1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Motorola Moto G51 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 170.5 × 76.5 × 9.1 mm | Moto G51 5G is slightly taller and thicker, may feel marginally larger in hand |
| Weight | 205g | 208g | Virtually identical weight, both will feel similarly substantial |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.8" | Moto G51 5G offers slightly more screen real estate, better for media consumption |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1080 x 2400 | Moto G51 5G has a much sharper display, text and images appear clearer |
| PPI | 270 | 387 | Moto G51 5G will have noticeably crisper visuals, finer details more visible |
| Technology | PLS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD in Moto G51 5G generally offers better viewing angles and color reproduction |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Moto G51 5G provides smoother scrolling and animations, feels more responsive |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have similar peak brightness, outdoor visibility might be an issue for both |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm) | Moto G51 5G has a significantly more powerful processor, resulting in faster app loading and multitasking |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 381,000 | Moto G51 5G has much better performance, better gaming, more future-proof |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 619 | Moto G51 5G has a superior GPU for better graphics performance in games |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2" sensor | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76" sensor | Moto G51 5G has a wider aperture for potentially better low light performance, Samsung A12 has slightly larger sensor |
| Selfie | 8MP, f/2.2 | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixel size | Moto G51 5G offers higher resolution selfies, with more detail |
| Telephoto | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Galaxy A12 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zooming |
| Wide Angle | 5MP, f/2.2 | 8MP | Moto G51 5G takes higher resolution ultrawide photos |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, 1.75 µm pixel size | Moto G51 5G has a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Galaxy A12 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait photos |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60/240fps | Moto G51 5G has more versatile video recording capabilities, including 60 fps and slow motion at 240fps |
| DxOMark | 90 (Mobile), 0 (photo), 0 (video) | N/A | Galaxy A12 has a basic camera performance according to DxOMark |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Both have large batteries for all-day usage, similar endurance |
| Charging | 15W | 10W | Galaxy A12 charges slightly faster, meaning less time plugged in |
| Removable | No | No | Batteries cannot be replaced by user |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to 12 | Android 11, upgradable to 12 | Moto G51 5G starts with a newer version of Android |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Moto G51 5G supports faster Wi-Fi ac standard |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 LE | Moto G51 5G has a more modern Bluetooth version |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | Moto G51 5G offers more accurate positioning with more satellites |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both can use two SIM cards |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 64/128 GB | Both have a maximum of 128GB storage |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 4/8 GB | Moto G51 5G offers more RAM, smoother multitasking |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone can have their storage expanded |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, 2 mics | Moto G51 5G has enhanced audio with spatial sound and better noise cancellation |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Both have fingerprint sensor for easy unlocking |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Screen protection for both phones are not defined |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Moto G51 5G has an additional Gyroscope for motion tracking and better use with certain apps and games |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Telephoto Lens: Offers optical zoom capability for better close-up shots without losing detail, although only 2MP
- Portrait Lens: Dedicated depth sensor for better bokeh effect (background blur) in portrait photos.
- Faster Charging: Supports 15W fast charging, allowing for slightly faster recharge times, meaning less time plugged in.
- More Bluetooth Profile Support: Supports more bluetooth protocols
Practical Implications for Galaxy A12:
- Photography: Users who often zoom or take portraits with blurred backgrounds will find the dedicated telephoto and depth sensors useful, although the camera performance in this phone is not the best according to the DxOmark test
- Charging: Slightly faster charging is more convenient for those who often need to quickly top up the battery.
- Bluetooth: More protocols offers higher versatility in connecting to different devices
- Lower initial price: This phone is more affordable, although the price difference could be small.
Motorola Moto G51 5G Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 480+ 5G chip is significantly more powerful, resulting in much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, higher pixel density, and a 120Hz refresh rate make the display noticeably sharper, clearer, and more fluid.
- Better Main Camera: Slightly higher resolution and wider aperture main camera, results in better images, especially in low light.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Front-facing camera takes more detailed selfies.
