1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | 160.5 × 75.7 × 6.8 mm | Mi 11 Lite is noticeably thinner and slightly shorter, making it more pocketable and comfortable to hold. A12 has a larger overall volume. |
| Weight | 205g | 157g | Mi 11 Lite is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and less tiring for one-handed operation. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.55" | Practically identical screen size. Minor 0.05" difference is negligible in everyday use. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Mi 11 Lite offers a much sharper and clearer display with significantly more pixels, resulting in less pixelation and better detail for viewing text, images, and videos. |
| PPI | 270 | 402 | Mi 11 Lite's higher pixel density results in a visibly sharper display with smoother text and more detailed visuals. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | Mi 11 Lite's AMOLED display provides deeper blacks, higher contrast, more vibrant colours, and better energy efficiency for dark themes, resulting in a superior viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Mi 11 Lite offers slightly smoother animations and scrolling compared to the A12, resulting in a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both are missing brightness specifications. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G | Mi 11 Lite's Snapdragon chipset is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 355,871 | Mi 11 Lite has much higher benchmark scores. This means it's more capable of handling demanding apps, multitasking, and games smoothly. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 618 | Mi 11 Lite's Adreno GPU provides noticeably better gaming performance and graphics processing capabilities. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4250mAh | A12's larger battery may offer longer battery life, but real-world usage can vary. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 33W fast charging | Mi 11 Lite charges significantly faster, reducing downtime and keeping you going. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Li-Polymer batteries are typically considered more stable with a higher energy density. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Res | 48MP | 64MP | Mi 11 Lite's main camera captures higher resolution images with more details. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.79 | Mi 11 Lite's wider aperture allows more light, resulting in better low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.97" | Mi 11 Lite has a slightly larger sensor, allowing more light for better photos. |
| Main Camera Sensor Model | Samsung S5KGM2 | Samsung GW3 | Different image sensors, which will impact photo quality. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm pixel size | 0.70 µm pixel size | Mi 11 Lite has a smaller pixel size, which is generally good with high pixel count, also its sensor size is slightly bigger. |
| Selfie Camera Res | 8MP | 16MP | Mi 11 Lite's front camera captures higher resolution selfie images. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.45 | A12 has a slightly wider aperture, which is better for low-light selfie shots. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP | None | A12 includes a dedicated telephoto lens, which may offer better digital zoom capability compared to software-based solutions on the Mi 11 Lite, despite the low resolution. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | 8MP | Mi 11 Lite's wide-angle camera captures higher resolution and wider photos. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP | None | A12 has a dedicated depth sensor that helps with portrait photography by improving blur. |
| Macro Lens | None | 5MP | Mi 11 Lite has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Max Video Res | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps | Mi 11 Lite offers a higher video resolution, allowing for more detail in your videos. It also supports EIS for smoother videos. |
| Slow-motion | 30 fps | 960 fps | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite offers a higher slow-motion fps capability. |
| DXOMark Score | Main: 90, Photo: 0, Video: 0 | [] | Only Samsung Galaxy A12 has been tested for Mobile camera by DXOMark. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (Upgradable to 12) | Android 11 | Mi 11 Lite has a slightly newer base Android version, although A12 is upgradeable to 12. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Mi 11 Lite supports the newer Wi-Fi 5 standard, which offers faster speeds and more stable connections on compatible networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 LE | Mi 11 Lite has a slightly newer Bluetooth version which offer faster data rates and improved efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | Both phones have similar location capabilities with slightly different satelite systems. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 64/128 GB | Both have the same maximum of 128 GB, with the A12 having a lower 32 GB option. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 4/6/8 GB | Mi 11 Lite offers up to 8GB of RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and better performance with RAM-intensive applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, so the user must choose the required internal storage at purchase. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Features | Basic Audio | Stereo Speakers, 2 mics | Mi 11 Lite has stereo speakers for a richer audio experience and two microphones for better voice capture. |
| Security | |||
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint | Side-mounted fingerprint | Both phones offer basic biometric security with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Mi 11 Lite's screen is better protected from scratches and damage with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. |
| Sensors | Biometric, Proximity, Accelerometer | Biometric, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity | Mi 11 Lite offers a more comprehensive sensor suite, enabling more advanced features and potentially better app compatibility. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A12 Advantages:
- Potentially longer battery life: Larger 5000mAh battery might offer better endurance for users who prioritize battery longevity.
