Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A12 vs. vivo iQOO 12
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-12-21 | 2023-11-14 | iQOO 12 is significantly newer, with access to newer technologies. |
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 163.2 × 75.9 × 8.1 mm | iQOO 12 is slightly thinner and lighter, making it marginally more comfortable to hold. |
| Weight | 205g | 198.5g | iQOO 12 is slightly lighter, which may be noticeable during prolonged usage. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.78" | iQOO 12 offers slightly more screen real estate for viewing content and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1260x2800 | iQOO 12 has much sharper text, images, and videos; the A12's display will look less crisp. |
| PPI | 270 | 453 | iQOO 12 has much higher pixel density, resulting in visibly sharper display quality. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | iQOO 12 provides deeper blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colors, and superior power efficiency, especially with dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | iQOO 12 offers significantly smoother animations and scrolling, enhancing responsiveness. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 3000 nits | iQOO 12 is much more viewable in bright outdoor conditions like sunny days. The A12's screen will be very difficult to use outdoors in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | iQOO 12 offers significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and far better gaming performance. A12 is suitable for basic tasks only. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 2,020,000 | iQOO 12 is vastly superior in overall performance, suitable for demanding tasks. A12 may struggle with modern apps and games. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 750 | iQOO 12 provides significantly superior graphics performance, suitable for gaming and graphically intensive apps. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Standard | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2" sensor, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.69, 1/1.3" sensor, 1.2µm | iQOO 12 has better low-light performance due to larger sensor and wider aperture, plus slightly higher resolution. |
| Selfie | 8MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.1" sensor, 1.0µm | iQOO 12 has higher resolution selfie camera; A12 has wider aperture. |
| Telephoto | 2MP, f/2.4 | 64MP, f/2.6, 1/2" sensor, 0.7µm | iQOO 12 has a vastly superior telephoto lens for zoomed-in shots with more detail. |
| Wide Angle | 5MP, f/2.2 | N/A | A12 has a dedicated wide-angle camera; iQOO 12 does not have a dedicated wide angle lens. |
| Portrait | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | A12 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait shots; iQOO 12 does not have a dedicated depth sensor. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76" sensor, 0.64µm | iQOO 12 has a combined wide-angle and macro camera, adding more versatility. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | iQOO 12 offers vastly superior video quality, higher resolutions, and more frame rate options, plus image stabilization. |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | iQOO 12 offers digital image stabilization while recording videos leading to smoother footage. |
| Slow Motion | 30fps | 960fps | iQOO 12 can capture significantly higher slow motion video framerate. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have the same battery capacity, suggesting similar potential battery life under similar usage conditions. |
| Charging | 15W | 120W | iQOO 12 charges much faster, allowing for rapid battery top-ups. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (upgradeable to 12) | Android 14 (upgradeable to 16) | iQOO 12 has a newer version of Android, providing access to new features, security, and potentially better performance. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | iQOO 12 supports much faster and more efficient Wi-Fi standards. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | iQOO 12 has a newer Bluetooth version, offering better speed, efficiency, and audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | iQOO 12 offers more precise positioning using multiple satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Both support dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128GB | 256/512/1024GB | iQOO 12 offers significantly more storage space for apps, photos, videos, and other files. |
| RAM | 3/4/6GB | 12/16GB | iQOO 12 has a large RAM, offering vastly better multitasking and performance with demanding apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | iQOO 12 offers a richer, more immersive audio experience with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Samsung Galaxy A12 provides more advanced security compared to vivo iQOO 12. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | iQOO 12 has a more comprehensive suite of sensors, beneficial for gaming and AR applications. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Lower Price: The A12 is significantly more affordable, making it accessible to budget-conscious consumers.
- Dedicated Wide-Angle and Depth Sensors: It features a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing expansive scenes and a depth sensor for portrait shots.
- Side Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Provides more secure biometric authentication.
vivo iQOO 12 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip offers a huge performance leap, ideal for demanding games and apps.
- Significantly Better Display: The AMOLED screen with 144Hz refresh rate and 3000 nits brightness offers an immersive viewing experience that is sharper and more responsive.
- Advanced Camera System: It has a much more capable camera with larger sensors, higher resolutions, 8K video recording, and OIS.
- Faster Charging: 120W fast charging dramatically reduces charging times.
- Newer Software: Android 14 with guaranteed upgrade to 16 ensures access to latest features and security updates.
- More Storage and RAM: Significantly more internal storage and RAM offer better performance and multitasking capabilities.
- Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers offer a much more immersive audio experience.
- More Comprehensive Set of Sensors: Provides more versatility in terms of using it with AR based apps and gaming.
- Latest Connectivity: It supports the latest WiFi and Bluetooth standards.
Trade-offs:
- Price: The iQOO 12 is considerably more expensive than the A12.
- Lack of Wide-Angle Lens: iQOO 12 does not have a dedicated wide-angle lens.
- Less Secure Biometric Authentication: iQOO 12 offers less secure fingerprint sensor as compared to the side mounted fingerprint sensor in Samsung Galaxy A12.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12 Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users: Those who prioritize affordability over top-tier performance.
- Basic smartphone users: Users who need a phone for calls, texts, social media, and web browsing without intensive tasks or gaming.
- Users who value dedicated wide-angle and depth sensors: Those who prefer having a dedicated wide-angle and depth sensor.
Samsung Galaxy A12 Use Cases:
- Primary phone for basic communication.
- Secondary phone for emergencies or as a backup device.
- Entry-level smartphone for first-time users.
- Capturing basic landscape or group photos using the wide-angle lens.
vivo iQOO 12 Ideal Users:
- Power users and gamers: Those who need the best performance for demanding games and apps.
- Media enthusiasts: Users who prioritize a high-quality display for videos and streaming.
- Photography enthusiasts: Those who want a versatile camera system with high resolution, 8K video, and good low light capabilities.
- Users who prefer superior audio experience: Users who prioritize better audio output with support for Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers.
vivo iQOO 12 Use Cases:
- High-performance gaming, editing, and multitasking.
- Watching high-definition movies and streaming content.
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos.
- Primary phone for users who prioritize performance and want the latest features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a smartphone?
- Primary Use Case: What will you primarily use the phone for (e.g., basic communication, gaming, photography)?
- Feature Importance: Which features are most important to you (e.g., display quality, performance, camera, battery life)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A12 is a better choice, providing basic smartphone functionality at a much lower cost.
- Scenario 2: Performance-Oriented User:
- Recommendation: vivo iQOO 12 is the clear winner, offering top-tier performance, a stunning display, and a superior camera.
- Scenario 3: Casual User who enjoys taking photos:
- Recommendation: Both phones are suitable, however if a wide-angle lens or a dedicated depth sensor is important, then Samsung Galaxy A12 is the better choice. If high quality images are more important, then vivo iQOO 12 is the better choice.
My Choice:
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would choose the vivo iQOO 12. My primary use case for a phone is multitasking, gaming, and photography, and the iQOO 12 excels in all of these areas. The significantly superior performance, high refresh rate AMOLED display, versatile camera system (despite the lack of a dedicated wide-angle sensor), and faster charging are worth the higher price for me. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 has its own advantages (such as being more affordable and having a dedicated wide-angle lens), they do not outweigh the advantages of the iQOO 12 for my specific needs and preferences. The newer software, better audio, and more future-proof performance also heavily influence my decision.
