1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm | 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm | Similar size, but the A12 is noticeably thicker and has a larger overall volume, potentially feeling bulkier in hand. |
| Weight | 205g | 205g | Both phones feel equally heavy in hand. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | Poco X4 Pro 5G offers a slightly more immersive viewing experience due to its larger screen. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Poco X4 Pro 5G provides much sharper and clearer visuals, with text and images appearing significantly more detailed. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 395 | Poco X4 Pro 5G has much sharper images and text, making it easier to read and view content, especially small text. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | Poco X4 Pro 5G has vibrant colors, deep blacks and much better contrast, and offers better visibility in direct sunlight and can improve battery life with dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Poco X4 Pro 5G provides smoother scrolling and animations, making the user interface feel more responsive. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | Poco X4 Pro 5G offers significantly better outdoor visibility, ensuring the screen is readable even in bright sunlight. The Galaxy A12 will be nearly unusable outdoors on a sunny day. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio P35 (12nm) | Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) | Poco X4 Pro 5G has a much more powerful and energy-efficient chipset, enabling faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 103,000 | 395,978 | Poco X4 Pro 5G is substantially faster and more capable of handling demanding tasks and games, as well as being more future-proof than the Galaxy A12. |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 619 | Poco X4 Pro 5G's GPU is significantly more capable, allowing for smoother graphics in gaming and other graphically intensive applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones should offer similar battery life for general use, depending on usage patterns and settings. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Poco X4 Pro 5G charges much faster, allowing you to get back up to a full battery in a shorter amount of time, reducing downtime. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2" | 108MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52" | Poco X4 Pro 5G main camera has higher resolution and larger sensor, resulting in more detailed and sharper photos, especially in good lighting conditions. The wider aperture helps with low light photography too. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.4 | Poco X4 Pro 5G has higher resolution, leading to better selfies with more detail. The Samsung has a slightly wider aperture that may slightly improve low-light performance of the selfie camera, though it will likely have lower detail. |
| Telephoto Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Galaxy A12 offers basic zoom functionality via a dedicated telephoto lens, though image quality may be limited by the lower resolution and aperture. Poco X4 Pro doesn't have this. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" | Poco X4 Pro 5G offers a slightly higher resolution wide-angle camera with a slightly larger sensor, resulting in better details and image quality compared to Galaxy A12. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Galaxy A12 offers a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait photos with bokeh effects, though the low resolution may be limiting. Poco X4 Pro doesn't have this. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" | Poco X4 Pro 5G allows for capturing close-up details with a dedicated macro lens. The Samsung lacks this. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, No Slow-motion | 1080p@30fps, 120fps Slow-motion | Both capture 1080p video, however the Poco X4 Pro 5G has slow-motion recording at 120fps, and offers Digital image stabilization, and Ultra stable video, while the Galaxy A12 only offers stabilization in the regular video recording. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to 12 | Android 11 | Poco X4 Pro 5G has a newer base Android version out of the box. The A12 may have some newer features via its OS update, but the older android version makes it unlikely that it has many of the newest software features.. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11n | 802.11ac | Poco X4 Pro 5G supports faster and more reliable Wi-Fi standards, resulting in faster download and upload speeds and a more stable connection. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Poco X4 Pro 5G has a newer version of Bluetooth, offering better energy efficiency, a wider variety of audio codecs, and more stable connections with Bluetooth accessories. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Poco X4 Pro 5G supports more satellite systems, providing better location accuracy, especially in dense urban environments. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 64/128/256 GB | Poco X4 Pro 5G offers larger storage options for users who need to store a lot of media, apps, and files. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 6/8 GB | Poco X4 Pro 5G offers more RAM options, resulting in better multitasking capabilities and smoother overall performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, limiting flexibility for users who require a lot of storage, so it is essential that users purchase the model with enough storage to meet their needs. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic Audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Poco X4 Pro 5G provides significantly better audio with stereo speakers and better sound quality which makes for a much better media consumption experience. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Side-mounted fingerprint | Both phones use side-mounted fingerprint sensors for quick and convenient biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Poco X4 Pro 5G's screen has better protection from scratches and impacts. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer | Biometric: Fingerprint; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Proximity: Ultrasonic proximity virtual | The Poco X4 Pro 5G has more sensors, better for advanced functionalities and gaming. |
| ## 2. Key Differences Analysis |
Advantages of Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G:
- Superior Display: AMOLED with higher resolution, refresh rate (120Hz), and much higher brightness. This is the most significant difference, offering much richer, more vibrant visuals, and significantly improved outdoor visibility.