- Telephoto lens: Offers a dedicated telephoto lens, which may provide a slight advantage in zoom capabilities, despite its low resolution.
- Dedicated depth sensor: Offers improved portrait mode with a dedicated depth sensor.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite Advantages:
- Superior display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution, refresh rate, and pixel density, offering significantly better visual experience.
- Significantly better performance: Much more powerful Snapdragon 732G chipset and Adreno GPU for smoother multitasking, better app loading, and gaming.
- Faster charging: 33W fast charging allows much quicker battery top-ups compared to the 15W on the A12.
- Better camera: Higher resolution main, selfie and wide angle cameras. The camera also performs better in low light conditions and is capable of 4K video recording. It also has a dedicated Macro lens.
- Modern build: Thinner and lighter design, with better screen protection thanks to Gorilla Glass 5.
- Better Audio: Stereo speakers and 2 microphones
- More comprehensive sensor suite: Includes gyroscope and compass, which can improve the experience with certain apps and games.
Trade-offs:
- The Galaxy A12 offers a larger battery capacity, which might translate to longer battery life, but its performance is significantly lower compared to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.
- The Galaxy A12 has a dedicated telephoto and depth sensor which Xiaomi lacks but they're at a lower resolution than other cameras and the software processing might be inferior as well.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Ideal User: Users on a tight budget who prioritize battery life and don't need top-tier performance or display quality.
- Use Cases:
- Basic smartphone tasks such as calls, messaging, and browsing.
- Users needing long battery life for extended use without frequent charging.
- Users who would like a dedicated telephoto and depth sensor, although at a low resolution.
- Price-to-value: Budget-friendly option, but compromises significantly on performance and display.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite:
- Ideal User: Users who want a well-rounded smartphone experience with a focus on display quality, performance, and camera capabilities without a top-end price.
- Use Cases:
- Multimedia consumption (videos, movies, social media) with its high-quality AMOLED screen.
- Moderate gaming and running demanding applications.
- Photography enthusiasts who value image quality, 4k Video, and camera flexibility (macro, wide).
- Users who prioritize fast charging and smooth performance.
- Price-to-value: Offers excellent value with a balance of features and performance for its price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Ask:
- What is my budget? If budget is severely limited, the A12 is the budget option.
- How important are display quality and performance to me? If display and performance are crucial, the Mi 11 Lite is the clear choice.
- How important is battery life and charging speed to me? The A12 may offer longer battery life, but the Mi 11 Lite charges significantly faster.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is a primary concern, and basic use is all that's required.
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A12
- Scenario 2: Want best display and performance for the price and a good user experience without a top-end price.
- Recommendation: Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite
- Scenario 3: Want a decent camera system with telephoto and depth, and a larger battery.
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A12
What I would choose and why!
I would choose the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite. While the Samsung Galaxy A12 has a larger battery and dedicated telephoto/depth sensors, the overall experience offered by the Mi 11 Lite is vastly superior. The AMOLED display is a huge advantage for daily use, offering much better visuals than the A12's LCD. The significantly higher performance of the Snapdragon 732G chipset makes the Mi 11 Lite feel much faster and more responsive, crucial for modern applications and light gaming. Additionally, the significantly faster charging speed is very convenient for me. The camera system is more versatile with better results overall. The additional features such as stereo speakers are useful for general multimedia consumption. Overall, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite offers a much more premium experience and is well worth the price difference.
