We are right in the middle of Techtober where all of the Tech giants are busy announcing their latest and greatest products. The smartphone manufacturers and wireless service providers have touted 5G as the new promised land. The 5G technology has not been fully rolled out to the market so far but this is about to change with Apple, Google and Samsung finally revealing 5G capable smartphones. Check out our article where we explain 5G Technology and its limitations and challenges. Among the various tech announcements, we have recently learned about the 5G capable smartphones including the Apple iPhone 12, Google Pixel 5, and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.
The 5G smartphones from Google, Apple, and Samsung are more likely to penetrate the market so let’s compare the iPhone 12, Pixel 5, and Galaxy S20 FE to see which smartphone is a better buy. We have decided to compare these models as all of these devices are being offered at a similar price point and it would be great if we can figure out which 5G smartphone offers the most value. With introduction of new features in every new smartphone, it is important to identify features that provide real value to you as the consumer versus features that are merely gimmicks. For any smartphone, some of the important features include the display (size, panel, brightness), camera (picture quality, low light, video), performance (processor, memory, storage, battery life), design (build, ease of use, damage protection). For this comparison, we will try to determine the better smartphone based on these categories.
Before we get into the different features of the smartphones, let’s compare the technical specifications so that we have an idea of the similarities and differences of each.
iPhone 12 vs Pixel 5 vs Galaxy S20 FE: Specs Comparison
Which 5G Smartphone is better?
For determining the right smartphone, let’s assess each one against four important features including the display (size, panel, brightness), camera (picture quality, low light, video), performance (processor, memory, storage, battery life), design (build, ease of use, damage protection).
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE features the largest display at 6.5 inch compared to the Pixel 5 at 6 inches and iPhone 12 at 6.1 inches. The Galaxy S20 FE also features a AMOLED display which offers a brighter display with accurate blacks and vibrant colors. In addition, Samsung is the only one offering a 120Hz high refresh rate screen, which makes a noticeable difference not only during gaming but also during day-to-day usage including scrolling through web pages and social media feed. The iPhone 12 has finally introduced an OLED display which is an improvement over the iPhone 11 with LCD display. Apple claims a peak brightness of 1299 nits, which should be a welcome change for outdoor visibility. It is important to note that Google Pixel 5 and iPhone 12 have symmetrical bezels (with ~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) around the display unlike the larger chin on the Galaxy S20 FE. If you are like me and uneven bezels drive you crazy, then this is something to consider when purchasing one of these devices. Display Winner: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Camera
Google has proved time and time again that camera performance is not dependent on the number of camera lenses or mega pixel count. The same is true when it comes to the Pixel 5, as the camera provides some the very best photos like with every pixel device in the past. The Pixel 5 has replaced the telephoto lens with an ultra-wide angle lens and this change is for the better as you are not really losing out on anything with removal of zoom capability. The inclusion of the ultra-wide lens now makes the camera setup fairly similar to the iPhone 12. Apple has improved the low light performance as the main camera now has f/1.6 compared to the f/1.8 on iPhone 11. Google has improved the software processing capability by introducing portrait light feature, which allows you to illuminate the face of a subject even when they are back lit (removes dark face with a bright backdrop). Regardless of the improvements that Apple and Samsung have made, it is fair to say that Google still manages to out perform the competition in the camera department. Camera Winner: Google Pixel 5
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE features a faster CPU and GPU compared to the Pixel 5. The day to day performance of the phone is dependent on the software optimization as Apple has proven this point year over year with the iOS software. As both Apple iPhone and Google Pixel devices are optimized for iOS and Android, there is no doubt that a regular user will not notice any performance differences between all of these devices. The Samsung and Apple devices will definitely perform better during benchmark tests but the average user will not notice a difference in performance. In terms of memory and storage, all of these devices offer the same options with iPhone 12 starting at a lower 64GB storage. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE features a larger battery at 4500 mAh but it does not result in longer battery life because the 120Hz refresh rate tends to use more battery. If you are okay with setting the phone at a lower refresh rate, we are sure that the Samsung device will offer a longer battery life. Performance Winner: Draw
Design
The design of any smartphone is extremely subjective, so we will try not to judge these smartphones based on the just the aesthetics. In terms of the build materials, the Pixel phone is the only one that features an aluminum back. The iPhone 12 has a glass back and Galaxy S20 FE has a plastic backing. Google has figured out wireless charging with an aluminum back so that is great but it is not a significant feature as most of the users like to use a phone case with their smartphones. Apple has gone back to the industrial design of the iPhone 5 with an aluminum frame that looks very attractive. Apple has also included magsafe feature in the back so that you can easily attach the wireless charger, accessories (like a wallet), or phone holder in your car using magnets. All of these devices have IP68 dust/water resistance, wireless charging, and fingerprint sensor or faceID. The Apple and Google devices definitely offer better design elements while Samsung is lagging behind slightly. Design Winner: Draw between Pixel 5 and iPhone 12
In conclusion, the 5G capable smartphones from Google, Apple, and Samsung are very capable and it is difficult to determine a clear winner as they all bring something to the table. It is important to note that Apple has increased the price of the iPhone 12 by $100. If you must have an iPhone device at an affordable price, we highly recommend the iPhone 11 as you will most likely get it cheaper with the introduction of the new iPhone 12. Based on the comparison above, you can go with Samsung Galaxy S20 FE if you are looking for the a great display, the Google Pixel 5 provides a great camera performance, and iPhone 12 is good enough in all categories without any clear setbacks except the price.
Source: Apple, Google, Samsung
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav