Home Phone comparison Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone XS - Which is better?

Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone XS

65 out 100
Apple iPhone 12
VS
52 out 100
Apple iPhone XS
Apple iPhone 12
Apple iPhone XS

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPhone 12 Manufactured in October, 2020, with display 6.1 with chipsetApple A14 Bionic, vs Apple iPhone XS, Manufactured in September, 2018with chipsetApple A12 Bionic. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone 12
  • Larger display: 6.1in
  • Higher pixel density: 460ppi
  • Lighter design: 164g vs 177g
  • Higher battery capacity: 2815mAh vs 2658mAh
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone XS

    Versions

    Available versions and configurations
    Memory Options - 4/64 GB
    - 4/128 GB
    - 4/256 GB    		 - 4/64 GB
    - 4/256 GB
    - 4/512 GB

    Review

    Key Specs Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone XS
    Display
    Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
    Camera
    Main & front camera tests
    Performance
    App & system performance
    Games
    3D gaming performance
    Battery
    Battery life, charging speed & type
    Connectivity
    Connectivity features
    NanoReview Score
    Overall score by NanoReview
    Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
    Customize your score
    Function
    Importance (Weight)
    Display:
    Camera:
    Performance:
    Gaming:
    Battery:
    Connectivity:
    Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

    Tests & specs

    Specs & test comparison
    Smartphones:
    Apple iPhone 12
    vs
    Apple iPhone XS

    Display

    Display quality comparison
    Type OLED OLED
    Size 6.1 in 5.8 in
    Resolution 1170x2532 pixels 1125x2436 pixels
    Aspect ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
    Pixel density 460 ppi 458 ppi
    Refresh rate 60 Hz 60 Hz
    Adaptive refresh rate No No
    Max brightness 625 nits 625 nits
    HDR support Yes Dolby Vision Yes Dolby Vision
    Touch Sampling Rate n/a 120 Hz
    Screen-to-body ratio 87.1 % 81.1 %
    Features DCI-P3 DCI-P3
    Display test
    Peak brightness (auto)
    Apple iPhone 12
    646 nits
    Apple iPhone XS
    635 nits
    sRGB gamut99.4 %98.8 %
    PWM (Flicker)226 Hz240 Hz
    Response time16 ms4.4 ms
    Contrast∞ Infinite∞ Infinite
    Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPhone 12], [Apple iPhone XS]

    Design & Build

    Design and ergonomics comparison
    Height 146.7 mm (5.78 in) 143.6 mm (5.65 in)
    Width 71.5 mm (2.81 in) 70.9 mm (2.79 in)
    Thickness 7.4 mm (0.29 in) 7.7 mm (0.3 in)
    Weight 164 g (5.78 oz) 177 g (6.24 oz)
    Water resistance IP68 IP68
    Back panel Glass Glass
    Frame Metal Metal
    Colors - White
    - Black
    - Blue
    - Green
    - Red    		 - Silver
    - Gold
    - Gray
    Fingerprint sensor No No
    Screen-to-body ratio
    Apple iPhone 12
    87.1 %
    Apple iPhone XS
    81.1 %

    Performance

    Testing Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone XS In benchmarks
    Processor
    Chipset Apple A14 Bionic Apple A12 Bionic
    Max Frequency 3100 MHz 2490 MHz
    CPU Cores 6 (2 + 4) 6 (2 + 4)
    Architecture - 4/1.8 (Icestorm)
    - 2/3.1 (Firestorm)    		 - 4/1.6 (Tempest)
    - 2/2.49 (Vortex)
    Process TSMC TSMC
    Transistor Size 5 nm 7 nm
    Neural Processor Apple Neural Engine Neural Engine
    Graphics Apple A14 GPU Apple A12 GPU
    GPU Cores 256 256
    GPU Frequency 1278 MHz 1100 MHz
    FLOPS 654.3 GFLOPS 576 GFLOPS
    GeekBench v6
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
    Apple iPhone 12
    1941
    Apple iPhone XS
    1307
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
    Apple iPhone 12
    5008
    Apple iPhone XS
    3447
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)19411307
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)50083447
    AnTuTu 10
    AnTuTu 10
    Apple iPhone 12
    1095315
    Apple iPhone XS
    733639
    CPU310050202576
    GPU323143217548
    Memory173777146853
    UX288345166662
    NanoReview Score1095315733639
    3DMark Wild Life
    3DMark Wild Life
    Apple iPhone 12
    7601
    Apple iPhone XS
    5698
    Max Surface Temp.41.2 °C44.8 °C
    Stability77 %63 %
    Graphics Test45 fps34 fps
    Graphics Score76015698
    Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPhone 12], [Apple iPhone XS]

