Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A12 vs. Honor 200 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 200 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-12-21 | 2024-05-31 | Honor 200 Pro is significantly newer, with newer tech and potentially longer software support |
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 163.3 × 75.2 × 8.2 mm | Honor 200 Pro is slightly thinner and more compact, potentially more comfortable for one-handed use |
| Weight | 205g | 199g | Honor 200 Pro is marginally lighter, which could be noticeable during extended use |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.78" | Honor 200 Pro has a slightly larger screen, better for media consumption |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1224x2700 | Honor 200 Pro's higher resolution offers much sharper and clearer visuals |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 437 | Honor 200 Pro's higher pixel density leads to significantly crisper text and images |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | Honor 200 Pro's OLED display delivers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 200 Pro's 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations much smoother |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 4000 nits | Honor 200 Pro offers drastically better screen visibility in bright sunlight |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Honor 200 Pro's chip offers vastly superior performance, faster app loading, and smoother multitasking |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 1,537,608 | Honor 200 Pro provides much better overall performance and is better for gaming and demanding tasks |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 735 | Honor 200 Pro's GPU provides much better graphics performance for gaming and other graphic-intensive tasks |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5200mAh | Honor 200 Pro has a slightly larger battery capacity, potentially providing a bit more runtime |
| Charging | 15W fast charging, Li-Ion | 100W fast charging, Lithium | Honor 200 Pro's significantly faster charging greatly reduces charging time |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 66W wireless charging | Honor 200 Pro provides additional charging options, such as wireless and reverse charging |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.95, 1/1.3", 1.0µm | Honor 200 Pro offers a larger sensor and wider aperture, resulting in better image quality, especially in low light |
| Front Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 50MP, f/2.1 | Honor 200 Pro has a vastly superior front-facing camera for high-quality selfies |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 50MP, f/2.4 | Honor 200 Pro's telephoto lens offers significantly more detail at zoom levels |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.2 | Honor 200 Pro's wide-angle lens captures more detail |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a dedicated depth sensor; While not as good as software, it is better than nothing |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps; No; Slow-motion: No, 30 fps | 4K@30fps with OIS, EIS, 1080p@30/60fps with OIS, EIS; Yes; Slow-motion: Yes, 240 fps | Honor 200 Pro provides higher resolution video and stabilization features for smoother footage. |
| DXOMark Score | Main: 90, Photo: 0, Video: 0 | Not Available | Samsung Galaxy A12 is the only phone with DXOMark scores, but they are very low scores |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Dual front camera, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Honor 200 Pro has significantly more advanced camera features, including OIS, optical zoom, and RAW capture. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10, max v12 | Android 14, max v18 | Honor 200 Pro has a more recent version of Android, offering better features and security |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n, Dual band, Hotspot, Direct | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Dual band, Hotspot, Direct, Display | Honor 200 Pro supports newer WiFi standards, offering faster speeds and better network performance |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 LE, A2DP, LE, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC | Honor 200 Pro has a more recent Bluetooth version, with better codecs for audio |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Honor 200 Pro supports more satellite systems for improved location accuracy |
| SIM | Dual SIM, Nano SIM | Dual SIM, Nano SIM / eSIM | Honor 200 Pro offers the option of using an eSIM in addition to physical SIM cards |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | Honor 200 Pro offers substantially more storage space for apps, media, and files |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 12/16 GB | Honor 200 Pro's greater RAM capacity enables smoother multitasking and better overall performance |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD expansion |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Honor 200 Pro's audio has additional spatial audio, stereo speakers and improved voice capture |
| Security | |||
| Security Features | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both have a fingerprint sensor but Samsung has it on the side, which is better than no specification at all |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | The screen protection technology for both is not clear |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Gravity, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Both phones offer basic proximity, and biometric features, but Honor has more sensors |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: Offers a dedicated depth sensor for portrait shots, which may give more accurate results than software-based solutions (although limited by the 2MP sensor).
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: Easier to access and is better than the basic fingerprint sensor.
Honor 200 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: The OLED screen with higher resolution, pixel density, brightness and refresh rate offers a much better viewing experience.
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip and larger RAM allow for smoother multitasking, faster app loading and better gaming.
- Much Better Camera System: Offers better image quality with larger sensors, wider apertures, optical zoom, and 4K video with stabilization.
- Faster Charging: The 100W fast charging reduces charging times significantly.
- Modern Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards, as well as eSIM capability.
- Enhanced Audio: Has stereo speakers, and Dolby Atmos for enhanced audio performance
- Larger storage and RAM: More storage and RAM for future proofing and heavy app usage.
- More sensors: Having access to more sensor features
Trade-offs:
- Price: The Honor 200 Pro is expected to be more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy A12.
- No Depth Sensor: Honor 200 Pro does not have a dedicated depth sensor, which may affect portrait shot quality.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Looking for a very basic smartphone at a lower price point.
- Light smartphone users: Those who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, and light browsing.
- Users who need a depth sensor: The phone has a dedicated depth sensor that the Honor 200 Pro is missing
Use Cases:
- Basic communication: Calling, texting, and basic social media.
- Occasional photography: Casual shots for memories.
- Media Consumption: Casual video watching.
Honor 200 Pro Ideal User:
- Performance enthusiasts: Those who need a fast phone for gaming and demanding apps.
- Photography lovers: Users who value high-quality images and video.
- Media consumption enthusiasts: Users who want a premium screen for watching videos and browsing.
- Users who need modern features: Those who prioritize faster charging, better connectivity, and updated software
- Users who want future proofing: The large storage and RAM will future proof the phone for a longer time.
Use Cases:
- High-end gaming: Smooth performance for demanding games.
- High-quality photography and videography: Capture detailed photos and videos.
- Heavy multitasking: Seamlessly switch between multiple apps.
- Extended media consumption: Enjoy videos and streaming content on a vibrant display.
- Professional use: The device is powerful enough to be used for business purposes.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is your budget? The Samsung Galaxy A12 is significantly more budget-friendly than the Honor 200 Pro.
- How important is performance? If you need a fast, capable device for gaming and multitasking, the Honor 200 Pro is the clear choice.
- How important is display and camera quality? The Honor 200 Pro has a drastically better display and a more capable camera system, making it a better option for media and photography enthusiasts.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Basic Needs - If you're on a very tight budget and only need a phone for basic tasks, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is an option.
- Scenario 2: Moderate Use, Some Gaming/Photos - The Honor 200 Pro is better for moderate usage if the budget allows it.
- Scenario 3: Demanding Use, Best Quality - If you want the best performance, display, camera, and overall experience, the Honor 200 Pro is the superior choice.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would definitively go with the Honor 200 Pro.
Here's why:
- Massive Performance Gap: The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is lightyears ahead of the Helio P35, which translates into a much smoother and enjoyable experience. This includes faster loading, better multitasking, and smoother gaming.
- Superior Display Quality: The OLED display of the Honor 200 Pro is a game-changer. The higher resolution, brighter screen, and smoother 120Hz refresh rate make everything look better.
- Significantly Improved Camera: As someone who uses the camera a lot, the Honor 200 Pro's camera system is far more capable, offering better image quality, versatile zoom options, and better video recording.
- Future-Proofing: The Honor 200 Pro's newer chip, larger RAM and storage and software will keep it relevant for longer.
While the Samsung Galaxy A12 has the depth sensor, I believe the Honor 200 Pro's overall advantages, including the vastly better display, performance, and camera system, significantly outweigh its benefits. The higher price is a trade-off I am willing to make for the superior experience it provides.
