1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm, 205g | 163.6 × 74.7 × 9.1 mm, 209g | Similar size and weight; Honor Magic4 Pro is slightly more compact in width. Both are similar in feel when held. |
| Foldable | Standard | Standard | Both are standard, non-folding phones. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.81" | Honor Magic4 Pro offers a more immersive viewing experience due to the larger display. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1312x2848 | Honor Magic4 Pro display is significantly sharper; text and images will appear much clearer, enhancing visual experiences. |
| PPI | 270 | 460 | Honor Magic4 Pro has a much denser display, resulting in sharper and clearer visuals. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | Honor Magic4 Pro offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, ideal for media consumption. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor Magic4 Pro provides smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the responsiveness of the device. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1000 nits | Honor Magic4 Pro is much more readable outdoors, especially in bright sunlight. The Samsung A12 will struggle in such conditions. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor Magic4 Pro provides significantly faster app loading, multitasking, and gaming; much more responsive overall. |
| Antutu Score | 103,000 | 945,832 | Honor Magic4 Pro offers drastically superior performance; will handle demanding apps and games smoothly. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 730 | Honor Magic4 Pro's GPU provides better graphics rendering for gaming and graphic-intensive applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4600mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 offers slightly better battery life on paper, though this might be negligible in real-world usage due to hardware differences. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 100W fast charging | Honor Magic4 Pro charges much faster; less time plugged into the wall, allowing for more time on-the-go. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable, Wireless charging 100W | Honor Magic4 Pro allows for charging other devices and offers convenient wireless charging option. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Res | 48MP | 50MP | Similar main camera resolutions; Honor Magic4 Pro has a slightly larger sensor, which should perform better in low light. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.9 | Honor Magic4 Pro has slightly wider aperture, allowing more light to enter the sensor improving low-light shots. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.56" | Honor Magic4 Pro has a larger sensor, typically improving image quality by capturing more light. |
| Telephoto Camera | 2MP | 64MP | Honor Magic4 Pro has a dedicated Telephoto lens, while Samsung A12 does have a dedicated telephoto camera which is inferior and may not be useful. |
| Selfie Camera Res | 8MP | 12MP | Honor Magic4 Pro offers higher resolution selfie camera. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | Samsung Galaxy A12 has slightly wider aperture, meaning slightly better low light performance |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps; No; No | 4K@30/60fps with HDR, EIS; Yes; Yes | Honor Magic4 Pro offers superior video quality with 4K recording, better stabilization and better slow motion capabilities. |
| dxoMark | 90 main, 0 photo, 0 video | 126 main, 132 photo, 117 video | Honor Magic4 Pro significantly outperforms the Samsung A12 in camera benchmarks. |
| Camera Features | Basic | Advanced (OIS, Laser AF, etc.) | Honor Magic4 Pro offers more advanced options for photography, enabling greater flexibility and higher image quality. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (up to 12) | Android 12 | Honor Magic4 Pro comes with a newer version of Android out of the box and does not have an upgrade path, so it could be better supported in the future. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Honor Magic4 Pro offers faster, more stable Wi-Fi, especially in crowded areas. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 LE | Honor Magic4 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version which may be more efficient, and offers better audio options. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Honor Magic4 Pro offers better accuracy and reliability due to support for a wider range of satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones support dual SIM functionality for using two numbers simultaneously. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 256/512 GB | Honor Magic4 Pro provides significantly more internal storage for apps, media, and files. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 8/12 GB | Honor Magic4 Pro provides much more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and better performance with memory-intensive apps. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports memory expansion via SD card. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers | Honor Magic4 Pro delivers a richer, more immersive audio experience with stereo speakers and spatial audio. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint sensor | Samsung A12 has a side mounted sensor, but neither phone has advanced biometric security features. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Honor Magic4 Pro has additional sensors including a compass and gyroscope, which enhance orientation, gaming capabilities and other features. |
| Build | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both use similar screen protection technology. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: May offer slightly longer battery life under similar usage patterns (although this can be offset by the more power-hungry components of the Honor Magic4 Pro)
- Wider Aperture on Front Camera: Slightly better low-light performance for selfies.
Practical Implications:
- The slightly larger battery of the A12 is a marginal benefit and may not provide a huge benefit over the more power efficient chips of the Honor phone.
- The slightly wider aperture on the front camera may result in better low light selfies than its competition.
