Apple iPhone 12 vs Motorola Moto G72 - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date October 23, 2020 October 3, 2022
Release Year 2020 2022

Physical

Volume 77.62 cm³ 94.34 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.72 "/g 3.98 "/g
Weight 164 g 166 g
Height 146.7 mm 160.5 mm
Width 71.5 mm 74.4 mm
Thickness 7.4 mm 7.9 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Black
  • Red
  • Blue
  • White
  • Green
  • Purple
  • Meteorite Gray
  • Polar Blue
  • Mineral White

Display

Screen Size 6.1 " 6.6 "
Resolution 1170 x 2532 1080 x 2400
Aspect Ratio 19.5:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 87.1 % 88.1 %
Pixel Density 460 PPI 402 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 120 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness 625 nits N/A
Peak Brightness 1200 nits N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 75.65 mAh/in² 114.78 mAh/in²
Battery Density 36.27 mAh/cm³ 53 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 2815 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)
CPU Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Apple GPU (4-core graphics) Mali-G57 MC2

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features Lightning 2.0 USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Software

Operating System iOS Android
Initial OS Version 14.1 12
Maximum OS Version 18

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

Design

FeatureApple iPhone 12Motorola Moto G72Practical Impact
Dimensions146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm160.5 × 74.4 × 7.9 mmiPhone 12 is more pocketable; Moto G72 offers a larger screen but is bulkier.
Weight164g166gVirtually identical; negligible difference in hand.
BuildNot specifiedNot specifiedWithout details, it is hard to compare durability.

Display

FeatureApple iPhone 12Motorola Moto G72Practical Impact
Size6.1"6.6"Moto G72: More immersive for media consumption and gaming. iPhone 12: More manageable in one hand.
Resolution1170x25321080x2400iPhone 12: Sharper text and images, especially noticeable when reading or viewing detailed photos.
PPI460402iPhone 12: Text appears crisper and finer details are more noticeable
TechnologyOLEDP-OLEDSimilar visual experience; both offer good contrast and color accuracy.
Refresh Rate60Hz120HzMoto G72: Smoother scrolling and animations, making the phone feel more responsive.
Brightness1200 nits0 nitsiPhone 12: Better visibility in bright sunlight. The Moto G72's brightness is unknown, which is a major drawback if it is significantly lower than the iPhone 12.

Performance

FeatureApple iPhone 12Motorola Moto G72Practical Impact
ChipsetApple A14 Bionic (5 nm)Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)iPhone 12: Significantly faster performance, smoother multitasking, and better gaming experience.
AnTuTu Score1,083,947415,300iPhone 12: Apps launch quicker, demanding games run smoother, and the phone feels more responsive overall.
GPUApple GPU (4-core graphics)Mali-G57 MC2iPhone 12: Superior graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications.

Camera

FeatureApple iPhone 12Motorola Moto G72Practical Impact
Main Camera12MP, f/1.6108MP, f/1.7Moto G72: Higher resolution allows for more detailed shots and more flexibility in cropping. iPhone 12: Wider aperture potentially better low-light performance.
Selfie Camera12MP, f/2.216MPMoto G72: Slightly more detailed selfies.
Wide Angle12MP, f/2.48MP, f/1.9iPhone 12: Higher resolution wide-angle shots. Moto G72: Wider aperture for potentially better low-light wide-angle photos.
Macro LensN/A2MP, f/2.4Moto G72: Dedicated macro lens for close-up shots.
VideoUp to 4K@60fpsUp to 1080p@60fpsiPhone 12: Higher quality video recording, enabling more professional-looking videos.
StabilizationOptical (OIS) & Ultra stable videoDigital image stabilizationiPhone 12: Steadier video recording, especially in motion.
DxOMark (Mobile)117N/AiPhone 12: Indicates generally better camera performance than Moto G72.

Battery

FeatureApple iPhone 12Motorola Moto G72Practical Impact
Capacity2815mAh5000mAhMoto G72: Likely significantly longer battery life, especially for heavy users.
Charging20W fast charging33W fast chargingMoto G72: Faster charging times.
Wireless ChargingMagSafe (15W), Qi (7.5W)N/AiPhone 12: Convenient wireless charging options.

