1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 131.5 × 64.2 × 7.4 mm | 162.3 × 79 × 8.6 mm | The iPhone 12 mini is significantly smaller and more pocketable; the S24 Ultra is larger and may require two hands for comfortable use. |
| Weight | 135g | 232g | The iPhone 12 mini is much lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use, especially one-handed. The S24 Ultra feels substantial. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 5.4" | 6.8" | The S24 Ultra's larger screen provides more immersive viewing for media consumption, gaming, and productivity. The 12 mini is easier to use one-handed. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1440x3120 | The S24 Ultra offers sharper visuals with significantly more detail, improving the viewing experience for text, images, and videos. |
| Pixel Density | 476 PPI | 505 PPI | The S24 Ultra has slightly sharper images, but both are dense enough to appear crisp. |
| Technology | OLED | Unknown | The iPhone 12 mini's OLED display provides vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The S24 Ultra's 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming visuals. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 2600 nits | The S24 Ultra is dramatically brighter, offering significantly better visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The S24 Ultra's newer chip offers superior processing power, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,072,354 | 1,814,869 | The S24 Ultra demonstrates significantly higher performance across various tasks and benchmarks. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | The S24 Ultra’s more powerful GPU provides better graphics performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 200MP | The S24 Ultra captures significantly more detail in photos and allows for greater cropping and editing flexibility. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.6 | f/1.7 | The iPhone 12 mini's wider aperture allows slightly more light, potentially resulting in better low-light performance, though other factors are at play. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/1.3" | The S24 Ultra's larger sensor captures more light, resulting in better overall image quality, especially in challenging conditions. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Camera | None | 50MP | The S24 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto camera for optical zoom and portrait shots, which is missing from the 12 mini. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP | 12MP | Both phones offer comparable selfie camera resolutions. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 10MP | The S24 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capability. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.4 | 12.2MP, f/2.2 | The S24 Ultra's wide angle lens has a slightly wider aperture, potentially gathering more light. |
| Video | Up to 4K 60fps HDR | Up to 8K 30fps HDR | The S24 Ultra is capable of capturing higher resolution videos, which may be necessary for professional use cases. |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 117 | 144 | The S24 Ultra has significantly better camera performance than the 12 mini, especially in terms of photo and video quality. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2227mAh | 5000mAh | The S24 Ultra's significantly larger battery is likely to provide much longer battery life, especially for heavy users. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | 45W Fast Charging | The S24 Ultra charges much faster, reducing downtime and improving convenience. |
| Features | 20W adapter sold separately, MagSafe wireless up to 15W, Qi wireless up to 7.5W | Bypass Charging, Reverse Charging, 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging | S24 Ultra offers reverse wireless charging to charge other devices. iPhone 12 mini has MagSafe. Both have wireless charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 mini Advantages
- Compact Size & Lightweight: Significantly smaller and lighter, making it ideal for one-handed use and portability.
- OLED Display: Offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, though the S24 Ultra's display is likely better.
- MagSafe: Convenient for wireless charging and accessories.
- Slightly Wider Aperture on Main Camera: Might offer slightly better low-light performance compared to the S24 Ultra's main camera, but the S24 Ultra has many other advantages that compensate for this.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Advantages
- Larger, Higher-Resolution Display: Provides a much more immersive viewing experience with higher detail and clarity, as well as smoother refresh rate.
- Superior Performance: Significantly faster processor and GPU, making it better for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
- Significantly Better Camera System: Versatile quad-camera system with higher resolution and better zoom capabilities and superior sensor technology, resulting in better photo and video quality.
- Significantly Larger Battery & Faster Charging: Longer battery life and faster charging times, making it more convenient for heavy users.
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Ability to charge other devices wirelessly.
- Screen Protection: Uses more robust Gorilla Glass for screen protection
- More Feature-Rich Bluetooth: Newer Bluetooth version with more supported profiles.
- More Advanced WiFi: Supports newer and faster WiFi standards
Significant Trade-offs
- iPhone 12 mini: Sacrifices performance, screen size, battery life, camera versatility for compact size and portability.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Sacrifices pocketability and single-handed use for larger screen, performance, battery and camera capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 mini Ideal Users
- Users who prioritize compact size and one-handed use: Ideal for those with smaller hands or who prefer a lightweight phone for everyday use.
- Users who value iOS ecosystem: For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem with other Apple devices.
- Users who need a decent camera, but don't need top-tier zoom or photography features
Casual users who don't require top-tier performance: Suitable for everyday tasks, social media, and web browsing.
Use Cases: Commuting, one-handed social media browsing, taking quick photos, casual gaming, budget-conscious buyer.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Ideal Users
- Power Users: Those who need the best performance for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and multitasking.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system with high-quality zoom capabilities and the most photo and video features.
- Media Consumers: Ideal for watching movies, playing games, or working on a larger, sharper screen.
- Users who need long battery life and fast charging: For those who are often on the go or use their phone heavily throughout the day.
Users who value the latest features: Such as reverse wireless charging, newer Bluetooth and WiFi standards, etc.
Use Cases: Professional photography, graphic design, mobile gaming, media consumption, productivity tasks, extensive travelling
Price-to-Value
- iPhone 12 mini: Offers a compact experience at a lower price point, but the technology is quite dated by this point.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Represents a premium offering with top-tier technology at a higher price point, but provides a lot of value for the latest features and tech.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers
- How important is device size and portability to you? (Are you okay with a larger device, or do you need a compact phone that is easy to carry?)
- What are your primary use cases? (Do you need top-tier performance for gaming or productivity, or is a good enough experience sufficient for your use cases?)
- How much do you value the camera quality and versatility? (Do you need the best camera possible, or is a decent camera enough for your needs?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations
Scenario 1: Compactness is key: If pocketability and one-handed use are the top priorities, and you don't mind sacrificing performance or camera versatility, the iPhone 12 mini is the better choice.
Scenario 2: Top performance and features are required: If you want the best possible performance, a larger, more detailed screen, the most versatile camera system, the newest technology, and long battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the clear winner.
- Scenario 3: Budget Conscious: If you have budget constraints, the older and smaller iPhone 12 mini would be the better choice, since the S24 Ultra is much more expensive, though at a steep price point in terms of performance.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two devices for my personal use, I would opt for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Here’s why:
While the compact size of the iPhone 12 mini is appealing, my usage leans more towards performance-heavy tasks and media consumption. The larger, higher-resolution display of the S24 Ultra would provide a much more enjoyable viewing experience. Furthermore, the superior camera system, enhanced battery life, and faster charging times would cater to my needs much more effectively. The significant performance boost with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip would ensure that the phone remains snappy and responsive for years to come, handling both everyday tasks and resource-intensive applications with ease. While the S24 Ultra is bulkier, the benefits it offers in terms of performance, display, camera, and battery life outweigh the portability factor for me.