    Memory

    RAM
    RAM Size 4 GB 4 GB
    Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR4X
    Memory Frequency n/a 2133 MHz
    Channels 2 2
    Storage
    Storage Capacity- 64 GB
    - 128 GB
    - 256 GB    		- 64 GB
    - 256 GB
    - 512 GB
    Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
    Memory CardNoNo

    Software

    OS iOS 14.1 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2) iOS 12 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2)
    OS Size 7 GB 11.8 GB

    Battery

    Volume 2815 mAh 2658 mAh
    Max Charging Power 18 W 15 W
    Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
    Removable No No
    Wireless Charging Yes (7.5 W) Yes Qi (10 W)
    Reverse Charging No No
    Fast Charging Yes (58% in 30 min) Yes (50% in 60 min)
    Full Charge Time 1:30 h 2:40 h
    Battery Life Test
    Battery Life
    Apple iPhone 12
    21:15
    Apple iPhone XS
    16:06
    Web Browsing08:00 h05:44 h
    Video Playback12:09 h09:44 h
    Games04:35 h03:54 h
    Standby Mode112 h84 h

    Main camera

    Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
    Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
    Zoom Digital Optical, 2x
    Flash Quad LED Quad LED
    Stabilization Optical Optical
    8K Recording No No
    4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
    Wide-angle lens 120 ° n/a
    Lenses count Standard: 12 MP
    Ultra-wide: 12 MP    		 Standard: 12 MP
    Telephoto: 12 MP
    Features - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode    		 - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support
    Main lens
    Matrix12 MP12 MP
    Aperturef/1.6f/1.8
    Focal length26 mm26 mm
    SensorSony IMX372Apple iSight X
    Sensor size1/3.41/2.55
    Pixel size1.4 μm1.4 μm
    AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
    StabilizationOpticalOptical
    Telephoto
    Matrixn/a12 MP
    Aperturen/af/2.4
    Focal lengthn/a52 mm
    Sensor sizen/a1/3.4
    Pixel sizen/a1 μm
    Stabilizationn/aOptical
    Ultra-wide lens
    Matrix12 MPn/a
    Aperturef/2.4n/a
    Focal length13 mmn/a
    Sensor size1/3.6n/a
    StabilizationDigitaln/a
    Main camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Apple iPhone 12
    127
    Apple iPhone XS
    n/a
    Video quality
    Apple iPhone 12
    130
    Apple iPhone XS
    n/a
    Overall camera score
    Apple iPhone 12
    117
    Apple iPhone XS
    n/a
    Bokeh55n/a
    Preview74n/a
    Zoom60n/a
    Sources: DxOMark [Apple iPhone 12]

    Front camera

    Matrix 12 MP 7 MP
    Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 3088x2316 pixels
    Aperture f/2.2 f/2.2
    Focal length 23 mm 32 mm
    Sensor Sony IMX514 CMOS
    Sensor size 1/3.6 n/a
    Pixel size n/a 1.12 μm
    Autofocus No Phase autofocus
    Stabilization Digital Digital
    Video resolution 2160p (4K) at 60 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps
    TOF 3D sensor Yes No
    Selfie camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Apple iPhone 12
    127
    Apple iPhone XS
    n/a
    Video quality
    Apple iPhone 12
    140
    Apple iPhone XS
    n/a

    Connectivity

    Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
    Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi MiMO
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display    		 - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi MiMO
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display
    Bluetooth version 5 5
    Bluetooth features LE, A2DP SPP, PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, LE, HSP, HID, HFP, HDP, GAP, GAVDP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP
    USB type No No
    USB version n/a 2
    USB features - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode    		 - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - OTG
    GPS - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Galileo
    - QZSS    		 - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo
    NFC* Yes Yes
    Infrared Port No No
    Connectivity
    SIM Count*11
    SIM TypeNanoNano
    eSIM Support *YesYes
    Hybrid SlotNoNo
    2G BandsGSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900
    3G BandsUMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)HSDPA 850, HSDPA 900, HSDPA 1900, HSDPA 2100
    LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B30/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B46/B48/B66)LTE (B700/B800/B850/B900/B1700/B1800/B1900/B2100/B2600)
    LTE category1816
    5G SupportYesNo

    Sound

    Speakers Stereo Stereo
    3.5 mm Jack No No
    FM Radio No No
    Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
    Speaker Test
    Max Volume
    Apple iPhone 12
    81.1 dB
    Apple iPhone XS
    87.3 dB

    Other

    Class Flagship Flagship
    Announced October, 2020 yr September, 2018 yr
    Release Date October, 2020 yr September, 2018 yr
    Launch Price ($) 800 1000
    Sensors - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor    		 - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor
    * Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

    Results

    After analyzing the data, we consider Apple iPhone 12 the clear winner in this comparison.

    Survey

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    Total Votes: 0

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