Storage

FeatureApple iPhone 12Motorola Moto G72Practical Impact
Internal64/128/256 GB128/256 GBBoth phones have the same maximum storage capacity.
RAM4 GB6/8 GBMoto G72: Smoother multitasking and better app retention in memory, especially with the 8GB option.
ExpandableNoNoNeither phone allows for expandable storage; choose a model with sufficient internal storage.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Apple iPhone 12 Advantages:

  • Significantly faster processor: The A14 Bionic offers superior performance for gaming, multitasking, and general responsiveness.
  • Higher resolution display: The iPhone 12 has a sharper screen, better for reading and viewing detailed content.
  • Superior Camera Capabilities: Records in 4K, has OIS, and generally higher DxOMark scores, implying better image and video quality.
  • Wireless Charging: MagSafe and Qi wireless charging offer convenient charging options.
  • Better Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 support allows for faster and more stable Wi-Fi connections.

Motorola Moto G72 Advantages:

  • Larger Battery: 5000mAh battery provides significantly longer battery life.
  • Higher Refresh Rate: 120Hz display offers smoother scrolling and animations.
  • Faster Charging: 33W charging allows for quicker top-ups.
  • More RAM: 6GB or 8GB RAM options ensure smoother multitasking.
  • Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens for close-up photography.
  • Fingerprint Sensor: For basic biometric security.

Trade-offs:

  • Choosing the iPhone 12 means sacrificing battery life and a high refresh rate display for superior performance and camera quality.
  • Choosing the Moto G72 means longer battery life and a smoother display but with significantly lower processing power and a potentially inferior camera (based on available data).

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Apple iPhone 12 Ideal Users:

  • Performance-focused users: Gamers, power users who need smooth multitasking, and those who value a responsive user experience.
  • Photography enthusiasts: Users who prioritize camera quality and video recording capabilities.
  • Users within the Apple ecosystem: Seamless integration with other Apple devices and services.

Use Cases:

  • Playing graphically intensive mobile games.
  • Editing photos and videos on the go.
  • Using demanding apps that require high processing power.

Motorola Moto G72 Ideal Users:

  • Budget-conscious users: Those seeking good value for money and prioritizing battery life.
  • Casual users: People who primarily use their phones for browsing, social media, and communication.
  • Users who value long battery life: Those who need their phones to last all day without needing to recharge.

Use Cases:

  • All-day usage without needing to charge.
  • Watching videos and browsing social media.
  • Taking occasional photos and videos.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions to Consider:

  1. How important is performance to you? If you need a phone for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, the iPhone 12 is the better choice.
  2. How much do you value battery life? If you need all-day battery life, the Moto G72 is the better choice.
  3. What is your budget? Consider how the price of each phone fits into your budget.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: You are a student on a budget who needs a phone that can last all day. Recommendation: Motorola Moto G72.
  • Scenario 2: You are a gamer who needs a phone with the best possible performance. Recommendation: Apple iPhone 12.
  • Scenario 3: You are a photographer who needs a phone with a great camera and good video recording capabilities. Recommendation: Apple iPhone 12.
  • Scenario 4: You need a larger screen and better display for media consumption. Recommendation: Motorola Moto G72 due to its larger 120Hz display.

Which one would I choose?

I would choose the Apple iPhone 12.

Here's why:

  • Performance is a priority: I regularly use my phone for resource-intensive tasks like photo editing, video streaming, and occasional gaming. The A14 Bionic chip in the iPhone 12 offers a significantly smoother and more responsive experience for these tasks.
  • Ecosystem Integration: I use other Apple devices, and the seamless integration between them is valuable to me.
  • Camera Quality: While the Moto G72 has a higher megapixel count, the overall camera system of the iPhone 12, based on DxOMark scores and features like OIS and 4K video recording, is likely to provide better results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.

While the longer battery life and smoother display of the Moto G72 are appealing, the performance benefits and camera capabilities of the iPhone 12 outweigh those advantages for my specific use case.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
  • Digital media communication
  • Technical storytelling
  • User-centric technology insights

Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.