Smartphone Comparison: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-11-13 | 2024-07-24 | The Galaxy Z Fold6 is significantly newer (almost 4 years), meaning newer technology, software support, and features. |
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | The Z Fold6 can transform between a standard phone and a small tablet, offering a larger screen for media consumption and multitasking. iPhone 12 Pro Max is a standard slab phone. |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm | 153.5 x 132.6 x 5.6 mm | The iPhone 12 Pro Max is taller and thicker, while the Z Fold6 is significantly wider when unfolded. The Z Fold6 has a larger overall volume but is thinner when unfolded. |
| Weight | 228g | 239g | The Z Fold6 is slightly heavier, which might be noticeable during extended one-handed use but negligible for most users. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 7.6" | The Z Fold6 has a significantly larger display when unfolded, offering a much more immersive experience for watching videos, browsing, and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1284x2778 | 1856x2160 | The Z Fold6 has a higher resolution, resulting in slightly sharper images on its larger display but less pixel density. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 458 | 374 | The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a significantly sharper display with higher pixel density, resulting in crisper text and images on a smaller screen. |
| Technology | OLED | Unknown | iPhone 12 Pro Max has OLED technology, known for vibrant colors and deep blacks. Display type for Z Fold6 is not specified, making it difficult to compare display quality in specific terms. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Z Fold6’s 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother animations and scrolling, resulting in a more fluid user experience. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is limited to 60Hz. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a much brighter display (1200 nits), making it significantly easier to view in direct sunlight. The brightness for Z Fold6 isn't specified, but likely has high brightness. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The Z Fold6 has a much newer and more powerful chipset, resulting in significantly faster performance, better gaming capabilities, and improved energy efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,121,803 | 2,200,000 | The Z Fold6 scores almost double in benchmarks, reflecting significantly faster real-world performance and a more responsive experience for demanding applications and games. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | The Z Fold6's GPU offers much higher performance for graphics-intensive tasks and gaming. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a capable GPU but not as high-performing as the Adreno 750. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 3687mAh | 4400mAh | The Z Fold6 has a larger battery capacity, likely offering better battery life, especially with its larger screen. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging, Li-Ion | 25W Fast Charging, Li-Polymer | The Z Fold6 offers slightly faster charging than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and uses a newer Li-Polymer battery. |
| Features | MagSafe, Qi, 20W adapter sold separately | Bypass Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging | Both phones support wireless charging and non-removable batteries. The iPhone offers MagSafe, while the Z Fold6 has bypass and reverse wireless charging, letting it charge other devices. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard | 12MP f/1.6 | 50MP f/1.8 | The Z Fold6 has a much higher-resolution main camera, likely capturing more detail, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a slightly wider aperture for low-light performance. |
| Selfie | 12MP f/2.2 | 10MP f/2.2 | The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a slightly higher resolution selfie camera. |
| Telephoto Lens | 12MP f/2.2 | 10MP f/2.4 | The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a slightly higher resolution and wider aperture, potentially offering slightly better zoom and low-light performance with its telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP f/2.4 | 12MP f/2.2 | The Z Fold6 has a wider aperture, potentially allowing it to capture slightly better low-light shots than the iPhone 12 Pro Max's ultrawide lens. |
| Video | Up to 4K@60fps | Up to 8K@30fps | The Z Fold6 can shoot 8K video, offering more detail and flexibility for professional video creators. Both devices offer excellent video recording capabilities with various modes. |
| DxOMark | Mobile: 131, Selfie: 132 | Mobile: 133 | The Z Fold6 has a slightly better overall camera score but doesn't have a selfie camera score available. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a better video recording score on the rear camera, but the Fold6 is better for photos. |
| Features | OIS, RAW, Night Mode, etc. | OIS, RAW, Night Mode, NPU AI Engine, etc. | Both phones have advanced features such as Optical Image Stabilization, RAW capture, and night mode. The Z Fold6 offers advanced features like AutoFraming, AI enhancements and under display camera. |
| Software | |||
| OS | iOS 14.1 (Upgradable to 18) | Android 14 (Upgradable to 18) | The iPhone uses Apple's iOS, while the Z Fold6 uses Android, offering different user interfaces, app ecosystems and feature sets. The operating system preference is very subjective. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6, MiMO | WiFi 6, MiMO, Direct, Display | Both phones support similar WiFi standards with some additional features in Z Fold6 like WiFi Direct. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.3 | The Z Fold6 has a newer Bluetooth version, potentially offering more features and better power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, etc. | GPS (L1+L5), etc. | The Z Fold6 supports more satellite systems, offering potentially more accurate location tracking, including dual-frequency GPS. |
| SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM | Dual Nano SIM / eSIM | Both offer dual SIM capability, one can be a physical nano-SIM, and one can be an eSIM. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256/512 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | The Z Fold6 offers larger storage options, including a 1TB variant, catering to users needing more storage for media. |
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB | The Z Fold6 has double the RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and more demanding applications to run without slowdowns. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Both phones feature high quality stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos. Apple iPhone has additional Dolby Digital Plus for better audio quality. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Security Features | Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | The Z Fold6 has a fingerprint sensor for quick and secure unlocking, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max relies on Face ID which isn't specified in the provided data. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | The Z Fold6 has the latest Gorilla Glass protection, offering much better scratch and drop resistance compared to the unknown protection of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer | The Z Fold6 has all the same sensors and also fingerprint, gravity, Hall and geomagnetic sensors, useful for a variety of applications. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Advantages:
- Higher Display Sharpness: With a higher pixel density of 458 PPI, the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a crisper display, particularly beneficial for reading text.