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens allows for detailed close-up shots.
- Modern Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1 LE offers improved battery life and stability in connections
- More RAM: 4GB or 8GB of RAM offer better multitasking and overall performance, especially with 8GB of RAM
- Gyroscope: Offers better motion tracking.
- 5G Connectivity: The Moto G51 has 5G connectivity, which the Samsung does not.
- Dolby Atmos Audio: Offers an enhanced audio experience with spatial sound.
- Newer OS Version: The Moto G51 5G comes with a newer version of Android.
- Better Wide Angle lens: The ultrawide lens has a higher resolution.
- More Video Recording Options: Includes 60fps and 240fps slow motion.
Practical Implications for Moto G51 5G:
- Speed & Responsiveness: Users will experience a much snappier and more responsive phone for everyday tasks, gaming and multitasking.
- Visual Experience: The sharper, smoother display provides a more enjoyable experience for watching videos, browsing, and gaming.
- Photography Versatility: The macro lens adds another dimension to mobile photography.
- Gaming: Significantly better gaming performance with better GPU
- Audio Quality: The Dolby Atmos feature enhances the experience of listening to audio through the speakers or headphones.
- Future proofing: 5G connectivity, better chip set, and extra ram will allow this phone to last longer than the A12.
Trade-offs:
- The Moto G51 5G lacks a telephoto and depth sensor, thus users will need to rely on digital zoom and software enhancements for zoom and portrait photos.
- The Galaxy A12 has slightly faster charging (15W vs 10W), a small difference.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users who prioritize basic smartphone functionality and longer battery life, while also wanting better camera features such as the telephoto and portrait lens, although the camera quality isn't the best.
- Users who mainly use their phone for calls, messaging, basic social media, and casual browsing.
- Users who need a secondary or backup device.
- Specific Use Cases:
- Long commutes where a reliable battery is more important than top performance.
- Basic photography where the telephoto and portrait lens can be helpful for specific types of shots.
Motorola Moto G51 5G:
- Ideal User:
- Users who value performance and smooth multitasking, while keeping within budget.
- Users who watch videos, play games, or browse frequently on their phones.
- Users who want a more modern experience in their phone with better connectivity, sound, and refresh rate.
- Users who want a more feature-rich camera system with macro lens and higher resolution selfie.
- Specific Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers, the better performance and high refresh rate will improve the gaming experience.
- Media consumption, the higher resolution screen will display clearer visuals.
- General use, the phone is more responsive for multitasking and general use.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on your phone? A budget friendly phone would be the Galaxy A12.
- Performance: How much do you value speed, responsiveness, and gaming performance? The Moto G51 5G is the better choice for heavy use.
- Camera Needs: How important are specific camera features like optical zoom or macro lens? The Samsung A12 has an optical zoom, portrait lens, whereas the Motorola has a macro lens.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Basic Needs: If your budget is limited and you just need a reliable phone for basic communication and browsing, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is the more economical choice, as well as the telephoto lens for zoom, portrait lens, and slightly faster charging.
- Scenario 2: Balanced Budget, Good all rounder: If you are looking for a phone with better performance and screen, but still want to keep to a budget, the Motorola Moto G51 5G is a great all-rounder phone with many more features, a much better performance, and better refresh rate.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast: The Samsung A12 has an optical zoom and a dedicated depth sensor, but its performance is weaker, and the photos won't be as good, the Motorola has a higher quality primary lens, and has a macro lens for more versatility, although it lacks an optical zoom, so the choice is about which features you prioritize.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Moto G51 5G due to its superior performance, display quality, newer software, and added features such as a macro lens, faster wifi, and gyroscope. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a telephoto lens, its overall user experience will be significantly slower and less enjoyable. The Moto G51's higher refresh rate, faster processor, and better camera features make it the better phone for everyday use, gaming, and media consumption, and will last longer. The minor trade-off of losing the telephoto lens is worth it for the overall improvement in performance and display quality, as well as the newer version of Android and 5G capabilities.
