Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A12 vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-12-21 | 2023-06-02 | The Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) is significantly newer, likely with more modern software and features. |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm | 162.8 x 73.8 x 9.2 mm | The A12 is slightly taller and wider, while the Moto G Stylus is slightly thicker. These differences are minor and may not be noticeable in daily use. |
| Weight | 205g | 202g | Both phones feel similar in the hand, a few grams difference is hard to notice |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.6" | Minimal size difference; both offer a large screen experience. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The Moto G Stylus has a significantly sharper display, resulting in clearer text and images. |
| PPI | 270 | 399 | The Moto G Stylus has a much sharper and more detailed screen. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD generally offers slightly better viewing angles and color reproduction compared to PLS LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Moto G Stylus offers smoother scrolling and animations, making the experience more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have similar peak brightness levels, though real-world performance would depend on calibration and typical peak brightness |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Moto G Stylus has a much more powerful and energy-efficient processor, leading to faster app loading and smoother multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 565,000 | The Moto G Stylus provides a significantly faster experience overall. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 710 | The Adreno 710 in the Moto G Stylus offers far superior graphics performance, resulting in better gaming capabilities. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.55", 1.0µm | The Moto G Stylus has a larger sensor and wider aperture, likely leading to better low-light performance and image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.5 | The Moto G Stylus provides more detailed selfies due to higher megapixel count; The A12 has a slightly wider aperture. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP | None | The Galaxy A12 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed shots, a feature the Moto G Stylus lacks. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | None | The Galaxy A12 has a dedicated wide angle camera for group shots and landscapes |
| Portrait mode (depth) | 2MP | None | The A12 has a dedicated depth camera for portrait shots |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP f/2.2 1.12 µm pixel size | The Moto G Stylus offers a dedicated wide angle and macro camera |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | The Moto G Stylus can record much higher quality video (4K), and offers 60fps recording for smoother motion. |
| Stabilization | No | Yes | Motorola offers OIS for video stabilization |
| Slow Motion | No | Yes, 240 fps | Motorola has better slow motion recording capability |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have the same battery capacity, suggesting similar battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 20W Fast Charging | The Moto G Stylus charges faster. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (Upgradable to 12) | Android 13 | The Moto G Stylus has a newer version of Android, with better features and security patches; A12 can be upgraded to Android 12, but it's older |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | The Moto G Stylus has faster Wi-Fi 6 support for more modern networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | The Moto G Stylus has a newer Bluetooth standard, offering more efficiency and features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, SUPL, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Both have good location support, with Moto G Stylus supporting more modern and accurate GPS technology |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Single SIM | The Samsung A12 allows using two sim cards simultaneously |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 128/256 GB | The Moto G Stylus has more storage available and also offers a higher storage option. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 4/6/8 GB | The Moto G Stylus has more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster performance, particularly with the 8GB model |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers storage expansion |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Motorola has significantly improved audio quality with better spatial audio, stereo speakers, and improved voice pickup |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Side-mounted | Both provide basic biometric security with side-mounted fingerprint sensors |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | The Motorola has a more comprehensive suite of sensors that improve user experience |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Dedicated Telephoto, Wide Angle and Depth Cameras: Provides more versatility in photography by including dedicated lenses for zoom, wide angle, and portrait shots.
- Dual SIM Support: Allows users to use two SIM cards at the same time, ideal for those who travel or have separate work/personal numbers.
- Lower Cost: Generally available at a lower price point compared to the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) Advantages:
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset offers vastly superior speed and efficiency over the Helio P35, making for a much smoother user experience.
- Superior Display: The higher resolution, pixel density and 120Hz refresh rate display makes the phone more enjoyable to use, with sharper images and smoother scrolling.
- Better Camera Quality: Larger sensor and wider aperture in the main camera, combined with 4K video recording, leads to higher quality photos and videos.
- Faster Charging: 20W charging allows faster top-ups, keeping the device ready to use.
- More Modern Features: Includes newer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS technologies, alongside Dolby Atmos sound, giving it better future-proofing and user experience.
- More Storage and RAM options: The Moto G Stylus 5G comes with more storage and RAM options than the Samsung A12
- Better Audio: The Moto G Stylus 5G has better audio quality with Dolby Atmos and Stereo speakers.
- Better Video recording: The Moto G Stylus has better video recording with 4K and stabilization.
Trade-offs:
- Camera versatility vs. main camera quality: The Samsung A12 includes more camera lenses, but the Moto G Stylus 5G has significantly better main camera quality.
- Dual SIM vs. Higher performance: Users needing dual SIM support might find the A12 more useful despite its performance shortcomings.
- Price: The Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) is more expensive than the Galaxy A12.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who need a phone for basic tasks, such as calls, texts, social media, and light browsing.
- Use Cases:
- First smartphone for young children or the elderly.
- Backup phone for occasional use.
- Users who prioritize a lower price point and prefer the additional camera versatility and Dual SIM support over raw performance.
- Users who appreciate more camera versatility (wide, zoom, portrait)
- Price-to-Value: Good for users who want a functional smartphone at the lowest possible cost, but the performance will be noticeably slower compared to the Motorola.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023):
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
- Use Cases:
- Users who need a fast and responsive phone for everyday use, gaming, and multitasking.
- Users who take a lot of photos and videos and appreciate higher image quality, higher resolution and 4K video recording.
- Users who value a smooth user experience with a high refresh rate display.
- Users who prioritize a newer device with up-to-date software and features.
- Users who prioritize good audio experience for multimedia consumption
- Users who prioritize a better video recording experience with OIS and slow-motion
- Price-to-Value: Excellent value for users seeking a premium experience in the mid-range category. Offers a significant upgrade in performance, display and camera over the Samsung.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Galaxy A12 is the more affordable option, but the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) offers a much better experience at a higher price.
- How important is performance? If you need a responsive phone for gaming or multitasking, the Moto G Stylus is the clear winner. For basic use, the A12 might suffice.
- What are your camera priorities? The Samsung A12 offers more versatility with extra camera lenses, but the Moto G Stylus 5G offers significantly better main camera image quality and video recording capabilities.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Basic User on a Tight Budget: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A12 as it provides basic smartphone functionality at a low cost.
Scenario 2: Performance and Multimedia Focused: Choose the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) for its superior performance, display, audio, and camera quality, as well as 4K video recording.
Scenario 3: Travel and Dual SIM Need: If dual SIM functionality is crucial, and performance is a secondary concern, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is the better fit.
At the end, write what you would choose and explain why!
My Choice:
I would choose the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023). The performance difference is just too significant to ignore. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset provides a substantially smoother and more responsive experience, which is critical for modern smartphone use including multitasking and gaming. The significantly upgraded display, featuring a higher resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, enhances everyday use by making it more enjoyable to interact with the phone. While the Samsung A12 offers a few more camera options and Dual SIM support, the main camera and video capabilities of the Moto G Stylus 5G are much higher quality, and for my typical use case, image quality is more important than a dedicated wide-angle lens. Additionally the significantly improved audio experience and updated features make the Moto G Stylus the overall better choice. Even though it comes at a higher price, the significantly improved performance, display, camera, and audio make it a much better investment for overall satisfaction and longevity.
