Galaxy S23 • Unlocked vs iPhone 12 Pro • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S23, released in February 2023, and the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, launched in October 2020, represent distinct generations and operating systems within the premium smartphone market. While both offer robust performance and advanced camera systems, they differ significantly in their software ecosystems, hardware advancements, and overall user experience due to their respective release timelines.

When considering the long-term usability and support, the age difference between these two devices plays a significant role.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S23 is a more recent device, having been released in early 2023. The iPhone 12 Pro, launched in late 2020, is approximately two and a half years older. This age gap directly impacts the remaining period of software support and the longevity of hardware performance.
• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S23 is expected to receive four years of major Android operating system updates and five years of security updates from its release, extending its software support well into 2028. The iPhone 12 Pro, while known for Apple's extended software support, has already received several major iOS updates since its launch with iOS 14. As of April 2026, it is running iOS 26.4.1, indicating it is closer to the end of its major OS update cycle compared to the S23.
• Physical Durability: Both devices feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, offering protection against immersion in water. The iPhone 12 Pro introduced Ceramic Shield on its front display for enhanced drop performance, complemented by a stainless steel frame. The Galaxy S23 utilizes Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both its front and back, paired with an aluminum frame, providing strong resistance against scratches and drops.

Performance is a key differentiator, with the newer Galaxy S23 benefiting from more recent technological advancements in processing power and efficiency.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S23 is equipped with a current-generation processor optimized for its ecosystem, delivering smooth performance for demanding applications, intensive gaming, and seamless multitasking. The iPhone 12 Pro, powered by a processor from 2020, still handles everyday tasks and many modern applications with efficiency, though it may show its age when running the most graphically intensive games or complex video editing tasks compared to newer devices.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: The Galaxy S23 typically features 8GB of RAM, contributing to fluid multitasking and quick app switching. The iPhone 12 Pro comes with 6GB of RAM, which, combined with iOS's efficient memory management, provides a responsive user experience for most scenarios.
• Storage Options: Both models offer various internal storage configurations. The iPhone 12 Pro is available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options. The Galaxy S23 also offers 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage variants, with the 256GB and higher options utilizing newer, faster storage technology compared to the 128GB model.

Both smartphones offer high-quality displays, but the Galaxy S23 incorporates newer display technology for an enhanced visual experience.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The iPhone 12 Pro features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, known for its deep blacks, excellent contrast, and vibrant color reproduction, with a resolution of 2532x1170 pixels at 460 pixels per inch (ppi). The Galaxy S23 also has a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering rich colors and sharp details, with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels.
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The iPhone 12 Pro's display reaches a typical maximum brightness of 800 nits and a peak HDR brightness of 1200 nits, providing good visibility in various lighting conditions. The Galaxy S23 offers a significantly brighter display, with a peak brightness of up to 1750 nits, which can be particularly beneficial for outdoor use and HDR content viewing.
• Refresh Rate: A notable difference is the refresh rate. The iPhone 12 Pro features a standard 60Hz refresh rate, which provides a smooth experience for most users. The Galaxy S23, however, boasts an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in noticeably smoother scrolling, animations, and a more fluid overall interface experience.

Both devices are capable of capturing high-quality images and videos, but they approach photography with different strengths and features.

• Rear Camera Systems: The iPhone 12 Pro features a versatile triple 12-megapixel camera system, including wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses with 2x optical zoom. It also incorporates a LiDAR scanner for improved low-light focusing and augmented reality applications. The Galaxy S23 comes with a triple camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
• Photography Performance: The iPhone 12 Pro excels in consistent image processing, offering features like Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR 3 for balanced and detailed photos across various conditions. Its LiDAR scanner enhances low-light portrait photography. The Galaxy S23, with its higher-resolution main sensor, captures more detail and benefits from newer computational photography algorithms, often producing vibrant and sharp images, particularly in good lighting.
• Video Capabilities: The iPhone 12 Pro was a pioneer in offering HDR video recording with Dolby Vision at up to 60 frames per second, providing excellent dynamic range and color accuracy in videos. The Galaxy S23 supports 8K video recording, offering a higher resolution option for those with compatible displays, alongside strong 4K video capabilities.