Samsung Galaxy A12 vs Motorola Edge 30 Pro - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date December 21, 2020 March 4, 2022
Release Year 2020 2022

Physical

Volume 110.64 cm³ 109.08 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.17 "/g 3.42 "/g
Weight 205 g 196 g
Height 164 mm 163.1 mm
Width 75.8 mm 76 mm
Thickness 8.9 mm 8.8 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Black
  • Red
  • Blue
  • White
  • Cosmos Blue
  • Stardust White

Display

Screen Size 6.5 " 6.7 "
Resolution 720 x 1600 1080 x 2400
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 82.1 % 87.4 %
Pixel Density 270 PPI 393 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 144 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A N/A
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 118.34 mAh/in² 106.93 mAh/in²
Battery Density 45.19 mAh/cm³ 44 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 4800 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU PowerVR GE8320 Adreno 730

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 3.1
OTG Support
DisplayPort 1
DisplayPort Version N/A 1.4
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0 USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 10 12
Maximum OS Version 12 13

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

Design

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A12Motorola Edge 30 ProPractical Impact
Dimensions164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm163.1 × 76 × 8.8 mmVery similar size; Edge 30 Pro slightly smaller, possibly easier to handle in some cases.
Weight205g196gEdge 30 Pro is slightly lighter, may feel less tiring during extended use.
BuildUnknownCorning Gorilla Glass 3 (screen)Edge 30 Pro has a screen protection.

Display

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A12Motorola Edge 30 ProPractical Impact
Size6.5"6.7"Motorola Edge 30 Pro offers a slightly larger viewing area.
Resolution720x16001080x2400Motorola Edge 30 Pro will have significantly sharper text and images.
PPI270393The Edge 30 Pro's higher pixel density will make the display much clearer and detailed.
TechnologyPLS LCDOLEDEdge 30 Pro's OLED will have better colors, deeper blacks and higher contrast than the Galaxy A12's LCD.
Refresh Rate60Hz144HzEdge 30 Pro's display will feel much smoother when scrolling and in games.
Brightness0 nits0 nitsUnable to determine peak brightness; both phones have the same reported brightness, but this likely does not reflect real-world usage.

Performance

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A12Motorola Edge 30 ProPractical Impact
ChipsetMediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)The Edge 30 Pro's chipset is significantly faster, offering a smoother user interface, faster app launches, and better gaming performance.
AnTuTu Score103,0001,061,400Edge 30 Pro will perform significantly better in demanding tasks.
GPUPowerVR GE8320Adreno 730The Edge 30 Pro's GPU enables better gaming performance and faster graphics rendering.

Camera

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A12Motorola Edge 30 ProPractical Impact
Standard Camera Resolution48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.80µm50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.00µmEdge 30 Pro's larger sensor and wider aperture should result in better low-light performance and higher image quality overall.
Selfie Camera Resolution8MP, f/2.260MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 0.61µmEdge 30 Pro will produce much more detailed selfies.
Telephoto Lens2MP, f/2.4NoneGalaxy A12 has a dedicated telephoto camera while the Edge 30 Pro doesn't have one.
Wide Angle Lens5MP, f/2.2NoneGalaxy A12 has a dedicated wide angle camera while the Edge 30 Pro doesn't have one.
Portrait (Depth)2MP, f/2.42MP, f/2.4Similar depth sensing capabilities for portrait mode.
Wide Angle + MacroNone50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µmThe Edge 30 Pro offers a high-resolution wide-angle lens that also functions as a macro lens.
Video Recording1080p@30fpsUp to 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS, 1080p up to 960fpsEdge 30 Pro allows for professional-quality video recording, with high frame rate slow motion options.
DXOMARKMain: 90 Photo: 0, Video: 0Main: 101, Photo: 107, Video: 102Edge 30 Pro offers better overall photo and video quality.
Camera FeaturesDigital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Dual PDAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night ModeThe Edge 30 Pro offers more advanced camera features, especially for video recording

Battery

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A12Motorola Edge 30 ProPractical Impact
Capacity5000mAh4800mAhGalaxy A12 has a slightly larger battery, though this might be offset by its less efficient chipset and display.
Charging15W Fast Charging68W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless, 5W Reverse WirelessEdge 30 Pro charges much faster, also offering wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Battery FeaturesNon-removableReverse charging, Non-removable, Wireless charging 15W, Reverse charging 5WThe Edge 30 Pro offers more versatile charging options

2. Key Differences Analysis

Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages

  • Slightly larger battery capacity: The 5000mAh battery might offer a little more usage time, depending on usage patterns.
  • Telephoto and Wide Angle lenses The Galaxy A12 includes dedicated lenses for zoom and wide shots, providing more versatile photography options than the Edge 30 Pro

Motorola Edge 30 Pro Advantages

  • Superior display: The OLED display with higher resolution, pixel density, and a 144Hz refresh rate offers a much better viewing experience.
  • Much faster performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset provides significantly more processing power, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
  • Better camera: The higher resolution sensors, larger sensor sizes, and advanced video capabilities (up to 8K) provide significantly better photo and video quality.
  • Faster charging: The 68W fast charging, plus wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, makes it much more convenient.
  • More advanced features: The Edge 30 Pro benefits from the additional sensors, latest WiFi and Bluetooth standards, better audio, and improved camera features.

Trade-offs

  • Samsung Galaxy A12: Sacrifices performance, display quality, camera quality, and advanced features for a lower price point.
  • Motorola Edge 30 Pro: Higher cost than the A12, might have slightly shorter battery life in some cases because of its more powerful components and a smaller capacity.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Samsung Galaxy A12

  • Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize battery life and basic functionality over high performance and image quality.
  • Use Cases: Basic web browsing, social media, calls, and casual photography; users who need a phone that lasts a day without worrying about charging.
  • Price-to-value: A lower price point makes it attractive for budget-focused users.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro

  • Ideal User: Power users, gamers, and mobile photography enthusiasts who want a premium experience and are willing to pay a higher price.
  • Use Cases: Demanding games, video editing, high-quality photo and video capture, consuming multimedia content, and multitasking.
  • Price-to-value: Offers significantly higher performance and features for a premium price.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions

  1. What is your budget? The Galaxy A12 is significantly cheaper, while the Edge 30 Pro costs more.
  2. How important is performance? If you do a lot of gaming or demanding tasks, the Edge 30 Pro will be a better choice.
  3. How important is display and camera quality If these are crucial features for you, you should pick the Edge 30 Pro.

Scenario-Based Recommendations

  • Scenario 1: Basic User: If you primarily use your phone for calls, messaging, and light social media, the Galaxy A12 will suffice and save you money.
  • Scenario 2: Multimedia Enthusiast: If you frequently watch videos, play games, or take photos, the Edge 30 Pro provides a vastly superior experience.
  • Scenario 3: Professional User: If you need a phone that can handle demanding applications and professional-grade photography and videography, the Edge 30 Pro is the clear choice.

My Choice

I would choose the Motorola Edge 30 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 is a more budget-friendly option, the Edge 30 Pro offers a superior experience in almost every aspect that matters to me. The significantly better display, much faster performance, superior camera capabilities, and the convenience of fast and wireless charging outweigh the slightly larger battery of the A12. My daily use involves multitasking, gaming and watching videos, for which the Edge 30 Pro is much better suited.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

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Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.