The iPhone 12 and Google Pixel 5 are not just the main phones – they are standard carriers for the two main smartphone platforms in the world, iOS and Android.
In fact, comparing these two phones means pitting two of the world’s largest technology companies against each other. Both Apple and Google have defined what the ideal smartphone should be, from software to hardware.
So how do these two headlines compare? With several similarities and even more differences, it is a truly fascinating comparison to make.
IPhone 12 vs Pixel 5 price and availability
The iPhone 12 was launched on October 23, 2020. Prices start at $ 799 / £ 799 / AU $ 1,349 for the 64 GB model, going up to $ 849 / £ 849 / AU $ 1,429 for 128 GB and $ 949 / £ 949 / AU $ 1,599 for 256 GB.
The Google Pixel 5 was made available just a week earlier, on October 15, 2020. There is only one model of the Pixel 5, and it is available for an RRP of $ 699 / £ 599 / AU $ 999 on the official Google Store.
If we are comparing basic models, this is a $ 100 / £ 200 / AU $ 359 prize for the iPhone 12. But if we are looking at a strict specification comparison, then the 128 GB iPhone 12 costs $ 150 / £ 250 / AU $ 430 more than the 128 GB Pixel 5.
Project
These two phones have very little resemblance in terms of external design, but both resist trends in their own way.
In the case of the iPhone 12, it moves away from the obsession with smooth curves and rounded edges that seem to have dominated the smartphone industry in general. The iPhone 12 goes back to an era of flat surfaces and sharp edges, things that have not been seen on a high-end phone since the iPhone 5S.
With Pixel 5, on the other hand, it’s a material thing. There is no rear glass panel here, not even some form of hybrid plastic of the type seen on the Galaxy S21. Instead, Google stripped things back to metal, with cool, but premium material that wraps around the sides.
This metal also has an interesting matte finish, which makes it a little more like polycarbonate than a typical aluminum frame. The device is available in just two shades, Sorta Sage and Just Black, which pale near the Silver, Graphite, Gold and Pacific Blue options of the iPhone 12.
Still, metal is metal, and the Pixel 5 appears to be more robust than the iPhone 12 with a glass bottom. However, it is worth mentioning that the Apple phone comes with a new nano-crystalline Ceramic Shield screen on the front. be four times stronger than competing materials. It also has a higher IP68 rating for a depth of six meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
In terms of proportions, the iPhone 12 measures 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm (HWD) alongside the 144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm of the Pixel 5. This means that the Google phone is a slightly shorter and narrower than its Apple counterpart, but also half a millimeter thicker. These are two of the lightest flagship phones on the market as well – although the iPhone 12 is the heaviest unit at 164g compared to the Pixel 5 at 151g.
We weren’t big fans of the Pixel 5’s rigid, undefined side buttons in our review. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 includes premium metal switches and that glorious Apple warning slider. The Pixel 5’s speakers, although stereo like the iPhone 12, seem to have taken a step back as well.
Another design difference is linked to a different approach to biometric authentication. The Pixel 5 has a slightly old-fashioned rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, while the iPhone 12 has a prominent screen notch for Face ID. It is arguable that Apple’s approach is more advanced – but currently, the ability to unlock the phone using a mask is very useful.
In short, we prefer the striking design of the iPhone 12 over the rather utilitarian Pixel 5. But they are distinct enough that this can boil down to a matter of preference.
Exhibition
As different as these phones look, both opt for similar compact OLED screens.
The iPhone 12 comes with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with a resolution of 2532 x 1170. It is one of the most balanced displays on the market in terms of color accuracy and can reach a maximum brightness level of 1200 nits, with 600 nits under typical conditions.
In the other corner, the Pixel 5 offers a 6-inch OLED with a slightly lower resolution of 2340 x 1080.
Where the Pixel 5 wins is for the refresh rate. At 90 Hz, Google’s flagship falls short of the leading 120 Hz package, but it turns out to be 50% more fluid than the iPhone 12 60 Hz. It’s a bit of an oversight on the part of Apple, if we’re being honest.
The iPhone 12 wins in image fidelity, then, but the Pixel 5 scores a lot in fluidity. We will deliver the victory to the Google phone based on that last result, but it is close.
Camera
Both phones consider themselves photographic champions with their offerings of stripped-down dual cameras. And an initial look suggests a similar approach.
The iPhone 12 includes a pair of 12 megapixel sensors: a main wide example with a large f / 1.6 aperture and an ultra wide with an f / 2.4 aperture. Google’s Pixel 5 provides a main 12.2 megapixel sensor with an f / 1.7 aperture and an ultra-wide 16 megapixel f / 2.2 sensor.
Both main sensors offer the same 1.4 µm pixel size and both are supported by the ISO. No camera setup offers a dedicated telephoto lens, with intelligent cropping algorithms for these zoomed photos.
