1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Huawei nova 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm | 164.3 x 74.4 x 7.9 mm | Huawei nova 11 Pro is slightly taller, narrower, and thinner, making it potentially more comfortable for one-handed use and pocketing. A12 has a larger volume overall. |
| Weight | 205g | 188g | Huawei nova 11 Pro is 17g lighter, making it more comfortable to hold for extended periods. |
| Build | Unknown | Unknown | No info on material, so cannot evaluate impact of this aspect. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Huawei nova 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.78" | Huawei nova 11 Pro offers a slightly larger viewing area for media and gaming. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1200 x 2652 | Huawei nova 11 Pro has a significantly sharper and more detailed display, improving text clarity and image quality. |
| PPI | 270 | 429 | The much higher pixel density on the Huawei nova 11 Pro results in a notably clearer and more refined image. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | Huawei nova 11 Pro's OLED offers better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than the LCD of the Samsung Galaxy A12, improving the visual experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Huawei nova 11 Pro provides smoother scrolling and animations, creating a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 950 nits | Huawei nova 11 Pro is significantly better for outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. Samsung Galaxy A12's brightness is unknown, making its performance in bright conditions questionable. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Huawei nova 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) | Huawei nova 11 Pro's chipset is significantly more powerful and efficient, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| Antutu Score | 103,000 | 592,297 | Huawei nova 11 Pro offers dramatically better overall performance in terms of general use, gaming and future-proofing. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 642L | The Adreno 642L in the Huawei nova 11 Pro offers significantly better graphics performance than the PowerVR GE8320, resulting in superior gaming and media experiences. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Huawei nova 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/2.0 | 50MP, f/1.9 | Huawei nova 11 Pro has a slightly higher resolution and wider aperture, potentially leading to better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 60MP, f/2.4 | Huawei nova 11 Pro boasts a significantly higher resolution selfie camera with more detailed self-portraits, while A12 has slightly better aperture for low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not available | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated telephoto lens, enabling optical zoom (limited to 2MP quality), while the Huawei nova 11 Pro lacks a telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | Not available | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated wide-angle camera, allowing for wider field of view. Huawei lacks a dedicated wide angle, and uses a combined macro/wide angle. |
| Portrait (depth) Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not available | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a dedicated depth sensor, improving the quality of portrait mode photos. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Not available | 8MP, f/2.2 | Huawei nova 11 Pro has a combination wide-angle/macro camera, enabling both wide shots and close-ups with the same lens. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@960fps with EIS | Samsung Galaxy A12 has higher resolution video recording for basic sharing purposes. The Huawei nova 11 Pro has higher framerate for slow-motion. Both support stabilization. |
| DxOMark Score | 90 (Mobile), 0 (Photo), 0 (Video) | Not available | Only Samsung Galaxy A12 was tested by DxOMark, suggesting that its camera is likely lower quality than the Huawei nova 11 Pro, given the other specs. |
| 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, Dual camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Dual front camera, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW | Huawei nova 11 Pro offers more advanced camera features, including 4K video recording, dual front cameras, phase detection autofocus, digital image stabilization, and RAW capture. Samsung A12 has Quadruple cameras. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Huawei nova 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 100W Fast Charging | Huawei nova 11 Pro charges dramatically faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse Charging, Non-removable | Huawei nova 11 Pro can act as a power bank for other devices using reverse charging. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Huawei nova 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 10 (upgradeable to 12) | Unknown | Huawei nova 11 Pro uses an unknown OS. Samsung Galaxy A12's Android version and upgradability is a known factor. |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6) | Huawei nova 11 Pro supports newer WiFi 6 standard, offering faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 LE | Huawei nova 11 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version with LE, offering more efficient connections. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Huawei nova 11 Pro supports more satellite systems for faster and more precise location tracking. |
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 128/256/512 GB | Huawei nova 11 Pro offers significantly more internal storage for files and apps. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 6/8/12 GB | Huawei nova 11 Pro has more RAM, allowing better multi-tasking and gaming performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | Basic Audio Features | Stereo Speakers | Huawei nova 11 Pro has stereo speakers, offering a better audio experience. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint sensor | Samsung A12 has side mounted fingerprint while Huawei has a basic fingerprint sensor. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Huawei nova 11 Pro has a more comprehensive sensor suite, enabling more features and better gaming experiences. |
| ## 2. Key Differences Analysis |
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery may offer slightly longer battery life, especially useful for users who prioritize battery endurance.
