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The best Android alternatives to the iPhone 12 series
The Apple iPhone 12 series is still great, and it’s a viable, more affordable alternative to the iPhone 13 series. iOS isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, though. You may want to move to the Android side, and you’ll be glad to hear there are plenty of iPhone 12 alternatives. Here are some of our favorite ones.
Editor’s note: We will regularly update this list of the best iPhone 12 alternatives.
The best iPhone 12 alternatives
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 series
- Powerful Android flagship phones stuffed with a ton of features.
- Samsung promises three years of system updates for its phones.
- Available in a wide variety of markets.
Samsung is Apple’s arch-rival in the mobile space, and the Galaxy S22 range is the Korean firm’s latest offering. These phones pack 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X screens, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200 processors, water resistance, and wireless charging.
Reviews: Galaxy S22 | Galaxy S22 Plus | Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is the most feature-packed model of the bunch, delivering a QHD+ screen, 108MP primary camera, 3X and 10X zoom cameras, a 5,000mAh battery, and up to 12GB of RAM. Those wanting the best specs on paper will want to look at this model. Otherwise, the S22 and S22 Plus share an FHD+ screen, a 50MP primary camera, and smaller batteries.
Samsung’s phones offer a higher refresh rate than Apple’s 60Hz iPhones, resulting in a more responsive screen and animations. But not everyone can spot the difference between a 60Hz screen and a 90Hz or 120Hz panel. Furthermore, the 3X and 10X cameras on the Ultra should also deliver much better zoom quality than even the top-end iPhone. In any case, the $800 starting price and three years of system updates make the S22 series one of the more attractive iPhone 12 alternatives.
2. Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro
- Powerful flagship phones with high-end experiences.
- They lack an IP rating.
- Available in global markets (no US release, though).
We’ve been eyeing the Xiaomi 12 series since late 2021, when it was launched in China. These phones were very hard to get anywhere else, but we’ve since seen a global launch, making it easier to recommend the device. That said, the Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro are still hard to get in the USA, but there are multiple ways to import them.
Availability issues aside, these devices are definitely amazing iPhone 12 alternatives. They come with great high-end specs, including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 8-12GB of RAM, and 128-256GB of storage. Both also feature AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, but the Pro version has a slightly larger 6.73-inch QHD+ screen, as opposed to the 6.28-inch 1080p panel found on the Xiaomi 12.
Of course, the Pro version is the better of the two. It comes with an excellent 4,600mAh battery, a triple 50MP camera setup, and 120W charging. It’s also not much more expensive than the base Xiaomi 12. That said, you might enjoy the more manageable size of the Xiaomi 12.
3. OnePlus 10 Pro
- Awesome design and powerful performance.
- Water resistance and wireless charging.
- OnePlus tends to support its phones for as many as three versions of Android.
- Now available globally, even in the USA.
Like the Xiaomi 12 series, the OnePlus 10 Pro was first released only in China, making it hard for us to recommend it as an iPhone 12 alternative. It has since been launched globally, though, and even North Americans can buy it from all major retailers.
The OnePlus 10 Pro is not only a great iPhone 12 alternative, but it’s also one of the best high-end phones around, as well as a pretty good deal considering what you get. We’re not fans of the speakers and software, and the IP rating is exclusive to T-Mobile in the USA, but it’s otherwise a competent phone.
More: OnePlus 10 Pro review
Specs include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, up to 12GB of RAM, and as much as 512GB of storage. The display is gorgeous, featuring a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The 5,000mAh battery offers stunning battery life, and you can charge at 80W (60W with the USA version).
4. Sony Xperia 1 III
- Stunning video capabilities are similar to dedicated cameras.
- It sports a fantastic 4K, HDR, OLED, 120Hz display.
- The design is elegant and simple.
- Battery life is solid.
The Sony Xperia 1 III is a costly phone, but it’s worth the extra price to many. Plus, Apple users are already used to higher price tags on the high-end of the spectrum. Not to mention you get what you pay for. The Sony Xperia 1 III is very well built, has plenty of great features, and won’t disappoint enthusiasts.
We can start by mentioning its display, which is still among the best in the industry. The 4K resolution is excellent, but that’s not all the panel has going for itself. It’s also a very large 6.5-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR, and OLED technology.
Other specs include a Snapdragon 888 processor, 12GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage. The 4,500mAh battery offers more than a day of regular use. And the camera is equally impressive, with three 12MP sensors (standard, ultrawide, and periscope zoom), especially for video shooters. It can shoot 4K video at up to 120fps. The video quality and stabilization are stunning, and you can even opt for the Cinema Pro app, which is based on Sony FS cinema cameras.
We could say the Sony Xperia 1 III is not only a great iPhone 12 alternative, but also an iPhone 13 one. And if you think the Xperia 1 III is a bit too pricey, the Sony Xperia 5 III is also a great device that costs slightly less, yet keeps most of the best features.
5. Google Pixel 6 series
- These are the first devices with Google’s Tensor chipset.
- It sports a new awesome, fun, high-end design.
- Like every other Pixel phone, you can expect industry-leading camera quality.
- A large battery to keep you going for longer.
We weren’t too impressed with the Pixel 5, but the Google Pixel 6 series has taken things up a notch with great specs, a superb design, and everything you’ve come to expect from a high-end Google phone. This is truly a worthy iPhone 12 alternative.
This time around, you can pick between two devices: The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Both come with a Tensor processor, stereo speakers, an in-display fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 6E, Android 12, an IP68 rating, three years of significant upgrades, and five years of security updates.
Other specs depend on the version you get. The Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch OLED display with an FHD+ resolution, 8GB of RAM, 128/256GB of storage, and a 4,600mAh battery. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 Pro gets a 6.7-inch OLED display with QHD+ resolution, 12GB of RAM, 128/256/512GB of storage, and a 5,000 mAh battery.
The Pixel line-up is a common iPhone competitor, and the latest releases are no exception. And the $599 starting MSRP is very enticing!
Are you looking for more options? We also have a list of the best Android phones available. We have also listed the best gaming phones if you want true power. Additionally, it would help if you also looked into the best camera phones around.