1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | Honor 70 is slightly smaller and thinner, potentially more comfortable for one-handed use and pocketability. |
| Weight | 205g | 178g | Honor 70 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and less fatiguing to hold. |
| Build | Unknown | Unknown | Information on build materials is not provided, limiting the comparison of durability and premium feel. |
| Foldable | Standard | Standard | Both are standard slab-style phones, no difference in form factor. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | Honor 70 has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Honor 70's higher resolution provides sharper images and text, resulting in a much clearer and more detailed visual experience. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 395 | Honor 70 has a much sharper display with significantly higher pixel density, making images and text look clearer and less pixelated. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | OLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, resulting in a more visually engaging experience than LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 70 offers smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming, making the user interface feel more responsive and fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness, however, the impact on visibility in different lighting conditions is not available. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | Honor 70's chipset is significantly more powerful, offering much faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 600,525 | Honor 70's vastly superior benchmark score indicates a dramatically faster and more responsive user experience, ideal for demanding tasks. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 642L | Honor 70's Adreno GPU offers significantly better graphics performance, enabling smoother gameplay and faster processing of graphic-intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm | 54MP, f/1.9, 1/1.49", 1.00µm | Honor 70's main camera has a larger sensor, wider aperture, and bigger pixels, resulting in better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2", 0.7µm | Honor 70's selfie camera captures significantly more detail due to its higher megapixel count. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zooming capabilities, however the quality and practicality is unknown due to the low resolution. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | 50MP, f/2.2 | Honor 70's ultra-wide lens offers significantly higher resolution, capturing much more detailed landscape photos. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated depth sensor that can be used in Portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | Honor 70 has a dedicated macro lens for capturing close-up detail. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps with EIS | Honor 70's camera offers higher video resolution and better stabilization capabilities, making it superior for recording videos. |
| Slow-motion | No | Yes, 960 fps | Honor 70 supports high speed slow-motion video, allowing for creative and dramatic video effects. |
| DXOMARK Score | Mobile: 90 | Mobile: 115, Photo: 115, Video: 129 | Honor 70 achieves significantly higher scores in all the camera tests, demonstrating superior image and video quality. |
| 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, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Honor 70 offers a broader range of advanced camera features, including 4K video, image stabilization, and RAW capture, suitable for demanding photographers. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4800mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a slightly larger battery, but the impact on real-world usage depends heavily on software optimization and power consumption. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Honor 70 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime and ensuring the phone is quickly ready for use. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Li-Polymer batteries tend to be lighter and more energy-dense, often found in thinner phones. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable | Honor 70 has reverse charging, allowing it to charge other devices. |
Software and Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 10 (upgradable to 12) | Android 12 | Honor 70 ships with a newer version of Android, offering better features and security, longer-term software support is not specified for either device. |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, WiFi 6 | Honor 70 supports faster Wi-Fi standards, enabling quicker download speeds and better network performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 LE | Honor 70 features a newer version of Bluetooth offering a more stable connection, lower latency and improved power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Honor 70 supports additional satellite navigation systems, potentially offering better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Both support dual SIM functionality, allowing usage of two different carriers simultaneously. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal | 32 GB or 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB or 512 GB | Honor 70 offers significantly more storage space, which is crucial for users with extensive libraries of photos, videos, and apps. |
| RAM | 3 GB or 4 GB or 6 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB or 12 GB | Honor 70 offers significantly more RAM, enabling better multitasking, faster app switching, and smoother performance with demanding apps. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Basic audio features | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Honor 70's audio output provides higher fidelity and more immersive sound, particularly noticeable when listening to music or watching videos. |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a side mounted fingerprint sensor, the type of sensor used in the Honor 70 is not specified but is assumed to be rear or in-display. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Honor 70 has a more comprehensive set of sensors, enabling features such as advanced gaming, augmented reality, and better map orientation. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Slightly larger battery: The 5000mAh battery offers a minor advantage in capacity, potentially leading to slightly longer battery life.
- Telephoto and depth sensor: The presence of a telephoto and depth sensor, despite their low resolutions, provides some options for zoom and portrait photography.
