Galaxy A50 Vs iPhone 12 Pro Max

Galaxy A50
Galaxy A50
Starting at

Refurbished price:107.00

Versus €349.00 new

See options
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Starting at

Refurbished price:244.00

Versus €1,139.00 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy A50, released in March 2019, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, launched in November 2020, represent different segments and generations of the smartphone market. While the Galaxy A50 offered a compelling mid-range Android experience, the iPhone 12 Pro Max was a flagship iOS device with advanced capabilities. The primary differentiators lie in their operating systems, overall performance, and camera systems, reflecting their respective market positions and release timelines.

Scores

Durability

When considering the longevity of these devices, several factors come into play, including their initial release dates and the typical software support cycles for their respective operating systems.

  • Release Timeline: The Samsung Galaxy A50 was released in March 2019, making it approximately 1.5 years older than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which launched in November 2020. This age difference directly impacts their remaining software support.
  • Software Longevity: The iPhone 12 Pro Max, as an Apple device, typically receives iOS updates for a longer duration, often 5-6 years from its release, extending its practical software lifespan further into the future compared to the Galaxy A50. The Galaxy A50, running Android, generally receives fewer major OS updates, though security updates may continue for some time.
  • Physical Durability: The iPhone 12 Pro Max features a Ceramic Shield front cover and a stainless steel frame, contributing to enhanced drop performance and overall robustness, along with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The Galaxy A50 has a plastic back and a glass front, without an official IP rating, suggesting a lower level of protection against environmental elements and physical impacts.

Year of Release

2019

2020

Compatible with latest Update

No

Yes

OS

Android

iOS

Foldable

No

No

Performance

The performance of these two smartphones reflects their different market segments and the technological advancements between their release years. The iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a significantly more powerful and responsive user experience.

  • Processing Power: The iPhone 12 Pro Max is equipped with a more advanced processor, enabling it to handle demanding applications, complex games, and intensive multitasking with greater ease and speed. The Galaxy A50, with its mid-range processor, is well-suited for everyday tasks, social media, and lighter gaming.
  • System Responsiveness: Users will generally experience smoother animations, faster app loading times, and more fluid navigation on the iPhone 12 Pro Max due to its powerful internal components and optimized software. The Galaxy A50 provides a capable and generally smooth experience for typical smartphone usage.
  • Storage and Multitasking: Both devices offer various storage configurations, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max typically comes with more RAM, which benefits heavy multitaskers and users who frequently switch between many applications, allowing more apps to remain active in memory.

Memory (GB)

4 GB

6 GB

Screen quality

Both devices feature vibrant displays, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a more advanced viewing experience with superior brightness and color accuracy.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: The iPhone 12 Pro Max features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, providing deep blacks, high contrast, and excellent color reproduction with a resolution of 2778 x 1284 pixels. The Samsung Galaxy A50 has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, also offering vibrant colors and good contrast.
  • Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The iPhone 12 Pro Max's display can reach significantly higher peak brightness levels, especially when viewing HDR content, making it more legible in bright outdoor conditions. The Galaxy A50's display offers sufficient brightness for most indoor and outdoor scenarios.
  • Screen Size and Viewing Experience: The iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a slightly larger screen at 6.7 inches compared to the Galaxy A50's 6.4 inches, providing a more expansive canvas for media consumption and productivity. Both displays offer a good viewing experience for their respective categories.

Resolution

1080 x 2340

1284 x 2778

Screen type

Super AMOLED

Super Retina XDR OLED

Audiovisual

The camera systems on these two phones reflect their different design philosophies, with the iPhone 12 Pro Max offering a more versatile and advanced photography experience.

  • Rear Camera Capabilities: The iPhone 12 Pro Max features a triple 12MP camera system with wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses, enhanced by a LiDAR scanner for improved low-light focusing and depth sensing. It also supports advanced video recording features like Dolby Vision HDR. The Galaxy A50 has a triple camera setup with a 25MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 5MP depth sensor, performing well in good lighting conditions.
  • Low-Light Performance: The iPhone 12 Pro Max excels in low-light photography and video recording, benefiting from its larger sensor, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, and computational photography features like Night mode across all cameras. The Galaxy A50's camera performance in low-light conditions is generally less detailed and can exhibit more noise.
  • Video Recording Quality: The iPhone 12 Pro Max offers high-quality video recording, including 4K at up to 60 frames per second with HDR Dolby Vision, providing excellent detail and dynamic range. The Galaxy A50 records video at up to 1080p at 30 frames per second.

Main camera

25 megapixels

12 megapixels

Front camera

25 megapixels

12 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements differentiate the user experience between the Galaxy A50 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

  • Connectivity and Ports: The iPhone 12 Pro Max supports 5G cellular connectivity and Wi-Fi 6, offering faster wireless speeds where available. It uses a Lightning port for charging and data transfer. The Galaxy A50 supports 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 5, and includes a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
  • Biometric Security: The iPhone 12 Pro Max utilizes Face ID for secure facial recognition. The Galaxy A50 features an in-display optical fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication.
  • Design and Handling: The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a more substantial build with a stainless steel frame and Ceramic Shield front, contributing to its weight of 228 grams. The Galaxy A50 is lighter at 166 grams and features a plastic back, making it feel less dense in hand.

Weight

166 g

226 g

Width

7,47 cm

7,81 cm

Height

15,85 cm

16,08 cm

Depth

0,77 cm

0,74 cm

Screen size (in)

6.4

6.7

Network

4G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C + Jack 3.5mm

Lightning

Users frequently praise the iPhone 12 Pro Max for its robust camera system, particularly its low-light capabilities and video quality, often noting its ability to capture professional-looking content. Its powerful performance and vibrant display are also commonly highlighted as strong points, making it suitable for demanding applications and media consumption. Some users, however, have noted its significant weight and larger size as factors that might impact one-handed use.

The Samsung Galaxy A50 is often commended for its bright Super AMOLED display and reliable battery life for its category. Users appreciate its inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable storage, features that offer practical convenience. Criticisms sometimes point to its camera performance in challenging lighting conditions and the overall processing power compared to higher-end devices.

Users prioritizing a highly capable camera system, top-tier performance for intensive tasks, and a longer software support window will find the iPhone 12 Pro Max well-suited to their needs. Its advanced display technology also caters to those who value a premium viewing experience. Conversely, users seeking a device for everyday tasks, with a focus on display quality, expandable storage, and traditional connectivity options like a headphone jack, may lean toward the Galaxy A50. Both devices, when considered as quality-assured refurbished options, offer an eco-friendly alternative for consumers looking to make informed purchasing decisions.

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