Google’s approach to the smartphone camera domain has taken its Pixel line a long way. Instead of updating his hardware every year – a resource-intensive approach that has inevitable repercussions on price – he prefers to use the same old sensor and moves forward through his formidable image processing algorithms.
Of course, Apple has also made great strides in recent years with its own image processing techniques. The result is that Apple and Google are among the best in producing balanced images from smartphone cameras.
For sure, these are two of the best camera phones on the market. Both devices take sharp, balanced photos in daylight and frighteningly clear at night. Google’s night shots may be a little clearer, but the iPhone 12 can apply its night mode to all cameras, even the selfie camera.
We prefer the broader nature of the iPhone 12’s 120-degree ultra-wide camera, which fits much more than the somewhat insignificant 107-degree field of view of the Pixel 5. Still, the way Google manages to balance the usual distortions and color balance problems with its ultra-wide and magical feel.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 takes the Pixel 5 (and almost all non-Apple phones) out of the water when it comes to the quality of video capture. Both can record 4K video at 60fps, but the iPhone 12 is simply better.
In short, we have to give Apple the overall victory. He has taken more steps forward in a greater number of areas for a better full camera experience – but it is very close.
Specifications and performance
One area where there is really no room for debate is performance. The iPhone 12 simply blows up the Google Pixel 5 on this front.
Of course, the A14 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 12 takes all Android flagships out of the water. After all, it is the most powerful mobile processor on the market.
But the Pixel 5 doesn’t even offer resistance, due to Google’s historic decision to compromise energy in the name of cost-effectiveness. If you want to know how the Pixel 5 is much cheaper than the iPhone 12, the number one proof would be the use of the Snapdragon 765 CPU.
This is a mid-range Qualcomm chip that sits well below the Snapdragon 865, which powered most Android phones in 2020, and even further behind the Snapdragon 888, which powers the 2021 class.
The difference is explained by the Geekbench 5 multicore benchmark tests, with the Pixel 5 scoring 1,617 compared to the 3,859 of the iPhone 12. This is considerably more than double the production.
The Google phone may have twice the RAM of the iPhone 12 – 8 GB versus 4 GB – but that is quite irrelevant, given the different ways in which Android and iOS use their memory.
In practical terms, the Pixel 5 goes through a series of tasks, from surfing the web to playing and playing media. We only saw noticeable drops in performance after prolonged attacks of Call of Duty: Mobile, not during the game.
But the iPhone 12 has such generous space that we are sure it will be fast for years. We can’t say the same for the Pixel 5 with a degree of certainty – especially given Apple’s superior track record of ongoing hardware support.
The Pixel 5 strikes partially with the provision of 128 GB of storage as standard. The iPhone 12 has 64 GB, which really doesn’t look like enough anymore. Of course, you can specify 128 GB or 256 GB, but it will cost a lot.
Both phones come with 5G as standard, so there is no advantage to that. Nor can we call a winner when it comes to software.
Against literally all other Android manufacturers, Apple certainly has an advantage here – but not with Pixel. Even the most elegant Android user interface remains a modification of Google’s operating system, so even if you prefer the way Samsung (or OnePlus or Xiaomi) does things, it’s not a pure or perfectly optimized experience. It’s not like that with the Pixel 5, which is completely Google, just like the iPhone 12 is totally Apple all the time.
Battery life
The 2.815mAh battery in the iPhone 12 looks pitiful near the Pixel 5’s 4.080mAh unit.
However, it is not that simple, since iOS is generally more economical than Android. In addition, the iPhone 12 has a better and more efficient processor and a 60 Hz screen with less power consumption.
Ultimately, both phones have good resistance, but not excellent. We would give the Pixel 5 the advantage – it’s a big improvement over the Pixel 4 in particular – but both devices are firmly in the ‘solid use day’ category with anything between light and very heavy use.
The iPhone 12 has a slight advantage when it comes to charging, with support for 20W wired charging compared to the 18W Pixel 5. But at least the Pixel comes with this charger. You need to purchase the iPhone fast charger (or any other charger) separately.
The iPhone 12 also supports 15W Qi wireless charging alongside the 12W Pixel 5.
To remove
Although the iPhone 12 and the Pixel 5 ostensibly give us an “Apple x Google” showdown, the direct comparisons are quite complicated.
Apple opted for a bold and premium design statement with its iPhone 12, bringing several Pro flourishes to its mainstream line. On the other hand, the Pixel 5 removes things from the Pixel 4, offering an approximate flagship experience for an average price.
As a result, the Pixel 5 is much cheaper than the iPhone 12, which makes it the best choice for those on a budget of £ 500. For that money, you will have a camera system, a screen and a software experience. that is competitive with that of Apple.
If you’re willing to spend more, the iPhone 5 undoubtedly looks like the most premium phone – and its performance is in another category.