Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A12 vs. Realme 9 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Realme 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 164.3 × 75.6 × 8.5 mm | Similar size, Realme 9 Pro slightly thinner and lighter. May feel slightly more comfortable for extended use. |
| Weight | 205g | 195g | Realme 9 Pro is 10g lighter, potentially noticeable for prolonged holding. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.6" | Negligibly different. Both have similarly large screen sizes. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2412 | Realme 9 Pro offers a much sharper and clearer display, ideal for detailed content, text, and high-resolution media. |
| PPI | 270 | 400 | Realme 9 Pro provides a significantly clearer and crisper image due to higher pixel density. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD typically offers better viewing angles and color reproduction compared to PLS LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Realme 9 Pro provides smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience, particularly in gaming and fast-paced apps. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is identical, but exact useable brightness in outdoor scenarios depends on how each phone handles contrast and reflection. More data needed. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Realme 9 Pro's chipset is significantly more powerful, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 402,916 | Realme 9 Pro offers significantly faster performance in general tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 619 | Realme 9 Pro's GPU is more capable for graphics-intensive applications, providing better gaming experience. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones offer similar battery capacity, expect similar battery life under similar usage scenarios. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging, Li-Ion | 33W fast charging, Li-Polymer | Realme 9 Pro charges significantly faster, reducing time plugged in. Li-Polymer are also known to have better lifespan compared to Li-Ion. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both devices have non-removable batteries. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.80 µm pixel size | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.70 µm pixel size | Realme 9 Pro's main sensor has a higher resolution and wider aperture, allowing for better low-light performance and more detailed photos. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.0, 1/3.13", 1.00 µm pixel size | Realme 9 Pro has higher resolution and wider aperture, resulting in better selfies in various lighting conditions. |
| Telephoto lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 has dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, while Realme 9 Pro lacks a dedicated telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4", 1.12 µm pixel size | Realme 9 Pro's wide angle has slightly better resolution and a larger pixel size. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy A12 has a depth sensor for better portrait mode effects. |
| Macro lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75 µm pixel size | Realme 9 Pro has a macro lens for close up photography, which is missing from Samsung. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps | Both record 1080p video, but Realme 9 Pro supports slow-motion video and some other video related features. |
| Video Features | Stabilization: No, Slow-motion: No | Stabilization: Yes, Slow-motion: Yes (120fps) | Realme 9 Pro offers a better video recording experience due to the added stabilization and slow motion recording. |
| DXOMark Score | Mobile: 90, Photo: 0, Video: 0 | No data | The Galaxy A12 has a DXOMark of 90, but the score is limited. There's no DXOMark Score for the Realme 9 Pro. |
| 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, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Realme 9 Pro has a more feature-rich camera system, including 4K video, digital image stabilization, and night mode. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Realme 9 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, pixel density, and refresh rate provide a much sharper and smoother visual experience, making it more enjoyable for media consumption and gaming.
- Much Better Performance: Significantly more powerful chipset and GPU result in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging drastically reduces charging time compared to the 15W on the Samsung.
- Better Cameras: Improved main sensor, selfie, and wide-angle cameras combined with additional video features and camera modes result in better overall photography and videography experience.
- Modern Software: Ships with a newer version of Android, with an available upgrade, providing newer features and security updates.
- Better Audio Features: Hi-Res Audio and a noise cancelling microphone results in higher quality audio and clearer calls.
- Better Connectivity: Supports more WiFi bands and Bluetooth audio codecs.
- Gyroscope: The Realme 9 Pro has a gyroscope sensor, which allows for better motion tracking and AR capabilities.
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Telephoto and Depth Camera: The inclusion of a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, and a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode effects is missing from the Realme 9 Pro.
- DXOMark Score: The Galaxy A12 has a DXOMark score, which may be useful for users who prioritize this.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung A12: Sacrifices display quality, performance, charging speed, and advanced camera features for a lower price point.
- Realme 9 Pro: May be slightly more expensive, potentially not as good of a value for users on a tight budget.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Those looking for a basic smartphone at a lower price point.
- Users with minimal needs: Those who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, and basic social media browsing.
- Users needing a telephoto lens: Users who specifically prioritize a dedicated telephoto zoom lens.
Use Cases:
- Basic communication and web browsing.
- Casual photo taking and social media sharing.
Realme 9 Pro Ideal User:
- Users seeking better performance: Those who want a smooth and responsive experience for gaming, social media, and multitasking.
- Users who value a quality display: Those who enjoy watching videos, browsing photos, and reading on their phone.
- Mobile photographers and videographers: Those who want to capture better photos and videos using their phone.
- Users who want faster charging: Users who prefer to spend less time plugged into a charger.
- Users who want enhanced audio: Users who value clearer voice calls and quality playback.
Use Cases:
- Gaming and high-performance applications.
- High-resolution video streaming and media consumption.
- Advanced photography and videography.
- Users who require advanced features like AR applications.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is your budget? (The A12 will be more budget friendly but will sacrifice performance and camera quality.)
- How important is performance and display quality to you? (The Realme 9 Pro offers significantly better performance and display)
- What are your photography/videography needs? (Both are adequate for daily use but the Realme 9 Pro has more features and better quality)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight budget, basic needs: The Samsung Galaxy A12 is more suitable for basic use and if your budget is extremely limited.
- Scenario 2: Moderate budget, performance needed: The Realme 9 Pro is the better choice due to its significantly better performance and more features.
- Scenario 3: Photography is a priority: The Realme 9 Pro offers much better video features, higher-resolution cameras with better low light capability.
- Scenario 4: Enhanced Audio: The Realme 9 Pro has Hi-Res Audio and noise-cancelling microphone which will enhance the user experience for these use cases.
- Scenario 5: Fast charging is desired: The Realme 9 Pro's 33W charging is much faster than the 15W charging of the A12.
My Choice and Why
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would pick the Realme 9 Pro. The massive difference in performance (nearly 4x in AnTuTu score), the far superior 120Hz display, faster charging, and significantly better camera capabilities make it a much more enjoyable and versatile device. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 has a telephoto lens and a depth sensor, this doesn't outweigh the huge gains the Realme 9 Pro provides in the areas that are most critical for a satisfying daily user experience.
The Realme 9 Pro, simply put, would provide a much smoother, faster, higher quality and overall more satisfying experience. I value performance and display quality for daily use more than a telephoto and depth camera that will be used less frequently, and that's why I'd prefer the Realme 9 Pro.
