Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23

Our Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S23 leads on camera hardware with a 50MP main sensor to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro's 12MP, and the S23 5G packs the bigger battery, 3900mAh against 2815mAh, but capacity doesn't compare cleanly across iOS and Android, so it isn't a battery-life verdict on its own. Storage goes higher on the iPhone 12 Pro, up to 512GB against 256GB, and the iPhone 12 Pro has the sharper display at 457 PPI to 422. Get the S23 5G if those extras are worth it to you; otherwise the iPhone 12 Pro covers the basics for less.

Buying outright, the iPhone 12 Pro starts at £180 SIM-free.

Expert Rating
4.3
19 reviews
4.2
11 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.1"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1170 x 2532 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
457 422
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
Battery
2,815 mAh 3,900 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS
iOS 14.1 Android 13
SIM Type
Nano SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm
Weight
189 grams 167 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
- £20.99/mo (£19.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£179.99 £184.95
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Apple iPhone 12 Pro Samsung Galaxy S23 Samsung Galaxy S23
Expert Rating 4.3
19 reviews
4.2
11 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.1"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1170 x 2532 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 457 422
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
Battery 2,815 mAh 3,900 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS iOS 14.1 Android 13
SIM Type Nano SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm
Weight 189 grams 167 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts - £20.99/mo
£19.00 upfront
SIM-free £179.99 £184.95
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Apple iPhone 12 Pro

128GB

Graphite

Refurbished

From £179.99

Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy S23

24 Months

128GB

Phantom Black

Refurbished

200GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£20.99 per month, £19 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10 off)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.1", the Apple iPhone 12 Pro has the sharper display at 457 pixels per inch versus 422, and the Apple iPhone 12 Pro uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S23 has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £179.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 use?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S23 uses the Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the more portable of the two: it's 22g lighter at 167 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S23 is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 run?

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro runs iOS 14.1 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 runs Android 13. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.