1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is more compact and thinner, making it easier to handle. |
| Weight | 205g | 183g | Honor 90 is significantly lighter and more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Honor 90 offers slightly more screen real estate, better for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 provides a sharper and more detailed viewing experience. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 435 PPI | Honor 90's display is noticeably clearer and crisper. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | Honor 90 has superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 offers smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90's display is significantly brighter and much more visible in sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | Honor 90 is much faster and more responsive, capable of handling demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 701,227 | Honor 90 provides far superior performance for gaming, multitasking, and overall smoothness. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90 has a much more capable GPU, offering better graphics performance for gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 200MP | Honor 90 captures significantly more detailed photos with higher resolution. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.9 | Honor 90 lets more light in, improving low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.4" | Honor 90 has a larger sensor, allowing it to capture more light and detail. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 8MP | 50MP | Honor 90 takes much higher resolution selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | Samsung Galaxy A12 slightly better in low light situations. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated telephoto lens, while the Honor 90 does not. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a dedicated wide angle camera, while the Honor 90 does not. |
| Portrait Camera | 2MP | 2MP | Both devices feature a similar depth sensor for portrait mode. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP | Honor 90 offers a versatile macro and wide angle camera. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | Honor 90 is capable of capturing higher resolution videos for better quality footage. |
| Slow Motion | No, 30 fps | Yes, 960 fps | Honor 90 is capable of capturing slow motion videos for creative purposes. |
| Camera DXOMark Score | 90 (Main) | 122 (Main), 128 (Photo), 126 (Video) | Honor 90 has significantly better overall photo and video performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have similar battery capacity for comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Honor 90 charges much faster than the Samsung Galaxy A12. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (upgradable to 12) | Android 13 | Honor 90 has a newer operating system out of the box, offering the latest features. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Honor 90 supports faster Wi-Fi standards for better internet speeds. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Honor 90 has a more advanced version of Bluetooth, offering better connections and audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Honor 90 supports more satellite systems, potentially leading to more precise location tracking. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 256/512 GB | Honor 90 offers much more storage space. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 8/12/16 GB | Honor 90 has significantly more RAM, leading to smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phones support expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic audio features | Noise cancellation microphone | Honor 90 offers better voice clarity during calls |
| Security | |||
| Features | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a more convenient fingerprint sensor |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, RGB | Honor 90 offers more sensors for advanced functionality |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Dedicated Telephoto and Wide Angle Lenses: Offers more flexibility in camera lens options.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: Provides a potentially more convenient unlock method.
Practical Implications: The A12's dedicated telephoto and wide angle lenses provide the user with added versatility in shooting options. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is a more ergonomic choice.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Display: AMOLED, higher resolution, higher refresh rate, much higher brightness.
- Much Higher Performance: Far faster chipset and GPU, smoother operation and gaming.
- Much Better Camera: Significantly higher resolution sensor, better low-light performance, much better image quality.
- Faster Charging: Quickly charges the battery, greatly improving convenience.
- More Storage and RAM: Greater capacity for storage and better multitasking.
- Newer Software: Android 13 out of the box.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Supports the latest WiFi and Bluetooth standards.
Practical Implications: The Honor 90 is a much more responsive device, providing better app loading times, smoother gaming and video playback. It captures higher quality photos and videos, making it ideal for those who prioritize media quality. Its faster charging reduces waiting times.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a lower price point, making it more accessible for those on a budget, but sacrifices a lot in performance and features.
- The Honor 90 does not have dedicated Telephoto and Wide Angle lenses.
- The Honor 90 has a basic fingerprint sensor vs side mounted fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy A12.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users looking for a basic smartphone for simple tasks.
- Use Cases:
- Casual browsing and social media use.
- Basic communication (calls, messaging).
- Simple photography in good lighting.
- Users who want a side mounted fingerprint sensor.
Honor 90:
- Ideal User: Users seeking a well-rounded phone with excellent display, performance, and camera.
- Use Cases:
- Gaming and heavy app usage.
- High-quality video recording and playback.
- Photography in various conditions.
- Smooth and responsive everyday use.
- Users who prioritize faster charging, more storage and better performance.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy A12 represents the best value for users on the tightest budgets, and who do not need much computing power, but it comes with a lot of sacrifices.
- The Honor 90 is a mid-range phone, providing an excellent balance between price and features, making it a good choice for users who want a premium experience without paying top dollar.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Samsung Galaxy A12 is a budget device while the Honor 90 is more of a mid-range device.
- How important is performance? If you want smooth multitasking and gaming, the Honor 90 is a much better choice.
- What do you use the camera for? If photo and video quality are priorities, the Honor 90 offers superior capabilities, but if lens flexibility is crucial, the A12 may be more appealing.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget Conscious Basic User
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A12. It is suitable for essential tasks but compromises on display, performance, and camera quality.
- Scenario 2: Mid-Range User with Multimedia Needs
- Recommendation: Honor 90. It offers a superior experience in display quality, performance, camera, and fast charging, making it suitable for a wider range of multimedia-heavy usage.
- Scenario 3: Casual gamer.
- Recommendation: Honor 90. The much stronger chipset and gpu, combined with 120Hz refresh rate would provide a much smoother experience.
My Choice
If I were choosing between the two, I would pick the Honor 90. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 is more affordable, the Honor 90 provides a drastically superior experience in almost every aspect that matters to me: a much better display, significantly better performance for gaming and multitasking, superior camera quality, much faster charging, and more storage. The lack of telephoto and wide angle lens is not a big drawback to me. For my everyday usage, which involves content consumption, some gaming, and photography, the Honor 90's strengths greatly outweigh the price difference.