- Telephoto and Wide-Angle lenses: Includes dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed shots and a wide-angle lens for wider field of view.
- More advanced fingerprint sensor: The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is generally considered more convenient.
- Known Android OS and upgrade path: Has an identifiable operating system and max version.
- Lower Price: Typically found at budget-friendly pricing.
Huawei nova 11 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED display with higher resolution, pixel density, 120Hz refresh rate, and higher brightness for a significantly better visual experience.
- Significantly Faster Performance: Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset provides dramatically better processing power for all tasks, including gaming.
- Faster Charging: 100W fast charging allows for extremely quick battery top-ups, minimizing downtime.
- Better Front Camera: Higher resolution selfie camera.
- Better Audio: Stereo speakers offer a superior listening experience.
- More RAM and Storage: More internal storage and ram for smoother multitasking and more files/apps.
- Newer Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi standards and Bluetooth.
- Reverse Charging: Can be used to charge other devices.
- More advanced camera features: Supports RAW capture, continuous autofocus, phase detection autofocus, and more.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A12: Trades performance, display quality, and charging speed for a lower price and slightly better battery life and camera versatility.
- Huawei nova 11 Pro: Trades battery capacity and a dedicated telephoto lens for better display, performance, charging, and front camera and audio quality.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for an affordable smartphone for basic tasks.
- Users Who Prioritize Battery Life: Users who need a device that lasts through the day without frequent charging.
- Users who need a basic phone with some camera features: Users who want a versatile camera setup on a budget.
Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Basic daily tasks (calls, texts, social media).
- Streaming media at standard resolution.
- Occasional photography in good lighting conditions.
- Long battery life on a single charge.
Ideal User for Huawei nova 11 Pro:
- Users Who Value Performance: Those who need a fast and responsive phone for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Media Enthusiasts: Users who consume a lot of video content and appreciate high-quality displays and audio.
- Users Who Value Fast Charging: Those who need a quick way to top up the battery during the day.
- Users who take many selfies: Users who prioritize front camera quality.
- Power users: Users who need more ram and storage for multitasking and files/apps.
Use Cases for Huawei nova 11 Pro:
- Gaming with smooth frame rates and graphics.
- Viewing high-resolution video content on a vibrant display.
- Quick charging in between uses.
- Multitasking with many open apps.
- High-quality selfies and photos with advanced features.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Samsung Galaxy A12: Offers decent value for its price point, focusing on basic functionality and battery life.
- Huawei nova 11 Pro: Provides a significant leap in quality and performance, justifying its higher price for users who value these aspects.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Samsung Galaxy A12 will be the better option for extremely budget-conscious buyers.
- What are your primary uses for the phone? If performance, display, and camera are priorities, the Huawei nova 11 Pro is a better choice. If you are using it for basic functions and media consumption and need longer battery life, the A12 will be better.
- How important is fast charging? If you value faster charging, the Huawei nova 11 Pro is the winner.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Basic user with a tight budget: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A12 for its low cost and basic functionality.
- Scenario 2: User who enjoys mobile gaming and streaming: Choose the Huawei nova 11 Pro for its superior performance, display, and audio quality.
- Scenario 3: User who values camera and high quality selfies: Choose the Huawei nova 11 Pro for its much higher quality front camera, RAW support, and more advanced features.
- Scenario 4: User who needs long battery life: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A12 for its larger battery, but accept the slower charging and less powerful performance.
- Scenario 5: User who needs quick top-ups throughout the day: Choose the Huawei nova 11 Pro for its much quicker charging speed.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Huawei nova 11 Pro. The superior display, much faster performance, significantly quicker charging, and more advanced camera features make it the better option for my needs and justify its higher price. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 has its merits, such as the dedicated telephoto and wide angle lens, as well as a larger battery, the overall experience offered by the Huawei nova 11 Pro is much more compelling and caters better to my focus on performance, media, and quick charging. The much better front camera and general photo quality are a huge draw as well.
