Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A12 vs. Huawei nova 11
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Huawei nova 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-12-21 | 2023-04-27 | Huawei nova 11 is significantly newer, potentially having more up-to-date features and software support. |
| Size | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm | 161.3 x 75 x 6.9 mm | Samsung Galaxy A12 is slightly taller and noticeably thicker; Huawei nova 11 is slimmer and more pocketable. |
| Weight | 205g | 168g | Huawei nova 11 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Huawei nova 11 has a slightly larger display, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1084x2412 | Huawei nova 11 has a much sharper display, resulting in crisper text and images. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 391 | Huawei nova 11’s higher PPI provides a noticeably clearer and detailed display. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | Huawei nova 11's OLED offers better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than the PLS LCD on Samsung A12, improving media consumption and overall viewing. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Huawei nova 11 will have noticeably smoother scrolling and animations compared to Samsung A12, enhancing the overall user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 950 nits | Huawei nova 11 has significantly higher brightness, offering much better outdoor visibility and screen readability in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) | Huawei nova 11 has a much more powerful and efficient chipset resulting in significantly faster performance, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 587,561 | Huawei nova 11 has drastically higher performance and significantly faster overall performance. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 642L | Huawei nova 11's GPU is much more capable, leading to better gaming and graphics-intensive performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering a bit more battery life, but real-world use can vary widely. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Huawei nova 11 charges significantly faster, meaning less time waiting and more time using the phone. |
| Battery Features | Non-removable | Reverse Charging, Non-removable | Huawei nova 11's reverse charging lets you charge other devices wirelessly, while both devices have non-removable batteries. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/2.0 | 50MP, f/1.9 | Huawei nova 11 may perform better in low light with a wider aperture, though other factors impact image quality (sensor, software etc). |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 60MP, f/2.4 | Huawei nova 11 takes much higher resolution selfies with significantly more detail, though it might not translate to a much better image because of other factors like the sensor. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated Telephoto lens, allowing for some optical zoom, while Huawei does not. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated wide angle lens for wider perspective photos. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode photos. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP, f/2.2 | Huawei nova 11 has a dedicated wide angle + macro lens, allowing for close-up photography, while Samsung doesn't. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 720p@960fps with EIS | Huawei nova 11 offers better slow-motion recording and EIS, while the Samsung Galaxy A12 is limited to 1080p at 30 fps. |
| Additional Features | Quadruple Camera | Dual Camera, 4K Video, EIS | Huawei nova 11 has 4K video recording and electronic image stabilization, while Samsung A12 has a Quadruple camera system but lacks other features. |
| DXOMark Score | Main Score: 90, Photo: 0, Video: 0 | Not Tested | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a low DXOMark rating, so the Huawei nova 11 is likely to perform better. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to 12 | Android 12 | Huawei nova 11 ships with a more recent Android version out of the box. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Huawei nova 11 supports faster and more modern Wi-Fi standards, offering better speeds and less interference. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Huawei nova 11 has a newer Bluetooth version with additional features and improved energy efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | Huawei nova 11 has more comprehensive GPS capabilities, potentially offering more accurate location tracking in various environments. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones support dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 128/256/512 GB | Huawei nova 11 offers significantly more storage options, accommodating more apps, photos, and videos. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 6/8/12 GB | Huawei nova 11 has significantly more RAM options for smoother multitasking and overall performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage; users need to choose the version that matches their long-term storage needs. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic | Stereo Speakers | Huawei nova 11 offers better sound quality with stereo speakers compared to basic audio on Samsung A12. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Samsung A12 has side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a generally more convenient sensor, than the basic fingerprint sensor on the Huawei nova 11. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Neither phone has information on their screen protection technology. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Huawei nova 11 has additional sensors for more advanced features such as augmented reality and improved motion-based games. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery is a bit larger than the Huawei nova 11's 4500mAh.
- Dedicated Telephoto, Wide Angle, and Depth lenses: Offers more camera flexibility for zoom, wide angle and portrait shots.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: More convenient placement of fingerprint sensor.
Huawei nova 11 Advantages:
- Newer and Slimmer Design: More modern and lightweight.
- Superior Display: Larger OLED display with higher resolution, higher refresh rate, and significantly higher brightness.
- Much Faster Performance: Far more powerful processor and GPU for better app loading, multitasking, and gaming.
- Significantly Faster Charging: 66W charging provides much quicker recharge times.
- Higher-Resolution Selfie Camera: The 60MP selfie camera offers significantly more detail.
- Better Video Recording: Offers higher slow motion recording with EIS.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- More Internal Storage and RAM: Provides significantly larger storage and RAM options.
- Stereo Speakers: Better sound quality compared to the basic audio of the Samsung A12.
- Gyroscope and Compass: Includes additional sensors for better AR and gaming experience.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung A12: Offers slightly larger battery but has a significantly inferior display, performance, camera features, and connectivity.
- Huawei nova 11: Has a slightly smaller battery but compensates with much faster charging, vastly superior performance, and a more advanced feature set.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal Users:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for the absolute cheapest entry level phone.
- Basic Smartphone Users: People who primarily use their phone for calls, messaging, and light browsing and prefer a phone with more camera options (wide angle, depth, telephoto).
- Users Who Prioritize Battery Life Over Performance: Users who value battery life over performance.
Specific Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Primary backup phone: A basic phone for emergencies.
- First smartphone for older adults or children: Simple features are easy to learn.
- Social media use with wide angle options: Can take more creative photos with its telephoto, wide angle and depth lens options.
Huawei nova 11 Ideal Users:
- Performance-Focused Users: Users who value smooth app performance, fast multitasking, and better gaming.
- Media Consumers: People who watch a lot of videos, stream content and value high-quality display.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want better image quality and good slow motion video recording.
- Users who need fast charging: Those who require fast battery replenishment and want more convenient features like reverse charging.
Specific Use Cases for Huawei nova 11:
- Gaming: Smooth performance for demanding mobile games.
- Streaming: Immersive video experience with the OLED screen and stereo speakers.
- Photography and videography: Excellent for taking high-resolution selfies and capturing memories with slow motion video recordings.
- Everyday Use with Multiple Apps: For those who use a lot of apps, requiring smooth multitasking.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? Samsung A12 is likely cheaper, making it a viable option for budget conscious users.
- How important is performance? If performance is a priority, the Huawei nova 11 is vastly superior.
- Which features are most important? Consider battery, display, camera, charging speed, and storage to determine the better choice for your needs.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Basic Use: If you're on a very tight budget and only need a phone for basic tasks, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is a reasonable choice.
- Scenario 2: Multimedia Consumption, Daily Usage: If you watch a lot of videos, play games or need a smooth multitasking experience, the Huawei nova 11 is a much better option.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiasts: If you prefer more flexible camera options and don't need a lot of storage, the Samsung A12 might be better. If you need higher quality selfie and video, the Huawei nova 11 is the better choice.
- Scenario 4: Performance Matters Most: If you want a modern and smooth user experience, the Huawei nova 11 outperforms the Samsung A12 in every performance related category.
My Choice and Why
If I had to choose, I would pick the Huawei nova 11. The advantages it offers in display quality, performance, charging speed, and overall user experience far outweigh its slight disadvantage in battery capacity. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a slightly larger battery and additional camera lenses (telephoto, wide angle and depth), the vast improvements in display technology, processing power, and fast charging provided by the Huawei nova 11 make it a much better choice for a modern smartphone user. The difference in the user experience would be night and day between the two devices. The extra cost of the Huawei nova 11 would be worth the upgrade given its substantial performance and features.
