Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A12 vs. OnePlus 11
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | OnePlus 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm | 163.1 x 74.1 x 8.5 mm | A12 is slightly wider and thicker, may feel bulkier in hand. The difference is minor, but could be noticeable for those with smaller hands. |
| Weight | 205g | 205g | Both phones feel similarly weighted in hand. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | OnePlus 11 offers a marginally larger screen for a more immersive experience, especially for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1440 x 3216 | OnePlus 11 display is significantly sharper, text and images will look much clearer. A12 might appear blurry. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 525 PPI | The higher PPI on OnePlus 11 makes the screen far more detailed and less pixelated, enhancing the viewing experience significantly. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | OnePlus 11's AMOLED offers better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. A12's LCD will look washed out in comparison. Better for dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | OnePlus 11 provides smoother animations and scrolling experience, making the phone feel more responsive. A12 might appear choppy and less fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1300 nits | OnePlus 11 is much better for outdoor viewing in bright sunlight, where A12 may be unreadable. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio P35 (12nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) | OnePlus 11 is drastically faster. Expect much smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and significantly better gaming performance. A12 is noticeably slower. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 1,389,474 | Benchmarks confirm that the OnePlus 11 is over 12 times more powerful, indicating a dramatically superior performance experience. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 740 | OnePlus 11 provides far better graphics capabilities, allowing it to run demanding games smoothly. A12 may struggle with even basic 3D games. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Similar battery capacities suggest comparable battery life, but real-world results can vary based on use. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 100W Fast Charging | OnePlus 11 charges much faster, taking far less time to get from 0% to 100%, reducing time spent waiting for your phone to charge. A12 is slow in comparison. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.0µm | OnePlus 11 captures higher-quality photos with better low-light performance due to a larger sensor, wider aperture, and larger pixel size. Better photos with less noise. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.1", 1.0µm | OnePlus 11 captures more detailed selfies with higher resolution and a larger sensor. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.74", 0.8µm | OnePlus 11 provides much better zoomed photos, retaining details far better. A12 zoomed photos will be very poor. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | N/A | Galaxy A12 has a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing more in a single shot, a feature missing on OnePlus 11. |
| Macro Lens | N/A | 48MP, f/2.2 | OnePlus 11 offers a wide angle + macro lens which is better for close-up shots, it has a significant resolution advantage over a typical macro camera. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | The A12 has a dedicated depth sensor for improved portrait mode effects. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps | OnePlus 11 can record much higher quality video and more video modes including slow motion. A12 is limited to standard 1080p at 30 frames per second. |
| DXOMark Score | 90 | 127 | OnePlus 11 has significantly better camera performance overall than Samsung Galaxy A12, across both photos and videos. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10, upgradeable to 12 | Android 13, upgradeable to 14 | OnePlus 11 offers a newer version of Android with potentially better features, security, and performance. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11n | WiFi 7 (802.11be) | OnePlus 11 has the latest Wi-Fi standards, providing faster speeds and more reliable connections. A12 is limited to older standards. OnePlus 11 has more features. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 LE | OnePlus 11 has a newer version with better audio codecs, and lower energy consumption. A12 has a more comprehensive list of supported profiles, but these are older standards. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5) | OnePlus 11 offers a more precise location tracking due to the support of more satelite systems. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM + eSIM | OnePlus 11 offers eSIM which could be useful for traveling. Galaxy A12 provides two physical SIM card slots. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32GB/64GB/128GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | OnePlus 11 has more storage, making it better for those who store a lot of media and data. |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB/6GB | 8GB/12GB/16GB | OnePlus 11 allows for much smoother multitasking and faster performance. A12 will struggle with multiple apps open at once. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage via microSD. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res, Stereo Speakers | OnePlus 11 provides a superior audio experience with higher quality sound, greater clarity and immersion due to stereo speakers. |
| Security | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint | Both phones offer basic biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | OnePlus 11 has better screen protection, meaning it is more resistant to scratches and cracks, however the A12 protection is unknown. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass, Gyroscope | OnePlus 11 includes more sensors, especially useful for apps and games that rely on motion and orientation. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Wide Angle Camera: Offers a dedicated wide-angle lens, which is missing on the OnePlus 11, useful for capturing landscapes and group photos.
