1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Nokia G60 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 166 × 75.9 × 8.6 mm | Nokia G60 is slightly taller and thinner; minimal real-world difference |
| Weight | 205g | 190g | Nokia G60 is 15g lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones with no foldable features |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Nokia G60 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.58" | Negligible difference in size; both offer similar screen real estate |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2408 | Nokia G60 has a significantly sharper display with more detail |
| PPI | 270 | 401 | Nokia G60's higher pixel density leads to clearer text and images |
| Technology | PLS LCD | IPS LCD | Nokia G60's IPS LCD generally offers better viewing angles and color reproduction |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Nokia G60 provides smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the user experience |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is identical, but without specified values the usability in bright sunlight is unknown for both devices |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Nokia G60 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Nokia G60's Snapdragon offers much faster processing and better energy efficiency |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 410,072 | Nokia G60 provides a dramatically smoother and more responsive experience for all tasks |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 619 | Nokia G60's GPU delivers superior graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Nokia G60 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2" sensor | 50MP, f/1.8 | Nokia G60's wider aperture may result in better low-light performance and slightly higher detail |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.0, 0.64 µm pixel size | Nokia G60's wider aperture allows for brighter selfies, especially in low light |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | Samsung A12 offers optical zoom capabilities not present in Nokia G60 |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | 5MP, f/2.0 | Nokia G60 may have slight advantage in wide angle shots due to wider aperture |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both phones have similar depth-sensing capabilities |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps | Both offer similar main camera video recording; Nokia G60 has slow motion 120fps |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus etc... | 4K Video, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus etc... | Nokia G60 features 4K video recording and digital stabilization that Samsung A12 is lacking |
| DxOMark Score | 90 Mobile | Not Available | Only Samsung A12 is tested; the scores suggest a low to average camera performance |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Nokia G60 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 might have slightly longer battery life on paper |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 20W fast charging | Nokia G60 will likely charge faster |
| Features | Non-removable, Li-Ion | Non-removable, Lithium | Both have non-removable batteries with similar technology, Nokia uses Lithium |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Nokia G60 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 10 (upgradable to 12) | Android 12 | Nokia G60 comes with a newer version of Android and will likely be supported longer |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Nokia G60 offers faster and more reliable Wi-Fi with modern standards (WiFi 6) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 LE | Nokia G60 has a more efficient Bluetooth version with better audio codecs |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | Nokia G60 supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | Nokia G60 offers an eSIM option for greater flexibility with carriers |
Storage & Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Nokia G60 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128GB | 64/128GB | Both phones offer sufficient storage for most users; Samsung A12 provides more budget-friendly 32GB entry-level option |
| RAM | 3/4/6GB | 4/6GB | Both offer adequate RAM for smooth multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion |
| Audio | Basic | Basic | No significant difference; both provide basic audio functionality |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both offer the same kind of fingerprint security |
| Build Quality | Unknown Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Nokia G60 offers superior scratch and drop resistance for the screen |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Nokia G60 has gyroscope, which can be used for better gaming performance |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: 5000mAh battery may provide slightly longer battery life compared to the Nokia G60.
- Telephoto Lens: Offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, which is missing on the Nokia G60.
Nokia G60 Advantages:
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 695 5G chipset offers far superior CPU and GPU performance, resulting in a smoother and more responsive experience.
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and PPI provide a noticeably clearer and more detailed screen.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations feel much more fluid and responsive.
- Better Camera: Wider apertures on both the main and front cameras generally improve low-light performance and quality.
- Faster Charging: 20W fast charging is quicker than the A12's 15W.
- Modern Connectivity: Supports faster Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 LE, and more satellite navigation systems
- eSIM Support: Provides flexibility with carrier switching and allows using more than one carrier without a physical sim.
- 4K Video Recording: Nokia has 4k video recording compared to Samsung's 1080p.
- Screen Protection: Gorilla Glass 5 for superior durability
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung A12 has a slightly larger battery capacity which might translate to a longer usage time.
- The Nokia G60 does not have a telephoto lens which is available on Samsung A12.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal User:
Nokia G60 Ideal User:
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Samsung Galaxy A12: Offers a budget-friendly entry point with a decent feature set for basic users.
- Nokia G60: Provides a much better overall experience due to its superior performance, display, camera, and modern features, justifying the difference in price, especially when comparing it to the 32GB Galaxy A12.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? (Is a lower price the primary concern, or is performance/features more important?)
- How do I primarily use my phone? (Is it for basic tasks, or for more demanding activities like gaming and video editing?)
- What features are most important to me? (Do I need the telephoto camera lens or is a modern and fast experience with 4K video more important?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: A user on a tight budget primarily wants a phone for basic communication, social media, and light browsing.
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A12 provides a decent experience at a lower price point.
- Scenario 2: A user needs a phone for gaming, video streaming, and wants a smooth, responsive experience with a good camera.
- Recommendation: Nokia G60 offers much better performance, display, and camera capabilities, making it worth the investment.
- Scenario 3: A user wants a phone with telephoto lens capabilities for better zoom pictures.
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A12 is the only option since Nokia G60 lacks this feature.
- Scenario 4: A user wants a phone that lasts long and the device is mostly used for simple activities.
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A12 might provide a slightly longer battery life compared to Nokia G60.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would select the Nokia G60. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a slightly larger battery and the telephoto lens, the Nokia G60's advantages in almost every other category (performance, display, camera, software, connectivity, screen protection) make it the clear winner for me. The performance difference is particularly significant, and the smoother display would provide a noticeably better user experience. I would be willing to compromise on the slightly smaller battery and the missing telephoto lens to gain all of those advantages. The Nokia G60 also is a newer device and will likely have better support from the manufacturer.