Honor Magic4 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: Significantly higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, brightness and better display technology (OLED).
- Much Better Performance: Drastically faster processor and more RAM, providing a much smoother experience for all tasks including gaming and multitasking
- Superior Camera System: Larger sensor, better low light performance, 4K Video, optical zoom, better overall video and photography scores
- Faster Charging: Significantly faster wired and wireless charging capabilities with additional reverse charging features.
- More Storage: Larger internal storage capacity
- Better audio quality: Stereo speakers with spatial audio.
- Newer Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards offering faster and more reliable connections.
- More Comprehensive Sensor Suite: Compass, Gyroscope, and other sensors unlock advanced features.
- Newer Android Version Newer Android version out of the box
Practical Implications:
- The significantly better display of the Honor phone means better media consumption, clearer text, and enhanced gaming performance.
- The higher performance means a smoother, more responsive experience for demanding apps, games, and heavy multitasking.
- The superior camera system produces significantly better photos and videos, particularly in low-light situations.
- Faster charging will mean shorter wait times.
- More storage will allow users to store more photos, videos, and applications.
- Enhanced connectivity options provide greater stability and speed.
- The expanded suite of sensors mean the Honor can perform more advanced functions and gaming.
- Newer software means that the device will be supported for a longer amount of time, and it will be more secure.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A12: Trades overall performance, display quality, and camera capabilities for a lower price and slightly larger battery.
- Honor Magic4 Pro: Trades slightly smaller battery capacity for significantly enhanced performance, superior display quality, more features and camera performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users who need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light app usage.
- Users who prioritize longer battery life over performance and display quality.
- Users who do not need high quality photos or videos.
Specific Use Cases:
- Basic communication, social media browsing, casual web browsing.
- As a secondary phone for basic tasks.
- First smartphone for children or seniors.
Honor Magic4 Pro Ideal User:
- Users who want a high-performance smartphone with a premium display and camera.
- Users who heavily rely on their phone for media consumption, gaming, and photography.
- Users who value a fast charging and the latest software features.
Specific Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming, 4K video recording, photo enthusiasts, professional use.
- Multitasking between demanding apps.
- Users who want to take advantage of all of the latest smartphone features.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Samsung Galaxy A12: Provides basic smartphone functionality at a low cost; suitable for very budget-conscious buyers
- Honor Magic4 Pro: Offers a high value proposition for performance, display quality, camera capabilities and features but comes at a premium price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? (The A12 is much cheaper than the Magic4 Pro).
- What do you prioritize most in a smartphone? (Display, camera, performance, battery)
- What are your primary use cases for a phone? (Gaming, media consumption, photography, basic tasks)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is the main priority and phone is only used for basic communication and very light tasks
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A12.
- Scenario 2: User wants great performance and high quality media experience and doesn't mind paying a premium price
- Recommendation: Honor Magic4 Pro
- Scenario 3: User needs a phone for gaming, taking photos and videos and a good overall daily experience but doesn't want to spend too much
- Recommendation: Neither of these phones would satisfy this user, and they would need to look elsewhere, possibly at a cheaper option of the Honor phone or a more midrange device.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Honor Magic4 Pro. My reasoning is as follows:
- Performance Matters: As a daily driver, I prioritize fast performance and smooth multitasking. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Honor Magic4 Pro is a significant leap above the Mediatek chip in the Galaxy A12, providing a far superior user experience.
- Superior Display: The higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and OLED technology in the Magic4 Pro's display makes a massive difference for media consumption and general usage. The Galaxy A12's screen looks dull and dated by comparison.
- Camera Capabilities: I value good camera quality for everyday photography, and the Honor's superior sensor size, 4K video recording, and overall image quality is far more appealing than the basic system of the Galaxy A12.
- Future Proofing: I prefer to have a more modern and capable device that will last for several years. The Honor phone comes with more modern standards for software, bluetooth and WiFi, making it a more future proof device.
- Fast Charging: I like having a fast charging phone so I am not attached to a wall while charging. The Honor 100w charging will reduce charging times considerably.
While the slightly larger battery on the A12 might be tempting, the overall improvements offered by the Honor Magic4 Pro, including performance, display, camera, connectivity, and faster charging, far outweigh the marginal battery difference for my needs. The Honor Magic4 Pro is a significant upgrade in nearly every category and is well worth it to me.