- Brighter Display: The 1200 nits brightness makes the iPhone 12 Pro Max significantly better for outdoor use in bright sunlight.
- Slightly Better Telephoto Lens: slightly better aperture and resolution.
- Established Ecosystem: Seamless integration with other Apple devices and services, a draw for Apple ecosystem users.
- Dolby Digital Plus: Has a slight edge in audio quality.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Advantages:
- Larger Foldable Display: The 7.6" foldable screen offers an immersive experience for media consumption, multitasking, and gaming.
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 12GB RAM provide a huge leap in performance compared to the older iPhone 12 Pro Max.
- 120Hz Refresh Rate: The smoother animations and scrolling contribute to a better user experience.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: 50MP main camera captures more detail than iPhone's 12MP sensor.
- 8K Video Recording: The Z Fold6 can record in 8K, suitable for advanced video editing and content creation.
- More Storage Options: With up to 1TB of internal storage, it caters to users needing substantial storage space.
- Advanced Features: Offers new features like bypass charging, reverse wireless charging, Laser Autofocus, under display camera and Auto framing.
- Fingerprint Sensor: The Z Fold6 features a side mounted fingerprint sensor.
- Superior Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 provides the highest screen protection.
- Dual Frequency GPS: For better location accuracy.
- More RAM: Double the RAM at 12 GB.
Trade-offs:
- The Z Fold6 is heavier and bulkier than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, especially when folded.
- The Z Fold6 does not have superior display sharpness.
- The iPhone 12 Pro Max lacks the folding display, faster processor, and higher RAM of the Z Fold6.
- The iPhone 12 Pro Max has an older chipset, and is slower than the Z Fold6 in benchmarks.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Ideal Users:
- Apple Ecosystem Users: Those heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem will appreciate the seamless integration.
- Users who prioritize screen sharpness: Those who highly value a sharp display with crisp text and images, especially for reading and text-based content.
- Users who prioritize outdoor visibility: For users who will use their device in direct sunlight, this is a clear benefit.
- Users who prioritize video recording and want Dolby Digital Plus: For users who prioritize high-quality video recording.
Use Cases:
- Content Creation: Still a capable device for content creation, with good quality photos and videos.
- Daily Driver: For everyday tasks, the iPhone 12 Pro Max still holds its own.
- General Consumption: Ideal for reading, browsing and other daily usage in indoor settings.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Those who want the latest and greatest performance for heavy multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications.
- Multitaskers: Users who want to work, play and create in multiple apps or workflows concurrently using its unique form factor.
- Media Enthusiasts: People who heavily consume video content and benefit from a larger, more immersive display.
- Early Adopters: Users who want new technology and innovative form factors.
- Professionals: Individuals who can benefit from the ability to run multiple apps side-by-side and who need the flexibility of the foldable screen.
Use Cases:
- Professional Productivity: Perfect for multitasking with multiple apps open simultaneously.
- Mobile Gaming: The powerful chipset and 120Hz display make it an excellent gaming device.
- Content Creation: The high-resolution camera, 8K video recording, and large screen are beneficial for content creators.
- Media Consumption: The large display is perfect for watching videos, movies and browsing on the go.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do you prioritize a large, immersive display or a sharper, more pocketable phone? (Foldable vs standard)
- Do you need the latest and greatest performance for demanding tasks, or is good performance adequate? (Chipset and RAM)
- Is high video recording and editing a necessity? (8K video)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For heavy mobile gamers/multitaskers: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is the clear winner due to its powerful chipset, 12GB RAM, and 120Hz display.
- For users who are already within the Apple ecosystem: The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is the better choice, if a foldable screen isn't desired.
- For outdoor users The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is better for outdoor visibility.
- For users who consume a lot of media and use their phone for productivity: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 provides a great viewing experience.
- For a user who wants the latest cutting-edge technologies: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is the best choice.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6. The deciding factor is the substantial performance advantage it offers with its newer chipset and more RAM, along with its innovative foldable display. As someone who appreciates having the flexibility for multitasking and consuming media on the go, the Z Fold6 better meets my needs. While the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a capable device, the technology is almost 4 years older and is significantly slower in performance. The higher refresh rate and 8K video are also important features for me, as I enjoy higher-fidelity entertainment and content creation possibilities.
