1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G and the Realme 12 Pro, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.2 × 76.1 × 9.1 mm | 161.5 × 74 × 8.8 mm | The A32 5G is slightly larger, potentially feeling bulkier in hand. The Realme 12 Pro is more compact and easier to handle |
| Weight | 205g | 190g | Realme 12 Pro is noticeably lighter, enhancing comfort during extended use and portability. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Realme 12 Pro offers a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1080 x 2412 | Realme 12 Pro provides significantly sharper visuals, leading to clearer text and images. |
| PPI | 270 | 394 | Realme 12 Pro's higher pixel density results in noticeably crisper and more detailed display. |
| Technology | TFT LCD | AMOLED | Realme 12 Pro's AMOLED screen offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than the A32's LCD, especially noticeable when viewing HDR content. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Realme 12 Pro provides smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall fluidity of the user experience, particularly when gaming or browsing social media. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 950 nits | Realme 12 Pro provides much better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight compared to A32 5G, which would be difficult to see under direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Realme 12 Pro's Snapdragon chipset is significantly more powerful and energy efficient resulting in faster app launching, smoother gaming, and better multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 249,720 | 574,000 | Realme 12 Pro demonstrates notably superior performance, handling demanding tasks and games far better than the A32 5G. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 710 | Realme 12 Pro's Adreno GPU offers superior graphics performance for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2", 0.7µm | Both have similar main camera performance, though Realme has 2MP higher resolution and a different sensor. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.4 | Realme 12 Pro offers slightly better selfie detail, while the A32 5G's wider aperture may perform slightly better in low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.74", 0.8µm | Realme 12 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities, allowing users to capture detailed shots from a distance. The A32 5G lacks a telephoto lens. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | None | Samsung A32 5G includes a wide angle camera for ultrawide shots. The Realme 12 Pro does not have a dedicated ultrawide. |
| Portrait Mode (depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung A32 5G provides a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode which adds a bokeh effect. Realme 12 Pro does not have a dedicated depth sensor. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung A32 5G includes a macro camera for taking close up images. The Realme 12 Pro does not have a dedicated macro. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 1.12µm | Realme 12 Pro's has a combined wide angle and macro lens. Samsung A32 5G does not offer this combined functionality. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps | 4K@30fps with EIS, 1080p@30/60/120fps with EIS | Both phones offer similar video recording capabilities, but the Realme 12 Pro includes EIS across different frame rates for steadier video, especially while moving. Realme 12 Pro also features 240fps slow motion. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, Digital Image stabilization, Ultra stable video | Triple camera, Optical Zoom, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) , Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) | Realme 12 Pro offers a more versatile camera setup including OIS for steadier images, and better autofocus. The Samsung includes ultra stable video recording for shakey videos. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have the same battery capacity, implying similar battery life under comparable usage. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Realme 12 Pro charges much faster, allowing users to quickly top up their battery and spend less time plugged in. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 14 | Realme 12 Pro offers a more up-to-date Android experience with the latest features and security updates right out of the box. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Realme 12 Pro supports the faster Wi-Fi 6 standard, offering better speeds and performance for compatible networks, plus it has Wi-Fi MIMO. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Realme 12 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version, offering more features and potentially better energy efficiency. The realme also supports better bluetooth codecs such as aptX, LDAC and SBC. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Realme 12 Pro supports more satellite systems, enabling more precise and reliable location tracking. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 64/128 GB | 256/512 GB | Realme 12 Pro provides significantly more storage space, enabling users to store more apps, photos, videos, and other content. |
| RAM | 4/6/8 GB | 8/12 GB | Realme 12 Pro's larger RAM capacity means better multitasking and smoother operation when running multiple apps or demanding games. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Realme 12 Pro offers superior audio experience with stereo speakers, hi-res audio and improved microphone performance. |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Basic Fingerprint sensor | The side mounted fingerprint sensor is likely to be faster and more convenient to use than the basic sensor of the Realme 12 Pro. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Realme 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Proximity, Fingerprint, Geomagnetic | Accelerometer, Proximity, Fingerprint, Gyroscope | Realme 12 Pro's gyroscope offers additional motion sensing capabilities, which is beneficial for gaming and AR applications. The A32 5G does have a geomagentic sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Advantages:
- Wide Angle & Macro Lenses: Offers a dedicated wide-angle lens and macro lens for more versatility in shooting.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Often faster and more convenient to access than a basic sensor.
- Geomagnetic Sensor: The Samsung A32 5G has a geomagnetic sensor that the realme lacks.
