1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 158.9 × 73.6 × 8.4 mm | 162.9 × 76 × 8.9 mm | Xiaomi is slightly larger and thicker, might feel less comfortable in small hands or tight pockets. |
| Weight | 184g | 208.4g | Samsung is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and portability. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Xiaomi provides superior screen protection against scratches and minor impacts. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.4" | 6.67" | Xiaomi provides a slightly larger viewing area, which is better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both have the same sharpness for detailed images and text. |
| PPI | 411 | 395 | Both offer similar pixel density. Text and images will look sharp on both screens. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both technologies offer good color reproduction and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Xiaomi provides smoother scrolling and animations, making the user experience feel more fluid and responsive, especially for gaming. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 900 nits | Xiaomi offers vastly superior screen visibility in bright sunlight, making it much easier to use outdoors. Samsung Galaxy A32 has no brightness info. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) | Xiaomi's chipset is much more powerful, resulting in significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 200,458 | 573,100 | Xiaomi provides dramatically better performance in synthetic benchmarks, indicating a significant advantage in real-world usage. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 (ARM Mali-G52 2EEMC2) | Mali-G68 MC4 (Mali-G68 MC4) | Xiaomi offers superior graphics performance, suitable for higher-end mobile gaming. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8 | 200MP, f/1.65 | Xiaomi's camera captures far more detail and performs better in low-light situations due to the higher resolution and slightly wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.45 | Samsung's selfie camera has slightly higher resolution and a wider aperture for brighter selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2 | Both phones have comparable wide-angle cameras for capturing larger scenes. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung offers dedicated depth information for portrait photos, Xiaomi does not. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Samsung offers a slightly higher resolution macro lens. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps | Xiaomi provides significantly higher video recording capabilities, including 4K recording and higher frame rates for smooth, high-quality video. |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | Xiaomi provides superior stabilization, leading to smoother videos, especially when recording on the move. |
| Slow Motion | No | Yes, 960fps | Xiaomi can record very high slow motion videos, Samsung does not have this feature. |
| DXOMark Score | Not Tested | Mobile: 113 (Photo: 117, Video: 117) | Xiaomi has a decent camera score from professional testers while Samsung's camera has not been tested. This is a great point to consider. |
| Additional Features | Quad Camera, Basic Features | Triple Camera, Advanced Features | Xiaomi has an edge in advanced camera features such as OIS, manual focus and RAW capabilities that offer users more control and image quality. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones offer similar battery capacity, which should translate to comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. |
| Charging | Li-Ion | 120W fast charging, Li-Polymer | Xiaomi offers extremely fast charging, allowing a full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the Samsung, which has no info on charging. |
| Removable | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both phones have non-removable batteries, which is standard practice for modern smartphones. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 | Xiaomi runs on a newer version of Android with more recent features. Both have a max version available: 13 for Samsung, and 14 for Xiaomi. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/n 5GHz/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/n 5GHz/ac, WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Xiaomi offers faster and more efficient Wi-Fi connections, with better performance in crowded networks due to WiFi 6 support. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, AVRCP, DIP, HFP, HID, HSP, MAP, PAN, OPP, PBAP/PAB, HOGP | Bluetooth 5.2 LE Low energy consumption, A2DP, LE, LDAC, SBC, AAC | Xiaomi has a newer version for more efficient, stable, and potentially higher quality audio connections. Both offer advanced audio profiles but some are exclusive to one another. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1) | Xiaomi offers better location accuracy and stability due to more satellite systems supported. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Both support using two SIM cards simultaneously for managing different phone numbers or data plans. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal | 128 GB or 64 GB | 256 GB or 128 GB | Xiaomi offers a larger storage option, which is useful for storing more media and apps. Both have a 128 GB option but Samsung has also a 64 GB option. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB or 8 GB | 8 GB or 12 GB | Xiaomi has more RAM, which leads to better multitasking, allowing more apps to run in the background smoothly. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, so users are limited to the internal storage they choose. |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Basic audio features | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Xiaomi offers better audio fidelity, immersive sound and a better quality listening experience than the Samsung. |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Xiaomi's side-mounted fingerprint sensor offers more ergonomics. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Samsung has more sensors which results in better features in different situations. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A32 Advantages:
- Lighter and More Compact: More comfortable for one-handed use and extended periods.
- Slightly better Selfie Camera: Higher resolution and wider aperture for better selfies.
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: Allows for portrait mode effects.
- Slightly better macro lens: Slightly higher resolution for better close-up shots.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Advantages:
- Significantly More Powerful Performance: Superior chipset and GPU for faster and smoother operation, as well as better gaming.
- Significantly Better Display: Higher refresh rate, better outdoor visibility thanks to much brighter display.
- Superior Main Camera: Much higher resolution sensor with wider aperture, offering vastly improved image quality and low light performance, as well as OIS.
- Advanced Video Recording: Supports 4K video recording and higher frame rates, as well as superior video stabilization and slow motion capabilities.
- Faster Charging: Supports extremely fast charging for quick battery top-ups, also has Li-Polymer.
- Newer Software and Connectivity: Comes with a more recent version of Android and supports newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- Better Audio: Offers significantly better audio with Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and Stereo Speakers, for more immersion.
- Superior Build Quality: Uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for added durability and protection.
- More RAM and Storage: Comes with more memory and storage options (though not expandable).
- Overall Better Camera Experience: Higher photo and video score from independent tests.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy A32 is more comfortable for some due to its lighter weight, but sacrifices a lot of performance and features compared to the Xiaomi.
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is heavier and slightly larger, but offers vastly superior performance, camera capabilities, and overall feature set.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A32 Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize lightweight and compact design.
- Users who primarily use their phones for basic tasks, social media, and casual photos.
- Users who take selfies often.
- Budget-conscious users who don't need top-tier performance.
Use Cases:
- Everyday browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Taking casual selfies and photos.
- Basic mobile gaming.
- Users who need a secondary phone that is light and compact.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Ideal User:
- Users who need top-notch performance for gaming, media, and multitasking.
- Users who prioritize high-quality photography and videography.
- Users who want the best possible display for multimedia consumption.
- Users who need fast charging and the latest connectivity standards.
Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming and other high-performance apps.
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos.
- Watching movies and videos on the go, especially outdoors.
- Using the phone for professional work that involves video recording or photo editing.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy A32 offers basic functionality at a lower price. The value of this device depends on how important the weight is to you.
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ offers much better value for its price because of it's performance and feature set.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case? (Basic tasks, gaming, photography, etc.)
- How important is performance and speed? (Multitasking, fast app loading, gaming experience)
- How important is camera quality? (Photography, video recording)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User: If you're on a strict budget and only need a basic phone for casual use, and you prioritize light weight, the Samsung Galaxy A32 might be sufficient.
- Scenario 2: Multimedia Enthusiast: If you frequently watch videos, play games, or spend a lot of time on your phone, then the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is a clear winner with its higher refresh rate, better performance and better screen brightness and audio quality.
- Scenario 3: Photography and Videography: If you need a phone for capturing high quality photos and videos, with more options and features, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the better choice.
- Scenario 4: Performance Seeker: If you want the fastest and smoothest performance, particularly for gaming, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is significantly better.
My Choice
I would choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+. The significantly better performance, display, camera, and battery charging capabilities make it a far more compelling device for the majority of users. While the Samsung Galaxy A32 is lighter and more compact, the overall user experience is severely limited. The Xiaomi offers a better, smoother, and more enjoyable user experience across the board, making it worth the increase in price. The more advanced and modern features of the Xiaomi mean a more future-proofed phone too.