- Lower Cost: (Presumed) As a budget phone released in 2020, it is expected to be significantly more affordable than the OnePlus 11.
- Depth Sensor: Dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode effects.
OnePlus 11 Advantages:
- Superior Display: Significantly higher resolution, pixel density, AMOLED technology, 120Hz refresh rate, and vastly superior brightness make the viewing experience vastly superior.
- Dramatically Better Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset provides massively more processing power, ensuring smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance.
- Significantly Enhanced Camera System: Higher-resolution main, selfie, and telephoto cameras with larger sensors and wider apertures result in much better photo quality. Features like OIS and 8K video recording are also crucial for better images and video stability.
- Much Faster Charging: 100W charging drastically reduces charging time.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Support for newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards provides faster wireless performance.
- Superior Audio: Enhanced spatial audio with Hi-Res audio, stereo speakers, and 2 microphones.
- Better Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection.
- More RAM and Storage: Significantly more RAM and storage for more fluid multitasking and more apps/data.
- More Sensors: More comprehensive suite of sensors enables more advanced gaming and applications.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung A12: While it has a wide-angle lens, its overall performance is vastly inferior, especially in terms of processing power, display quality, and camera capabilities, making it a more basic option.
- OnePlus 11: Lacks a dedicated wide-angle camera, also lacks expandable storage, and the price point is significantly higher.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 is ideal for:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users who need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light app usage at a very affordable price.
- Users Prioritizing a Wide Angle Camera: Those who frequently capture wide-angle shots and prioritize it over higher overall camera quality.
- Users Requiring Two Physical SIMs: Users who require two physical SIM card slots over eSIM.
- Users with Basic Needs: Simple social media browsing, basic games, and multimedia consumption.
- Users who do not prioritize fast charging as it is not a prominent feature of this phone.
OnePlus 11 is ideal for:
- Power Users: Those who need top-tier performance for demanding apps, gaming, and multitasking.
- Mobile Photographers: Users who want excellent photo and video quality, including in low light and with zoom capabilities.
- Media Consumers: Users who consume a lot of video or prefer better quality images.
- Technology Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest technology features and performance.
- Users requiring fast charging: For quick charge times.
- Users who value fast connectivity: For better Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speeds.
- Users who value audio: For better audio quality, stereo speakers, and Hi-Res audio.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? If budget is the primary concern, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is the more affordable option, but at a significant cost to overall quality and performance.
- How important is performance and display quality? If smooth performance, a vibrant display, and high-quality visuals are essential, the OnePlus 11 is clearly the better choice.
- How important are camera capabilities and video quality? If high-quality photography, video recording, and zoom capabilities are crucial, the OnePlus 11 is the more competent option.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget-Conscious): If your primary concern is cost and you only need a basic phone, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is sufficient. Be prepared for slower performance and low-quality images.
- Scenario 2 (Balanced Performance and Features): If you want better overall performance, display quality, and camera capabilities, the OnePlus 11 is the superior choice despite the higher cost.
- Scenario 3 (Demanding Usage): If you need high performance for gaming, content creation, and multitasking, the OnePlus 11 is the only viable option.
- Scenario 4 (Photography Focused): For better photos and videos, the OnePlus 11 is the better camera, despite the lack of a dedicated wide-angle lens.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would unequivocally choose the OnePlus 11. The performance difference is night and day, and the display is so much better that it justifies the higher cost. The camera system on the OnePlus 11 is also significantly better, leading to a far superior overall experience. While the lack of a wide-angle lens on the OnePlus 11 is a minor drawback, the overall enhancements across all other areas of the phone make it the clear winner.
The Samsung Galaxy A12 is a budget phone, and its specs reflect this. While it may suit users on a very strict budget, it would be a frustrating experience for anyone used to modern smartphone performance. The display, processor, and camera are simply too far behind to recommend it, even for light use.
