14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s 2020 iPhone lineup includes not two, not three, but four different models, as the Cupertino-based tech giant has decided to introduce a completely new model called mini.
iPhone 12 mini is thus a new addition to the lineup, coming with a 5.4-inch display and nearly the same feature lineup as its larger siblings. In theory, the goal of the mini is as simple as it could be: convince users sticking with older iPhones and still finding the iPhone SE a compelling purchase to actually make the switch to the new-generation form factor with a notch and everything.
But people close to the matter claim the iPhone 12 mini isn’t necessarily selling exactly as anticipated, with the company recently adjusting the production to make fewer minis and more Pros.
What’s more, rumor has it Apple even considered killing off the iPhone mini with the debut of the iPhone 13, though the most recent information in this regard indicates this won’t be the case.
And while many believe the reason iPhone 12 mini isn’t selling as strong as expected is its lack of consumer appeal, as buyers prefer to rather purchase a more expensive model with a larger screen than spend $699 on the 5.4-inch device. But in fact, the competition coming from the Android ecosystem and the number of very compelling products has a substantial contribution in this regard.
Enter Samsung Galaxy S21.
The smallest and cheapest Galaxy S21 launched this year comes with a 6.2-inch display, and while at the first glance it has nothing to do with the iPhone 12 mini, it’s actually the rival Apple never wanted. And you’ll see why in the next few lines.
First and foremost, let’s get back to what I said earlier. Instead of getting the iPhone 12 mini, some potential buyers choose to spend extra just to get a larger screen. But what if they only add a few more dollars and get so much more?
This is what the Galaxy S21 is all about. Starting at $799 in the United States, the S21 comes with a 6.2-inch screen and nearly the same feature arsenal as its bigger brothers.
And here’s the thing. Measuring 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 inches), which means it’s slightly bigger than the iPhone 12 mini at 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm (5.18 x 2.53 x 0.29 inches), the smallest S21 feels just right in hand. It takes some time to get used to it, as at the first glance it seems rather tall, but after a while, the S21 is super comfortable to use and carry around.
The screen is top-notch, just like you’d expect from Samsung, though the resolution is nearly the same as on the iPhone (1080x2400 versus 1080x2340). Maybe plastic for the back case isn’t necessarily the best choice for a device this expensive, and this is one of the things that need to be improved on its successor.
On the other hand, you’re not getting a notch, so if you’re one of the people who’d rather stay away from this questionable design choice, the S21 is good news. It comes with a punch hole for the front-facing camera, and it’s obviously centered and so small you can easily ignore it.
The rest of the specs are just what you’d normally expect from a high-end Android device. Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 on the U.S. version, 8GB RAM, 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, three cameras, stereo speakers, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC for contactless payments, a fingerprint sensor embedded into the screen, and a 4,000 mAh battery.
Again, this makes it better than the iPhone in several regards, especially when it comes to the memory, as the mini comes with just 4GB RAM, while for storage, the base version is equipped with 64GB. The battery of the iPhone 12 mini is a 2,227 mAh unit, as Apple once again bets big on software optimizations and aggressive performance management to improve the battery life.
Samsung Galaxy S21 features 25W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, while the iPhone 12 mini supports 20W and 12W, respectively. As a bonus, on the Galaxy S21 you also get reverse wireless charging.
The camera department is the one that looks impressive on both phones, though on paper, the Galaxy S21 seems to be the better model once again:
| 10MP Selfie Camera | Triple rear camera |
|---|---|
| Dual Pixel AF Pixel size: 1.22μm FOV: 80˚ F.No (aperture): F2.2 |
12MP Ultra Wide Camera
12MP Wide-angle Camera
64MP Telephoto Camera
|
- Proper size, easy to carry around
- Impressive display quality that just makes sense for Samsung
- Decent camera with good night performance
- At least one day of battery life
- Plastic on the back (still meh, but it does its job)
- Solid performance of the Exynos (but still not as good as the Snapdragon)
- Enough storage if you get the top version
- Faster charging than on the iPhone
- Android 11
- A fingerprint sensor that still needs reliability improvements
But on the other hand, this doesn’t necessarily mean the Galaxy S21 is the best phone out there. It still needs to be improved in several key areas, and I’d start with the build quality. This is one of the reasons so many people get an iPhone, as what they want is a premium device all around, so things like plastic on the back don't necessarily make sense.
If anything, Samsung has managed to build nearly the best smallest Galaxy S21, so with the right improvements and a refined focus on the little details, the upcoming S22 could be an iPhone killer in all regards. At least, when it comes to the battle of the little ones.
