Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A12 vs. OnePlus 9R
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | OnePlus 9R | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 161 × 74.1 × 8.4 mm | The A12 is slightly larger and bulkier, potentially less comfortable for one-handed use. The 9R is slimmer and more compact. |
| Weight | 205g | 189g | The 9R is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and easier to carry. |
| Build | Unknown | Unknown | No information is available regarding build materials or quality. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | OnePlus 9R | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.55" | Both have similar screen sizes. Difference is negligible in daily use. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The 9R has a significantly sharper display. Text and images will appear crisper and clearer. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 402 | The 9R's display is much sharper, enhancing the viewing experience, particularly for detailed images and videos. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | The 9R's AMOLED screen offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. It also generally has better power efficiency with dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The 9R's higher refresh rate makes scrolling and animations appear significantly smoother, offering a more fluid user experience, particularly during gaming and fast scrolling. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness, however, this value is an error because the actual brightness values for these devices are not 0 nits. This data point is not useful for comparison. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | OnePlus 9R | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | The 9R has a much more powerful and efficient processor. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and higher gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 821,600 | The 9R demonstrates drastically superior performance, making it suitable for demanding apps, games, and multitasking. The A12 is for basic tasks only. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 650 | The 9R has a vastly superior GPU that allows for high-fidelity gaming and graphics processing. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | OnePlus 9R | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", Samsung S5KGM2, 0.80µm | 48MP, f/1.7, 1/2", Sony IMX586 Exmor RS, 0.80µm | The 9R's wider aperture allows for better low-light performance. Different sensor models are used. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", Sony IMX471 Exmor RS, 1.00µm | The 9R captures more detailed selfies with its higher resolution sensor. The A12 has a wider aperture for better low-light but lower resolution. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The A12 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed images, however, its limited resolution is of little value. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.2, 1/3.09", Sony IMX481, 1.00µm | The 9R's wide-angle camera captures significantly more detail due to its higher resolution. |
| Portrait (Depth) Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both phones offer comparable depth sensors for portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | None | 5MP, f/2.4 | The 9R has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, No EIS, No slow-motion | 4K@60fps, HDR, EIS, 1080p@240fps, slow-motion | The 9R has significantly superior video capabilities with 4K recording, EIS, and high frame rate slow-motion options. |
| Additional Camera Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW | The 9R offers more advanced features such as 4K video recording, OIS and RAW support that improve overall image and video capture experience. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | OnePlus 9R | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | The A12 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | The 9R charges much faster, which is very convenient for topping up the battery quickly. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Li-Polymer batteries are generally lighter and offer better performance. |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | OnePlus 9R | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 10, up to 12 | Android 11, up to 13 | The 9R will likely receive one more Android update, providing newer software features. |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) | The 9R supports faster and more efficient Wi-Fi 6 for faster downloads and more reliable connection speeds. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 LE | The 9R has a newer, more efficient Bluetooth version which has improved range and power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a) | The 9R supports more satellite systems providing more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones offer dual SIM support. |
Storage & Audio & Security & Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | OnePlus 9R | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 32GB/64GB/128GB | 128GB/256GB | The 9R offers significantly more base storage, especially beneficial for those with lots of media or apps. |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB/6GB | 8GB/12GB | The 9R has substantially more RAM for smoother multitasking and better app performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | Basic Audio | Dolby Atmos, Noise Cancellation, Stereo Speakers | The 9R provides better audio quality with enhanced spatial audio, noise cancellation, and stereo speakers. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | The A12 has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The type of fingerprint sensor in the 9R is not specified. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | The 9R includes additional sensors (compass and gyroscope), which are useful for gaming and other location based applications. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: Potentially longer battery life due to the larger 5000mAh battery.
- Telephoto Lens: A telephoto lens is included, however, its limited 2MP resolution reduces practical use.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint: The side-mounted sensor may be more convenient for some users.
OnePlus 9R Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Much faster processor and GPU result in a significantly better user experience, especially for gaming and multitasking.
- Better Display: Higher resolution, sharper, more vibrant AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Advanced Camera System: Better main camera, higher resolution selfie and wide-angle cameras, and support for 4K video with stabilization.
- Faster Charging: 65W charging is drastically faster, more practical for daily use.
- More Storage and RAM: Much more RAM and storage means the 9R will be smoother and more future-proof.
- Enhanced Audio: Better audio experience with Dolby Atmos, noise cancellation, and stereo speakers.
- Superior Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6 and more GPS satellites for better performance and location accuracy.
- More Advanced Sensors: Includes compass and gyroscope.
Trade-offs:
- Battery vs Charging: The A12 has a slightly larger battery but the 9R charges much faster.
- Price: The OnePlus 9R will be a much more expensive device than the Samsung Galaxy A12.
- Telephoto vs Macro: The A12 has a low-resolution Telephoto lens while the 9R has a Macro lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal Users:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for the most affordable smartphone possible and are not concerned with high performance.
- Basic Use Cases: Users who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, social media, and light web browsing.
- Users needing longer battery life: Users for whom a few hours more battery life is more important than fast charging.
Specific Use Cases:
- Basic communication and social media browsing.
- Multimedia consumption on a smaller budget.
- Users who prioritize battery over speed and camera quality.
OnePlus 9R Ideal Users:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize smooth performance and are looking to play demanding games or perform heavy multitasking.
- Multimedia Lovers: Those who prioritize a superior viewing and audio experience, enjoying watching high-resolution videos and playing games.
- Photography and Videography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system with the ability to capture high-quality photos and 4K videos.
Specific Use Cases:
- Demanding gaming and running resource-intensive applications.
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos for social media or content creation.
- Users who need a premium experience in terms of display, audio, and performance.
- Users who want the most future-proof of the two devices.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? The A12 is significantly cheaper than the 9R.
- What are your primary use cases? Is it basic communication or demanding gaming and content creation?
- How much do you value display quality and performance? The 9R excels in these categories.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is the primary concern and you need a basic phone.
- Recommendation: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A12. It will provide basic phone functionality for daily use.
- Scenario 2: You want a smooth and enjoyable experience with some photography/videography.
- Recommendation: Choose the OnePlus 9R. It will provide the best performance, camera quality, and user experience of the two devices.
- Scenario 3: You value long battery life over all other features.
- Recommendation: The Samsung Galaxy A12 due to its higher battery capacity. However, the OnePlus 9R will charge much faster, which may offset this.
My Choice and Why
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the OnePlus 9R. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 has a slightly larger battery, the OnePlus 9R offers significantly superior performance in nearly every other area. The vastly improved chipset, the much sharper and smoother AMOLED display, significantly better camera capabilities, and much faster charging are all key factors that make it a better choice for anyone looking for an enjoyable experience. As someone who values performance and frequently uses their phone for multimedia, the 9R is a clear winner for me. The increase in RAM and storage will also be significant for someone like me who tends to have a lot of apps and media. Finally, the better connectivity standards and audio capabilities of the 9R would provide a much better overall experience. While the battery capacity is smaller, the 65W charging is incredibly fast and would offset the difference in battery capacity.
