1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Motorola Moto G71 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 161.2 × 73.9 × 8.5 mm | The A12 is slightly larger and thicker, making the G71 5G more pocketable and comfortable to hold. |
| Weight | 205g | 179g | The G71 5G is noticeably lighter, improving comfort during extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.4" | Negligible difference; both are suitable for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The G71 5G offers a significantly sharper and clearer display for text, images, and videos. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 411 | The G71 5G's higher pixel density results in a more detailed and less pixelated viewing experience. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | The G71 5G's AMOLED provides richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast, enhancing visual quality, especially for videos and dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | Both provide a standard 60Hz refresh rate, suitable for everyday use. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is missing for both phones, so real-world display visibility in bright light cannot be compared. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | The G71 5G's Snapdragon chipset provides significantly better performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 396,564 | The G71 5G is much faster, loading apps quicker, handling multitasking smoother, and offering better gaming capabilities. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 619 | The G71 5G has a more powerful GPU, which contributes to the smoother graphics performance for gaming and other demanding visual tasks. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Slight difference in resolution; likely negligible in most real-world scenarios. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.8 | The G71 5G's wider aperture can let in more light, potentially improving low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/2.76" | The A12 has a larger sensor, which may allow for better light capture but is not the only factor in determining image quality. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 8MP | 16MP | The G71 5G has a higher-resolution front camera, resulting in sharper selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | Yes | No | The A12 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed shots. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | 8MP | The G71 5G provides a wider field of view with a higher resolution. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | Yes | No | The A12 has a dedicated depth sensor to create a bokeh effect for portraits. |
| Macro Lens | No | Yes | The G71 5G has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps | The G71 5G offers both 30fps and smoother 60fps options for standard video capture |
| Video Slow Motion | No, 30fps | Yes, 60fps | The G71 5G allows higher slow-motion frame rates, suitable for action shots |
| DXOMark Mobile Score | 90 | N/A | The A12 has a basic score of 90. The G71 5G doesn't have a listed score. The A12 score is not particularly high. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple Camera, Digital zoom, Autofocus, etc. | Triple camera, Digital & Optical zoom, PDAF, LAF etc. | The G71 5G offers more advanced focus and stabilization options, along with features such as Optical Zoom and RAW output. The A12 has a Quad camera. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have the same capacity, expected to provide similar battery life. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 33W fast charging | The G71 5G charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Li-Polymer batteries tend to have a better lifespan and safety, but both types are in common use. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10, Max 12 | Android 11, Max 12 | The G71 5G comes with a more recent Android version out of the box, although both will eventually reach Android 12. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | The G71 5G supports faster 802.11ac WiFi, ensuring better network speeds, especially if you have an AC router. It also supports Wi-Fi Display |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 (various profiles) | 5.0 LE | Both have the same version but the A12 has more profiles and the G71 5G has Low Energy support |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | The G71 5G has more accurate positioning due to additional satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Both support Dual Nano SIMs. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 128 GB | The G71 5G has the same max, but the base A12 models have less storage |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 6/8 GB | The G71 5G has more RAM, leading to better multitasking and overall responsiveness. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD card expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Features | Basic | Dolby Atmos, 2 microphones | The G71 5G offers an enhanced audio experience with Dolby Atmos and better voice capture due to the dual microphone setup. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Rear-mounted | Both are standard options, side-mounted sensors can be considered more advanced |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | No data available to compare screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | The G71 5G includes a gyroscope for improved gaming and motion tracking. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Telephoto Lens: The inclusion of a telephoto lens offers optical zoom capabilities that are missing on the G71 5G.
- Depth sensor for portraits: The A12 has a dedicated depth sensor for bokeh portraits.
- Wider sensor: Larger camera sensor, potentially capturing more light.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: Can be more comfortable or intuitive for some users.
- Basic DXOMark Mobile Score: Only the A12 has a basic score of 90, though this score is not particularly high.
Motorola Moto G71 5G Advantages:
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 695 5G chipset offers substantially improved processing power and graphics capabilities compared to the Helio P35.
- Superior Display: The AMOLED display provides much better visual quality with higher resolution, pixel density, and vibrant colors, while the Samsung has an LCD display.
- Faster Charging: The 33W fast charging is more than twice as fast as the A12's 15W, providing faster battery top-ups.
- More RAM: The G71 5G has 6GB or 8GB of RAM options versus the A12's 3/4/6GB, which means smoother multitasking.
- Better Connectivity: Supports newer and faster WiFi ac standard, along with extra GPS features and support for Wi-Fi Display.
- Higher Resolution Cameras: Offers better resolutions for both the selfie and wide-angle cameras.
- Macro Lens: The G71 5G includes a dedicated macro lens for detailed close-up photos.
- Enhanced Audio: Supports Dolby Atmos and has a dual microphone setup for better audio capture.
- Gyroscope: Has a Gyroscope for improved gaming and motion tracking.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The A12 trades performance and display quality for an extra telephoto lens and a dedicated depth sensor, plus a basic DXOMark Mobile score.
- The G71 5G sacrifices a telephoto and depth sensor to provide a much faster phone, with better camera features and a superior display.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Ideal User: Users on a very tight budget primarily seeking a basic smartphone for standard communication, social media, and occasional photography with a zoom lens.
- Use Cases: Making calls, texting, light social media browsing, casual photography where a zoomed picture might be needed, and basic media consumption.
- Price-to-Value: Provides basic smartphone functionality at a lower price point but lacks in performance and display.
Motorola Moto G71 5G:
- Ideal User: Users looking for a well-rounded mid-range device with good performance, display quality, and camera capabilities, with a focus on smooth performance, improved visuals, and faster charging times.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, smooth multitasking, detailed photography with a macro lens and wide-angle camera, high-quality video playback, enhanced audio experiences and everyday tasks.
- Price-to-Value: Offers significantly better value in terms of performance, display, and faster charging, justifying a higher price compared to the A12, especially for a better user experience.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The A12 is typically a lower-cost option, while the G71 5G offers a better overall user experience at a higher price.
- How important is performance to me? The G71 5G offers significantly smoother multitasking, gaming, and app loading, making it the superior choice for demanding tasks. The A12 is slow in comparison.
- How important is display quality? The G71 5G's AMOLED display is vastly superior to the A12's LCD display, resulting in richer visuals, but might be unnecessary for those on a very tight budget.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Basic User (Budget-Conscious): If the budget is the primary concern and basic functionality is sufficient, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is an option.
- Media Consumer/Casual Gamer: The G71 5G is better, with its smoother performance, richer colors, and improved audio.
- Photography Enthusiast: The G71 5G is a better all-rounder. It has a better main sensor, a dedicated macro, a wide-angle lens, and 60fps video. Although the A12 does include a depth and telephoto lens.
- Power User: The G71 5G is the clear choice. Its significantly faster performance, along with a better screen and faster charging, offers a much better experience.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Moto G71 5G. While the Samsung A12 offers some benefits such as a dedicated telephoto lens and slightly larger main camera sensor, the G71 5G provides a much more compelling overall package. The superior display, significantly better performance, faster charging, better audio, and enhanced camera features (including the wide-angle and macro lens) all contribute to a vastly improved user experience. The A12’s trade-offs, including its significantly slower processor and lower resolution display, make it difficult to recommend over the G71 5G unless the budget is an absolute and unavoidable constraint. I value a fluid experience, which the G71 5G would provide thanks to its powerful processor and higher RAM. The improved display and better camera features also tip the scales in favor of the Motorola.