- Significantly Better Performance: More powerful Snapdragon chipset (6nm vs 12nm) results in faster processing, better multitasking, and smoother gaming performance and app load times.
- Faster Charging: 67W fast charging allows for much quicker recharge times compared to the A12's 15W charging.
- Enhanced Audio: Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, and Hi-Res Audio provide a much more immersive and enjoyable media consumption experience.
- Improved Camera: Higher-resolution main and selfie cameras, macro lens, and slow-motion video recording provide more versatility and higher quality images.
- Modern Connectivity: Newer Bluetooth and WiFi standards offer better speeds and more reliable connections.
- More RAM/Storage Options: Larger base storage and RAM options are available and will allow for better multitasking.
- Better Build Quality: Offers screen protection with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Advantages of Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Dedicated Telephoto and Depth Sensors: The Galaxy A12 has a telephoto and dedicated portrait camera, which could be preferred by some users. However, these are low-resolution cameras.
- Wider aperture on selfie camera: The wider aperture on the selfie camera means it might perform marginally better in low-light situations.
- Cheaper price The A12 is typically priced lower than the X4 Pro 5G
Trade-offs:
- The Poco X4 Pro 5G does not have a telephoto lens or depth sensor. Users who value these features might find the camera system of the Samsung better.
- The A12 has a much lower price, and users who cannot afford or do not need the higher-end specifications of the Poco X4 Pro 5G might prefer it.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A12:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize basic functionality over advanced features. Suitable for those who don't play demanding games, do not have high storage needs, mostly use it for basic social media, calls, and text, and prefer a device with a potentially lower price.
- Use Cases:
- Basic communication (calls, text).
- Casual social media browsing.
- Occasional photo-taking in good light conditions.
- Users not needing high performance or a great display.
- Price-to-Value: Offers a good value proposition for those on a tight budget, but with significant compromises in performance, display and camera.
Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize performance, display quality, and modern features, including those who enjoy mobile gaming, media consumption, and photography.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming.
- Streaming videos and movies.
- Photography and videography.
- Multitasking and running demanding applications.
- Users who want future-proof connectivity and features.
- Price-to-Value: Offers a high level of performance and features for its price, representing excellent value for money for tech-savvy users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a new phone? The Galaxy A12 is cheaper, however, the Poco X4 Pro 5G delivers much more value.
- Primary Use: What will you primarily use your phone for? Basic tasks or demanding applications?
- Display Preference: How important is a high-quality display (brightness, sharpness, color accuracy) to you?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Basic Use: If your budget is extremely tight and your needs are very basic (calls, texts, occasional social media), the Samsung Galaxy A12 might be sufficient. However, you must accept that this is an older phone that will have limited functionality, lower performance and a poor screen.
- Scenario 2: Moderate Budget, Modern Features: If you're willing to spend a bit more for a better all-around experience, including gaming, media consumption, and photography, the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G is the far superior choice.
- Scenario 3: High Performance & Media Consumption: If you want the best possible experience when consuming media, playing games or using more resource-intensive applications, then the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G is the only logical choice.
My Choice
I would choose the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G. The reasons are as follows:
- Display: The AMOLED screen with a high refresh rate, resolution and significantly higher brightness is a game-changer. The Galaxy A12's LCD screen is simply not competitive for modern usage.
- Performance: The Snapdragon 695 chip is much faster and more efficient, providing a significantly smoother experience for everyday usage and gaming.
- Features: The faster charging, enhanced audio, better camera and superior build quality on the Poco X4 Pro 5G provide a much more well-rounded experience.
- Value for Money: While it's more expensive, the value proposition of the Poco X4 Pro 5G is far greater. You are getting significantly more phone for your money.
While the Galaxy A12 is cheaper, the compromises in display, performance, and camera quality are too significant. The Poco X4 Pro 5G provides a far superior user experience that makes it the obvious choice for me.