Practical Implications of A32 5G Advantages:
- The wide-angle lens is useful for group photos and landscape shots, while the macro lens is for detailed close-ups.
- The side-mounted sensor provides quick unlocking with a natural grip.
- The geomagnetic sensor enables compass apps and helps in navigation.
Realme 12 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: Snapdragon chipset and higher AnTuTu score provide a much smoother and faster user experience.
- Superior Display: AMOLED panel with higher resolution, refresh rate, and brightness offers a much more visually appealing experience.
- Faster Charging: 67W charging drastically reduces charging time compared to 15W.
- Better Camera Setup: Includes a telephoto lens with OIS, offering optical zoom capabilities and improved image stabilization.
- More Storage and RAM: Comes with a minimum of 256 GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
- Stereo Speakers & Enhanced Audio: Stereo speakers with enhanced audio makes it a better multimedia consumption device.
- Newer Software: Newer Android 14 out of the box with the most up to date features.
- Advanced Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and more satellite GPS systems.
Practical Implications of Realme 12 Pro Advantages:
- The enhanced performance results in lag-free multitasking, smoother gaming, and quicker app loading.
- The superior display offers vibrant colors and a fluid experience, making it better for consuming media.
- Faster charging is incredibly convenient for users who need to top up their phone quickly.
- The telephoto lens with OIS provides versatility in photography, while OIS helps capture steadier photos and videos.
- The extra storage accommodates more photos, videos, and apps.
- Newer OS offers a more up to date software experience.
- Enhanced connectivity enables more efficient network usage.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Realme 12 Pro lacks a dedicated Wide Angle and Macro lenses: The lack of a dedicated wide-angle lens can be a limitation for some users who prefer ultrawide shots.
- Samsung Galaxy A32 5G has much slower charging - The 15W charging of the A32 5G is significantly slower than the 67W charging of the Realme 12 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy A32 5G has an older OS - The A32 5G will be stuck with Android 13 as its latest update, while the Realme 12 Pro runs Android 14.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Ideal User:
- Users on a tight budget who need basic smartphone functionalities.
- Those who prefer a wider range of cameras with ultrawide and macro lens included.
- Individuals who don't prioritize high performance and are happy with moderate multitasking.
- Users who prefer a side mounted fingerprint sensor.
Use Cases for A32 5G:
- Basic web browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Taking occasional photos with its wide-angle and macro lens.
- Streaming music and video with standard resolution.
- Basic gaming that doesn't require high-end performance.
- Using navigation apps thanks to its geomagnetic sensor.
Realme 12 Pro Ideal User:
- Users who value performance, a great display, and a good camera system.
- Those who want a modern experience with fast charging.
- Individuals who need a phone for multitasking, gaming, and consuming media.
- Users who prefer a telephoto lens with optical zoom for photography.
Use Cases for Realme 12 Pro:
- Gaming with higher graphics settings and smooth performance.
- Watching high-resolution videos on a vibrant AMOLED display.
- Multitasking with several apps open without lag.
- Capturing high-quality photos with the telephoto lens.
- Quickly charging the battery on the go.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is the budget-friendly option, offering good value for users who need a basic phone but has a much slower charging speed.
- The Realme 12 Pro offers a better price-to-value ratio for users willing to pay more for superior performance, display, and camera capabilities.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a new smartphone?
- Primary Use: What will you mostly use your phone for? (Gaming, photography, daily tasks)
- Priorities: Do you prioritize display quality, performance, camera versatility, or battery life?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious Basic User: If you're on a tight budget and need a phone for basic tasks, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is an acceptable option. You will miss out on high-end performance, display quality and fast charging.
- Scenario 2: Multimedia and Gaming Enthusiast: If you want a high-performance device with a great display for media consumption and gaming, the Realme 12 Pro is the clear winner.
- Scenario 3: Photography Lover: If you value a versatile camera with telephoto zoom capabilities and OIS, the Realme 12 Pro is more suitable. The lack of a dedicated ultrawide and macro lenses are trade offs to consider. If ultrawide and macro lenses are desired, the A32 5G is the only option here.
- Scenario 4: Daily All-Arounder: If you need a phone that is able to do everything and is responsive and fast without needing to spend too much, the Realme 12 Pro offers better performance and features at a similar price point, if not slightly more.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Realme 12 Pro. The Realme 12 Pro offers a much better experience overall thanks to its superior display, faster charging, better performance, telephoto lens with OIS, and up-to-date software. Although it lacks a dedicated wide angle lens and macro lens, the Realme's telephoto capabilities and the overall improved user experience are more important to me personally.
