1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 162.1 × 75.5 × 8.5 mm | A12 is slightly taller and thicker, may feel less sleek. Both have similar width. |
| Weight | 205g | 205g | Both phones have the same weight, impacting handheld comfort equally. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.74" | Mate 50 Pro offers a slightly larger viewing area for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1212x2616 | Mate 50 Pro's higher resolution results in significantly sharper images and text, enhancing visual clarity. |
| PPI | 270 | 428 | Mate 50 Pro's higher pixel density results in a much more detailed and crisper display. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | Mate 50 Pro's OLED screen provides much better contrast, color accuracy, and deeper blacks, resulting in a superior visual experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Mate 50 Pro provides smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming with a higher refresh rate, resulting in a more responsive feel. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have an identical peak brightness at 0 nits. The actual brightness is not provided, so it's impossible to comment on how it impacts visibility in different lighting conditions. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm) | Mate 50 Pro's high-end chipset delivers far superior performance for demanding apps, gaming, and multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 1,022,043 | Mate 50 Pro has significantly better overall performance, with quicker app launches, smoother operation and better future-proofing. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 730 | Mate 50 Pro's high-end GPU provides smoother and more graphically detailed gameplay, with faster rendering and effects processing. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4700mAh | A12 has a slightly larger battery, which may lead to marginally longer battery life, depending on usage. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Mate 50 Pro charges much faster, reducing downtime and getting you back to using your phone quickly. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 50W wireless charging, 7.5W wireless reverse charging | Mate 50 Pro can charge other devices wirelessly, offering convenient backup power, and supports much faster wireless charging speeds. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Mate 50 Pro has slightly more detailed photos. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.4 | Mate 50 Pro captures more light, resulting in better low-light performance and background blur (bokeh). |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.56" | Mate 50 Pro's larger sensor gathers more light and improves overall image quality, especially in low-light scenarios. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 8MP | 13MP | Mate 50 Pro captures more detailed selfies with higher resolution. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | A12 has a slightly wider aperture for potentially brighter selfies, however, the lack of specific information on the selfie sensor limits this interpretation. |
| Telephoto Lens Resolution | 2MP | 64MP | Mate 50 Pro has far more zoom detail with its much higher resolution telephoto lens. |
| Telephoto Lens Aperture | f/2.4 | f/3.5 | A12 has a wider aperture but the sensor resolution is much lower, making it inferior for zoom photos. |
| Wide Angle Lens Resolution | 5MP | 12MP | Mate 50 Pro captures more detailed wide-angle shots. |
| Wide Angle Lens Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.2 | Both phones have identical apertures for wide angle camera. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | Yes | No | A12 can use its depth sensor for better portrait photos with bokeh. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR, EIS, and various slow motion options | Mate 50 Pro captures higher-quality videos with more features and stabilization. |
| Camera DXOMark Mobile Score | 90 | 149 | Mate 50 Pro has significantly superior overall camera performance, especially for photo and video. |
| Camera DXOMark Selfie Score | Not tested | 145 | Mate 50 Pro captures significantly superior selfies overall. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (Upgradable to 12) | Not specified | The Mate 50 Pro uses different operating system, the lack of information limits comparison in software capabilities. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, WiFi 6 | Mate 50 Pro provides faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connection with WiFi 6 technology. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Mate 50 Pro has slightly improved Bluetooth performance and efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Mate 50 Pro offers more precise location tracking with support for more satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both phones support dual SIM usage. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 256/512 GB | Mate 50 Pro has significantly more internal storage for files, apps and media. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 8 GB | Mate 50 Pro offers more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster app performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage via SD card. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | Stereo Speakers | Mate 50 Pro provides better audio quality with stereo speakers, enhancing the experience of watching media and listening to music. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | A12 has a more practical side-mounted sensor. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Mate 50 Pro includes additional sensors for more functionality such as enhanced gaming and location tracking. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | The specific type of screen protection is unknown for both phones. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: Offers potentially longer battery life due to a larger capacity (5000mAh vs 4700mAh), though this depends on usage.
- Wider Aperture on Selfie Camera: Theoretically may capture brighter selfies, however the lack of sensor information limits this interpretation.
- Depth Sensor: Has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode photography.
- Side-Mounted fingerprint sensor: More convenient and practical.
Huawei Mate 50 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED technology, higher resolution and pixel density, and 120Hz refresh rate offer a much better visual experience with vibrant colors and smoother motion.
- Far Superior Performance: High-end Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset offers significantly faster performance in all tasks, including gaming and multitasking.
- Significantly Better Cameras: Higher resolution sensors, wider aperture main camera, and significantly superior telephoto lens lead to better image quality and detail, especially in low-light.
- Much Faster Charging: 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging significantly reduce charging time.
- Wireless Charging and Reverse Charging: Convenient for charging on the go and powering other devices.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Supports WiFi 6 and a newer Bluetooth version for better connectivity.
- More RAM and Storage: 8GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB of storage provides more capacity for apps and files.
- Stereo Speakers: Offers much better audio performance and clarity when compared to the basic audio on the A12
- Advanced Sensors: Comprehensive sensor suite including compass, gyroscope and barometer, useful for gaming and other applications.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A12: The A12 makes major trade-offs on display quality, processing power, and camera capabilities for affordability.
- Huawei Mate 50 Pro: The Mate 50 Pro trades a slightly smaller battery for significantly better performance, display, and camera features, and has a very significant price increase.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Those who prioritize affordability above all else.
- Basic smartphone users: Those who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, light browsing, and social media.
- Users with less demanding needs: Those who do not require high performance or advanced features.
Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Primary phone for basic communication
- Secondary phone for travel
- First smartphone for elderly users or children
Huawei Mate 50 Pro Ideal User:
- Power users: Those who need high performance for gaming, video editing, or other demanding tasks.
- Photography enthusiasts: Those who prioritize high-quality camera performance with a good zoom range.
- Media consumers: Those who enjoy watching movies and videos and value a high-quality display.
- Users willing to pay a premium: Those who want the best possible smartphone experience and are willing to pay more for it.
Use Cases for Huawei Mate 50 Pro:
- High-performance gaming on mobile
- Professional photography and videography
- High-quality media consumption
- Daily driver for demanding users
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Samsung Galaxy A12: Offers a basic experience at a low cost, but it lacks high-end features and performance.
- Huawei Mate 50 Pro: Is a premium device that comes at a premium cost, offering leading performance, camera and display quality.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget?
- The A12 is the budget option while the Mate 50 Pro is a high-end expensive device.
- What are your primary uses for a smartphone?
- If it is calls, messages, and light browsing the A12 is adequate. For any other usage, the Mate 50 Pro is recommended.
- How important are display quality and camera performance to you?
- If display and camera quality are important, the Mate 50 Pro is the clear choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Limited budget, basic use): If your budget is limited and you only need a smartphone for basic tasks, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is a practical choice.
- Scenario 2 (Performance and camera focus): If you need a high-performance phone with an excellent camera, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is the way to go.
- Scenario 3 (High end user experience): If you need an outstanding display, audio, wireless charging, along with high-end performance, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is recommended.
My Choice and Why
Given my needs as a power user and someone who appreciates quality media and photography, I would choose the Huawei Mate 50 Pro. While the Samsung A12 serves a purpose for very basic use cases, its drawbacks in display, performance, and camera are too significant for my requirements. The Mate 50 Pro's superior display, leading-edge performance, advanced camera capabilities, and faster charging make it a far more compelling device despite the higher price tag. For me, the user experience is more important than the slightly better battery and depth sensor found on the A12, therefore the Mate 50 Pro is the clear winner.
