Samsung Galaxy A32 5G vs Samsung Galaxy M12 - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date January 22, 2021 April 30, 2021
Release Year 2021 2021

Physical

Volume 113.71 cm³ 120.74 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.17 "/g 3.07 "/g
Weight 205 g 212 g
Height 164.2 mm 164 mm
Width 76.1 mm 75.9 mm
Thickness 9.1 mm 9.7 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Awesome Black
  • Awesome White
  • Awesome Blue
  • Awesome Violet
  • Black
  • Blue
  • Green

Display

Screen Size 6.5 " 6.5 "
Resolution 720 x 1600 720 x 1600
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 81.6 % 81.9 %
Pixel Density 270 PPI 270 PPI
Refresh Rate 60 Hz 90 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A N/A
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 118.34 mAh/in² 118.34 mAh/in²
Battery Density 43.97 mAh/cm³ 41.41 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm) Exynos 850 (8 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Mali-G57 MC3 Mali-G52

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0, OTG USB Type-C 2.0

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 11 11
Maximum OS Version 13

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A32 5GSamsung Galaxy M12Practical Impact
Design
Dimensions164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1 mm164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mmSimilar size, M12 slightly thicker; M12 might feel a bit more bulky in hand.
Weight205g212gA32 5G is slightly lighter, potentially more comfortable during extended use.
Display
Size6.5"6.5"Identical screen size, both offer a large viewing area.
Resolution720 x 1600720 x 1600Both have the same HD+ resolution; not the sharpest, but sufficient for everyday use.
PPI270270Similar sharpness; text and images will look similarly detailed on both screens.
TechnologyTFT LCDPLS LCDA32 5G's TFT LCD should offer slightly better viewing angles and color reproduction compared to the M12's PLS LCD.
Refresh Rate60Hz90HzM12 offers smoother scrolling and animations with a higher refresh rate.
Brightness0 nits0 nitsBoth have the same peak brightness.
Performance
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 720 (7nm)Exynos 850 (8nm)A32 5G has a more powerful, more efficient chip, leading to faster app loading, better gaming and smoother overall use.
AnTuTu Score249,720117,341A32 5G is significantly faster, especially in demanding tasks like gaming or heavy multitasking.
GPUMali-G57 MC3Mali-G52A32 5G has a more capable GPU, resulting in better gaming performance and graphics rendering.
Camera
Main Camera Res.48MP48MPBoth have the same main sensor resolution, so similar detail capture in good lighting.
Main Camera Aperturef/1.8f/2.0A32 5G's wider aperture might result in slightly better low-light performance.
Selfie Camera Res.13MP8MPA32 5G takes higher-resolution selfies with more detail.
Wide Angle Res.8MP5MPA32 5G captures wider shots with more detail.
Macro Lens Res.5MP2MPA32 5G captures close-up shots with more detail.
Video4K@30fps1080p@30fpsA32 5G can record in higher 4K resolution, resulting in better video quality.
Slow Motion120fps30fpsA32 5G slow motion videos are smoother.
Battery
Capacity5000mAh5000mAhIdentical battery capacity, suggesting similar battery life.
Charging15W Fast Charging15W Fast ChargingBoth support the same charging speed, recharging times are expected to be similar.
Software
OSAndroid 11 with upgrade to 13Android 11A32 5G is guaranteed to get future OS version updates.
Connectivity
Wi-Fi802.11ac, Dual-band802.11nA32 5G supportes faster Wi-Fi with Dual-band support, offering more stable and faster wireless connection.
Bluetooth5.1 LE5.0A32 5G has newer Bluetooth, which is more efficient and may offer a better connection and better compatibility.
GPSGalileo includedNo GalileoA32 5G supports Galileo, providing more accurate location tracking.
Storage
Internal64GB or 128GB32GB, 64GB or 128GBBoth offer similar maximum storage, but M12 is available in 32GB variant.
RAM4GB, 6GB or 8GB3GB, 4GB or 6GBA32 5G offers more RAM, improving multitasking and app performance.
ExpandableNoNoNeither phone supports additional storage via microSD card.
Audio
QualityDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital PlusBasic audioA32 5G will provide better audio experience, especially with headphones.
Security
Featuresside-mounted fingerprint sensorside-mounted fingerprint sensorBoth phones offer the same level of biometric security.
Sensors
FeaturesFingerprint, Accelerometer, ProximityFingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, ProximityM12 has the extra gyro sensor.
## 2. Key Differences Analysis