- Potentially lower price: Given its older launch date and lower specs, the Galaxy A12 is likely to be much cheaper than the Honor 70.
Honor 70 Advantages:
- Superior display: OLED screen with higher resolution, pixel density, and refresh rate offers a significantly better visual experience.
- Much faster performance: The Snapdragon 778G+ chipset and significantly higher AnTuTu score result in much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Superior camera system: The main, wide, and selfie cameras offer higher resolution, larger sensors, and better image quality, especially in low light. The device also has 4K video recording capabilities with more features.
- Faster charging: The 66W fast charging significantly reduces charging time, providing more convenience.
- More storage and RAM: Provides higher storage capacities (up to 512GB) and much more RAM (up to 12GB) for better multitasking.
- More advanced connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, offering faster and more efficient wireless performance.
- Stereo speakers and Hi-Res Audio: Delivers better audio quality for media consumption.
- Better video capabilities: Supports 4k video and offers better stabilization.
- Additional features: Reverse charging, Macro camera, Gyroscope, and Compass, offering a comprehensive feature set.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A12: While it may offer slightly better battery life, it sacrifices substantially in display quality, performance, camera capabilities, and overall user experience.
- Honor 70: The slightly smaller battery capacity and lack of telephoto/depth sensors are minor trade-offs given its overall superior specifications. It is also significantly more expensive.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize basic smartphone functionality over high performance and camera quality. Suitable for first-time smartphone users or those with very basic needs.
- Use Cases: Basic calling, texting, simple social media browsing, and minimal gaming. It is a suitable device for those who need a phone for essential tasks.
- Price-to-Value: The phone is targeted towards a lower price point and offers good value for extremely basic usage, however it is very outdated by modern standards.
Honor 70:
- Ideal User: Users who value a premium visual experience, high performance, and advanced camera capabilities. Suitable for content creators, gamers, and those who heavily rely on their smartphones.
- Use Cases: High-quality photography and videography, demanding mobile gaming, multitasking between multiple apps, streaming high-resolution content, and other resource-intensive tasks. Also suitable for users that enjoy faster loading times and a more responsive experience.
- Price-to-Value: The Honor 70 offers excellent value for its performance and features and is a better investment for the vast majority of users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Samsung Galaxy A12 is likely much cheaper, while the Honor 70 is a mid-range device that comes with a higher price tag.
- What are your primary usage needs? If basic calling, texting, and light browsing is all you require, the Samsung Galaxy A12 will suffice. For more demanding users, the Honor 70 is the better choice.
- How important are performance and camera quality? If you play games, watch videos, take lots of photos or use your device for work and content creation, the Honor 70 should be considered over the Samsung Galaxy A12.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-conscious User: If your budget is the primary concern, and performance is not a priority, the Samsung Galaxy A12 will do basic tasks and save on costs, but is not recommended.
- Photo/Video Enthusiast: The Honor 70 is the far better choice due to its superior camera quality, 4K video recording, and higher quality sensors, it is a better long term option.
- Gamer/Power User: The Honor 70 offers significantly better performance, smoother graphics, and more RAM, making it ideal for mobile gaming and demanding applications.
- General User with a Higher Budget: The Honor 70 is a much better phone in almost every aspect and offers far better long term usage. The additional cost is justified considering the improvements it provides.
My Choice
If I had to choose between the two phones, I would choose the Honor 70.
While the Samsung Galaxy A12 might seem appealing due to its potentially lower price, it is severely outdated by modern standards and simply cannot compete with the Honor 70 in terms of performance, display, camera quality, and overall user experience. For a slightly larger investment, the Honor 70 provides a much more premium and future-proof device that can handle demanding tasks with ease and offer significantly better longevity. The improved screen, faster performance, better camera, faster charging, and updated software make the Honor 70 the superior option for almost all use cases.
The slight reduction in battery capacity compared to the A12 is negligible and is easily offset by the Honor 70's much faster charging capabilities, while the lack of a telephoto lens is minor compared to the huge increases in other areas like the main and wide camera sensors. Overall, the Honor 70 is the better phone for almost all users.
