1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | Z Fold3 offers a tablet-sized screen in a phone format. iPhone 12 is a standard, pocketable phone. |
| Dimensions | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm | 158.2 × 128.1 × 6.4 mm (Unfolded) | Z Fold3 is significantly wider when unfolded, offering a larger viewing area. iPhone 12 is more pocketable. |
| Weight | 164g | 271g | iPhone 12 is much lighter and easier to handle for extended periods. Z Fold3 is noticeably heavier. |
| Build Material | (Not specified) | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (Screen) | Z Fold3 has superior scratch resistance on the cover screen. iPhone 12 screen protection is unknown. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.1" | 7.6" | Z Fold3 provides a significantly larger display, ideal for multitasking, media consumption, and gaming. iPhone 12 is smaller and more manageable in one hand. |
| Resolution | 1170x2532 | 1768x2208 | Z Fold3 has a higher resolution, leading to a more detailed image, especially noticeable on the larger screen. |
| Pixel Density | 460 PPI | 374 PPI | iPhone 12 has a sharper display due to higher pixel density, making text and images appear crisper on the smaller screen. |
| Technology | OLED | iPhone 12 offers superior display technology (OLED vs ) offering better contrast and color accuracy | |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Z Fold3 offers smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience, especially in gaming and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | iPhone 12 has a significantly brighter display, providing better visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Both are high-end chipsets. A14 Bionic is known for its efficiency and raw power, while Snapdragon 888 is a flagship Android processor. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,083,947 | 898,700 | iPhone 12 generally offers slightly better performance in synthetic benchmarks. Real-world differences may be less noticeable for typical usage. |
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB | Z Fold3 has significantly more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and better performance with demanding applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.6, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.8µm | Z Fold3 has a larger sensor size, which allows for better low-light performance. iPhone 12 has a wider aperture. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 12MP, f/2.4, 1.0µm | Z Fold3 offers optical zoom capabilities, allowing for better zoomed-in photos without significant quality loss. |
| Ultrawide Lens | 12MP, f/2.4 | 13MP, f/2.2 | Similar ultrawide capabilities. Z Fold3 has a slightly wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP, f/2.2 | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm | iPhone 12 captures slightly more detailed selfies due to the higher megapixel count. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR | Similar high-quality video recording capabilities. |
| DXOMark (Mobile) | 117 (Photo: 127, Video: 130) | 120 (Photo: 129, Video: 105) | Z Fold3 has a slightly higher overall DXOMark score. iPhone 12 has superior video capabilities. |
| DXOMark (Selfie) | 132 (Photo: 127, Video: 140) | 83 (Photo: 79, Video: 89) | iPhone 12 has a much higher DXOMark score for its front camera, indicating better selfie performance. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2815mAh | 4400mAh | Z Fold3 has a significantly larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life, especially important for a device with a large, high-refresh-rate screen. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless (MagSafe) | 25W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless, Reverse Wireless | Z Fold3 charges slightly faster and offers reverse wireless charging, allowing it to charge other devices. |
Storage
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 64/128/256 GB | 256/512 GB | Z Fold3 offers larger storage options, suitable for users who store a lot of media or large files. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, so choosing the right internal storage option is crucial. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 Advantages:
- Lighter and more compact: Easier to carry and use one-handed.
- Sharper Display: Higher pixel density provides a crisper viewing experience on the smaller screen.
- Better Selfie Camera: Significantly higher DXOMark score indicates better selfie photo and video quality.
- Higher Video Score: Better overall video recording.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Offers a larger screen for immersive experiences, multitasking, and productivity.
- Larger Display: Significantly more screen real estate for media consumption, gaming, and productivity tasks.
- Higher Refresh Rate: 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling and animations.
- Larger Battery: Potentially longer battery life to power the larger screen.
- More RAM: 12GB of RAM for smoother multitasking and demanding applications.
- Telephoto Lens: Dedicated zoom lens for better zoomed-in photos.
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Can charge other devices wirelessly.
- Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus screen
Trade-offs:
- iPhone 12: Smaller screen, less RAM, no telephoto lens, lower battery capacity.
- Z Fold3: Heavier, bulkier, less sharp display, lower selfie camera quality.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12:
- Ideal User: Individuals who prioritize portability, a high-quality display, and a strong selfie camera. Those heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.
- Use Cases: Everyday communication, social media, photography (especially selfies), video recording, gaming.
- Price-to-Value: Good value for users seeking a premium, reliable smartphone experience in a compact form factor.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G:
- Ideal User: Power users who need a large screen for productivity, multitasking, and media consumption. Tech enthusiasts who want the latest innovative technology.
- Use Cases: Multitasking, content creation, video editing, gaming, reading, presentations, entertainment.
- Price-to-Value: Lower given its age and price point, but justifiable for those who truly need the foldable form factor and productivity features, and are willing to accept the trade-offs in portability and camera performance.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is portability and one-handed use? If portability is paramount, the iPhone 12 is the better choice. If you prefer a large screen and are okay with a bulkier device, the Z Fold3 is more suitable.
- What is your primary use case? For basic communication, social media, and selfies, the iPhone 12 excels. For multitasking, content creation, and immersive media consumption, the Z Fold3 is better.
- How important is battery life? The Z Fold3 has a significantly larger battery.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Student needing a reliable phone for communication and note-taking: iPhone 12 is a good balance of features, performance, and portability.
- Scenario 2: Business professional needing a device for presentations and multitasking: Z Fold3 offers a larger screen for presentations and running multiple apps simultaneously.
- Scenario 3: Social media influencer who prioritizes high-quality selfies: iPhone 12 has a superior front-facing camera.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones today, I would pick the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, even considering its age. While the iPhone 12 offers a more polished and refined experience in many ways, the unique foldable form factor of the Z Fold3 is just too compelling. The ability to have a pocketable smartphone that transforms into a mini-tablet is a game-changer for productivity, media consumption, and even gaming.
Here's why:
- Productivity: I often find myself needing to work on the go, and the larger screen of the Z Fold3 would make tasks like editing documents, managing emails, and browsing websites much easier.
- Media Consumption: Watching videos and reading articles on the Z Fold3's larger screen would be a significantly more enjoyable experience.
- Novelty: The folding mechanism would bring a refreshing user experience compared to using standard smartphones.
While the iPhone 12's smaller size and lighter weight are definitely advantages, the Z Fold3's versatility outweighs those drawbacks for me. The iPhone 12 is amazing in many aspects and would probably be a more practical device, but the user experience on the Z Fold3 is really unique and pushes the boundaries of smartphone technology and that's why it is my pick.
