.0 | The OnePlus 10 Pro's front camera performs slightly better in low-light conditions. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 8MP | The OnePlus 10 Pro offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, enhancing versatility in photography. |
| Wide Angle Lens Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | The OnePlus 10 Pro's wide-angle lens captures significantly more detail. |
| Wide Angle Lens Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.2 | The OnePlus 10 Pro’s wide-angle lens performs better in low light. |
| Wide Angle Lens Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/2.76" | The iPhone 12 mini has a larger wide-angle sensor, capable of capturing more light. |
| Video Recording | 4K up to 60fps | 8K up to 24fps, 4K up to 120fps | The OnePlus 10 Pro is capable of recording higher resolution videos (8K) and has a higher slow motion recording rate, while the iPhone 12 mini offers 4k at 60fps and HDR. |
| DXOMark Mobile Score | 117 (Photo:128, Video:129) | 122 (Photo:124, Video:119) | The OnePlus 10 Pro has a slightly higher overall score, however the iPhone 12 mini has a higher video score, making it a good choice for high video quality. |
| DXOMark Selfie Score | 132 (Photo:127, Video:140) | Not Listed | The iPhone 12 mini’s selfie camera is better overall. |
| Camera Features | Dual camera, RAW | Triple camera, 8K Video, RAW 12 bits, LAF, CDAF, Digital image stabilization | OnePlus 10 Pro has more advanced camera features including laser and contrast autofocus, digital image stabilization, and supports 8k recording. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 2227mAh | 5000mAh | The OnePlus 10 Pro has a much larger battery, leading to significantly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | 80W Fast Charging | The OnePlus 10 Pro offers significantly faster charging, reducing downtime. |
| Charging Features | 15W MagSafe Wireless, 7.5W Qi Wireless | 50W Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging | The OnePlus 10 Pro offers faster wireless charging, and the ability to reverse charge other devices. The iPhone 12 mini offers the convenience of Apple's MagSafe charging ecosystem. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 mini Advantages:
- Compact Size & Lightweight: Significantly more pocketable and comfortable for single-handed use. Ideal for users with smaller hands or those who prefer portability.
- Higher Benchmark Performance: The Apple A14 Bionic demonstrates better benchmark scores, suggesting optimized performance and efficiency for the device
- Superior Video Recording: The iPhone 12 mini has a higher DXOMark video recording score (129 vs 119) compared to the OnePlus 10 Pro.
- Better Selfie Camera: The iPhone 12 mini’s selfie camera has been tested by DXOMark and has a good score, whereas the OnePlus 10 pro hasn’t.
- MagSafe Ecosystem: Offers a convenient magnetic charging and accessory system.
- OLED Display Technology: Superior visual quality with vibrant colors and deep blacks, offering superior visual quality.
OnePlus 10 Pro Advantages:
- Larger Display: Provides an immersive experience for media consumption and multitasking, better for productivity and content viewing.
- Higher Refresh Rate: 120Hz display offers smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience.
- Significantly Larger Battery: Offers a much longer battery life and less need to recharge throughout the day.
- Faster Charging: 80W wired and 50W wireless charging allow for much quicker battery replenishment.
- More Versatile Camera System: Features a telephoto lens, higher resolution primary and wide-angle lenses, and supports 8k recording, providing greater flexibility in photography.
- More RAM: Up to 12GB of RAM vs 4GB on the iPhone, allowing better multi-tasking.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Newer Bluetooth and WiFi standards offer faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance in crowded networks.
Trade-offs:
- The iPhone 12 mini sacrifices battery life and screen size for its compact form factor.
- The OnePlus 10 Pro prioritizes performance, camera versatility, and battery life at the expense of pocketability and single-handed use.
- The OnePlus 10 Pro does not include the same protection on the screen as the 12 mini and does not specify screen protection.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Apple iPhone 12 mini:
- Users valuing portability: Those who want a compact, pocketable phone for easy one-handed use.
- Apple Ecosystem Users: Individuals deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, who prioritize seamless integration with other Apple devices.
- Users prioritizing Video Quality: Those who prioritize video quality in a smartphone, due to higher DXOMark video scores and HDR functionality.
- Users preferring compact design: Those who dislike large phones and prefer a smaller form factor.
Specific Use Cases:
- Easy pocketability and handling during travel or outdoor activities.
- Seamless integration with other Apple devices for a streamlined user experience.
- Video recording for content creators who prioritize high video quality.
Ideal Users for OnePlus 10 Pro:
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize a large, high-resolution display for media consumption and gaming.
- Power Users: Individuals who need a long-lasting battery and fast charging for demanding tasks.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who want a versatile camera system with optical zoom, 8k video, and advanced modes.
- Android Fans: Users who prefer the Android operating system and its customization options.
- Heavy Taskers: Users who require a high level of multitasking and performance due to 12GB of RAM.
Specific Use Cases:
- Watching movies, gaming, and editing photos or videos on a large, high-quality screen.
- Capturing photos and videos in diverse scenarios using the versatile camera system.
- Long days away from a power source, requiring a large battery and fast charging.
- Multitasking between demanding apps without experiencing slowdowns, thanks to the higher RAM.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is portability and one-handed use? If highly important, the iPhone 12 mini is the better choice. If a larger screen is desired over portability, the OnePlus 10 Pro excels.
- What is your primary use case for the phone? If media consumption, gaming, or photography are priorities, the OnePlus 10 Pro is better. If video quality and integration with apple products are a priority, the iPhone 12 mini is better.
- Are you deeply invested in the Apple or Android ecosystem? This greatly influences the user experience.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Heavy Media Consumption and Gaming: Choose the OnePlus 10 Pro for its larger, higher refresh rate screen and long-lasting battery.
- Scenario 2: Compact and Portable Everyday Phone: Choose the iPhone 12 mini for its pocketable size and light weight.
- Scenario 3: Photography and Creative Work: Choose the OnePlus 10 Pro for its more versatile camera system with a telephoto lens and 8k video recording.
- Scenario 4: Seamless Apple Integration and Video: Choose the iPhone 12 mini for easy integration into the Apple Ecosystem and better video quality.
- Scenario 5: Multitasking and Performance: Choose the OnePlus 10 Pro for its higher RAM and powerful processor.
My Choice:
I would personally choose the OnePlus 10 Pro. While I appreciate the compact design of the iPhone 12 mini, the significantly larger display, higher refresh rate, larger battery, and more versatile camera system of the OnePlus 10 Pro align better with my usage patterns. I frequently consume media, game on my phone, and rely on its camera for photography. The higher resolution and smooth refresh rate make the experience more immersive, and the faster charging is a big convenience. Though the iPhone has a slight benchmark advantage, the Android platform of the OnePlus 10 Pro allows for more customisation which I appreciate. Despite the fact the iPhone 12 mini is rated higher in video quality, I'm not as focused on video recording, and therefore the versatility of the OnePlus camera system is more important to me. Additionally, the higher battery life on the OnePlus allows for an entire day of usage, without the stress of having to recharge my phone half way through the day.