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Advantages:

  • Significantly Better Performance: The Dimensity 720 chipset offers a much higher AnTuTu score, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
  • Superior Camera System: Offers higher resolution for selfie and wide angle lenses, a wider aperture main camera, 4K video recording, and better slow-motion capabilities.
  • Better Display Technology: TFT LCD display provides better visual experience.
  • Faster Wi-Fi: Supports dual-band Wi-Fi with newer standards.
  • More RAM Options: Up to 8GB of RAM, resulting in improved multitasking capabilities.
  • Better Audio: Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus offer enhanced audio quality.
  • Guaranteed Software Updates: Will receive a more recent Android version upgrade compared to the M12.
  • More GPS Options: Supports Galileo for more precise location tracking.

Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:

  • Higher Refresh Rate Display: Offers smoother scrolling with 90Hz refresh rate.
  • Gyroscope: For more accurate motion tracking, useful in some games and apps.
  • More Bluetooth features: More Bluetooth profiles to increase the compatibility.

Practical Implications & Trade-offs:

  • The A32 5G is clearly superior in performance and camera quality, making it a better choice for power users and photography enthusiasts, however the M12 offers a smoother screen with a faster refresh rate and more bluetooth features.
  • The M12 might be more appealing for budget-conscious users who prioritize smooth scrolling, a large battery and more bluetooth features, but at the expense of lower processing power and camera quality.
  • Both phones lack expandable storage.
  • Both phones have identical battery capacities and charging speeds, so no real advantage here.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Ideal User for Samsung Galaxy A32 5G:

  • Power users: Those who frequently multitask, play games, or use demanding applications.
  • Photography enthusiasts: Users who want better camera performance with more detail and video features.
  • Users looking for future-proofing: Those who prefer a phone that will receive OS updates.
  • Users who prefer better audio quality: Those who value more immersive audio with headphones.

Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy A32 5G:

  • Playing graphically intensive mobile games.
  • Capturing high-resolution photos and videos.
  • Multitasking between multiple apps.
  • Consuming multimedia content with enhanced audio.

Ideal User for Samsung Galaxy M12:

  • Budget-conscious buyers: Those who prioritize affordability.
  • Users who value smooth screen scrolling: Users who want a smoother scrolling experience.
  • Users who don't need the highest performance: Those with less demanding use cases and want a longer lasting battery.

Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy M12:

  • General everyday use like browsing social media and messaging.
  • Watching videos and streaming content.
  • Users who prioritize a large battery with a 90 Hz display.

Price-to-Value Ratio:

  • The A32 5G likely offers a better price-to-value ratio for those who prioritize performance and camera quality.
  • The M12 may appeal to budget-conscious users who are willing to compromise on performance.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. How important is performance and gaming to you? (A32 5G is much faster)
  2. Do you prioritize camera quality, or video recording capabilities? (A32 5G offers higher resolution, a wider aperture, and better video)
  3. Do you want a smoother screen experience? (M12 offers a 90Hz display)

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Gaming & Multimedia: If you play games, stream videos or multitask, choose the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G for better performance and enhanced audio.
  • Scenario 2: Basic Use & Budget: If you want a smoother experience when scrolling while on a budget, pick the Samsung Galaxy M12.
  • Scenario 3: Photography: If you frequently take photos, choose the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G for higher quality images and 4k videos.

My Choice

Based on the provided specifications, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G.

Reasoning:

While the M12 offers a slightly smoother scrolling experience with its 90Hz display, the A32 5G has clear advantages in crucial areas:

  • Performance: The Dimensity 720 chipset in the A32 5G provides a massive performance boost, making it much more capable for multitasking and gaming. This is a significant factor for me.
  • Camera Quality: The A32 5G has a significantly better camera system, with higher resolutions for front and wide-angle lenses, a wider aperture for the main camera, and better video recording capabilities, including 4K.
  • Future Proofing: The A32 5G gets a guaranteed update to Android 13, providing newer OS features and improved security.
  • Audio Quality: Better audio quality and more features for the A32 5G make it better for consuming media.

While the M12 is a more budget-friendly option and offers a faster refresh rate, the benefits that the A32 5G provides outweighs the advantages of the M12 for my personal preference. The enhanced performance, better camera, better software support, and better audio are crucial factors for my personal needs and therefore make the A32 5G the better option for me.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

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