1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Realme Note 50 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 167.2 × 76.7 × 8 mm | Realme Note 50 is slightly taller and thinner, A12 is wider and thicker, potentially influencing one-handed use |
| Weight | 205g | 186g | Realme Note 50 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.74" | Realme Note 50 provides a slightly larger screen for more immersive viewing. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 720x1600 | Both have the same resolution, meaning similar sharpness. |
| PPI | 270 | 260 | Very similar pixel density, so very similar sharpness. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD on Realme Note 50 offers better viewing angles and color reproduction compared to PLS LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Realme Note 50 will have smoother animations, making scrolling and gaming more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | The screens have the same brightness, but no value available, so can't determine how readable they are in sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm) | The Unisoc chip in Realme Note 50 is significantly faster, resulting in better app performance and multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 248,000 | Realme Note 50 has much higher performance score, indicating significantly better overall speed and gaming capabilities. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G57 | Mali-G57 in Realme Note 50 is a more modern GPU, suggesting better graphics capabilities, especially for games. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have the same battery capacity, so they should have similar battery life. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging, Li-Ion | 10W fast charging, Li-Polymer | Samsung A12 charges faster, Li-Ion vs Li-Polymer is not that important in practical terms. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Res | 48MP | 13MP | Samsung A12 has a higher resolution main camera, allowing for more detailed photos. |
| Main Aperture | f/2.0 | f/2.2 | Samsung A12’s wider aperture allows more light for better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Res | 8MP | 5MP | Samsung A12 has higher resolution selfie camera, allowing for more detailed selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP | None | Samsung A12 offers optical zoom through its telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | None | Samsung A12 has a dedicated wide-angle lens. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP | None | Samsung A12 has a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode. |
| Black & White | None | 2MP | Realme Note 50 has a dedicated black & white lens. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps | Both phones offer similar video recording capabilities, fine for social media sharing. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (up to 12) | Android 13 | Realme Note 50 comes with a newer Android version, meaning it'll likely get security updates for longer. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | a/b/g/n | a/b/g/n/ac | Realme Note 50 supports more WiFi standards, especially the faster Wi-Fi 5 (ac). |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 LE | Both phones use similar Bluetooth versions, and support similar features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | Both phones offer similar location capabilities. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128GB | 64/128/256GB | Realme Note 50 offers higher storage options, especially 256 GB model. |
| RAM | 3/4/6GB | 3/4GB | Samsung A12 is available in more RAM options, especially 6GB RAM, for better multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for expandable storage via microSD cards. |
| Other | |||
| Fingerprint | Side-mounted | Side-mounted | Both offer same fingerprint security. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- More versatile camera setup: Includes telephoto, wide-angle and depth sensors, offering more flexibility in photography.
- Faster Charging: 15W vs 10W
- Higher RAM options: available up to 6GB which could improve multitasking compared to 4GB max on the Note 50
Realme Note 50 Advantages:
- Significantly better performance: The Unisoc T612 chipset offers much higher benchmark scores, translating to faster app loading and smoother gameplay.
- Smoother display: 90Hz refresh rate vs 60Hz provides a more fluid user experience.
- Larger display: 6.74" vs 6.5" screen offers more immersion.
- Newer OS: Android 13 out of the box.
- Higher Storage option: 256GB vs 128GB.
- Lighter design: Weighs 19g less than the A12.
- Better display technology: IPS LCD for better color reproduction.
- More modern WiFi: supports WiFi 5
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy A12 has a more versatile camera setup, but the Realme Note 50 has better performance.
- The Realme Note 50 has a larger and smoother display, but its charging speed is lower than the A12.
- Both phones have a similar battery capacity, but battery life is highly dependent on usage patterns.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious photographers: Users who value camera flexibility and want dedicated lenses for different scenarios on a budget.
- Users who want faster charging
Users who want more RAM: better multitasking on a budget.
Use Cases: Taking photos in various conditions (wide-angle landscapes, zoomed-in portraits), those needing faster charging.
Realme Note 50 Ideal User:
- Performance-focused budget users: Those who prioritize speed and responsiveness for daily tasks and gaming.
- Users who want a larger and smoother display: better for media consumption.
- Users who need more storage: better for media storage.
- Users who prefer lighter phones.
Users who prefer a more modern operating system.
Use Cases: Playing basic games, browsing social media, streaming videos, doing everyday tasks smoothly, people who prefer larger screens and smooth scrolling.
Price-to-Value:
- The Realme Note 50 likely offers a better price-to-performance ratio due to its significantly superior chipset, newer software and better screen.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your priority: camera versatility or performance? (A12 = Versatile camera, Note 50 = Better performance)
- Do you value a smoother display experience and larger screen or is charging speed more important? (Note 50 = smoother and larger screen, A12 = faster charging)
- How much storage do you need? (Note 50 has 256GB Option)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Social Media Enthusiast:
- If you mainly use your phone for social media, the Realme Note 50 is the better choice because of the 90Hz refresh rate, larger display and smoother animations.
Scenario 2: Budget Gamer:
- For those who intend to play games on a budget the Realme Note 50 is the better choice, because of it's superior performance and more modern GPU
Scenario 3: Photo Lover on a Budget:
- If camera versatility is a priority, the Samsung A12 offers better flexibility on a budget.
Scenario 4: All-rounder on a Budget:
- If you need the best performance in a budget phone, the Realme Note 50 is the better choice with it's significantly faster chipset, larger and smoother screen, newer Android version, and higher storage options.
My Choice
I would choose the Realme Note 50.
Reasoning:
While the Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a more versatile camera system on paper, the overall experience with the Realme Note 50 is likely to be significantly better for most users. The drastically improved performance, smoother display, larger screen, and newer OS make the daily experience more enjoyable. The Realme Note 50 also provides a higher storage option.
The faster chipset in the Realme Note 50 will result in a noticeable performance difference compared to the Samsung A12, making it a better choice for multitasking and general usage. Although the A12 has a faster charger, the benefit of the smoothness and extra storage outweighs it in my opinion. While some users may prefer the slightly more versatile camera of the A12, I believe the overall experience and responsiveness of the Realme Note 50 make it the better choice for most users.
