Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy M12
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 159.9 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | A52 5G is more compact and thinner, likely more comfortable for one-handed use and pocketability. M12 is bulkier and heavier. |
| Weight | 189g | 212g | A52 5G is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. M12 is noticeably heavier, which may cause fatigue during prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.5" | Both have the same screen size. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 720x1600 | A52 5G has a significantly sharper display, resulting in clearer text, images, and videos. The M12 display will appear less sharp and detailed. |
| PPI | 407 | 270 | A52 5G's higher pixel density results in a noticeably more detailed and crisp display, which is beneficial for reading and viewing high-resolution content. |
| Technology | AMOLED | PLS LCD | A52 5G offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. AMOLED also offers better power efficiency with dark themes. The M12 will have less vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | A52 5G's 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations appear smoother, providing a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have identical brightness. (Note: "0 nits" is likely placeholder data. Actual brightness specs would be needed for a complete analysis). |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | A52 5G's Snapdragon 750G offers significantly higher performance for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking. The Exynos 850 in the M12 is less powerful. |
| AnTuTu Score | 384,853 | 117,341 | A52 5G has significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The M12 is considerably slower. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G52 | A52 5G has a more powerful GPU, allowing for better gaming performance and more intensive graphics tasks. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | M12 has a larger battery, potentially providing longer battery life between charges. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 15W fast charging | A52 5G charges significantly faster, reducing the time spent plugged into a charger. M12 takes longer to charge. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7" sensor | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2" sensor | A52 5G takes better photos with higher resolution, wider aperture, and larger sensor, resulting in better low-light performance and detail. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor | 8MP, f/2.2 | A52 5G takes significantly higher-resolution selfies with better detail. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1" sensor | 5MP, f/2.2 | A52 5G takes wider angle photos with much better detail. |
| Portrait Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | A52 5G captures better portrait photos with better depth information. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | A52 5G takes detailed macro shots. |
| Video | 4K@30fps w/EIS, 1080p@60fps w/EIS, slow-motion | 1080p@30fps, no slow-motion | A52 5G captures higher quality videos with 4K resolution, better stabilization (EIS), and slow-motion capabilities. The M12 has limited video quality and no slow motion. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradeable to 14) | Android 11 | A52 5G has a guaranteed upgrade to Android 14, ensuring users have the latest features for a longer period. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | 802.11b/g/n | A52 5G supports faster and more stable dual-band Wi-Fi connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE, A2DP, EDR, HID, ANT+ | 5.0, more advanced audio/control profiles | Both phones offer Bluetooth 5.0 but different profiles; the M12 may have more specific features. A52 5G has LE, EDR, and ANT+. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | A52 5G uses Galileo for better location accuracy. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 32GB/64GB/128GB | A52 5G offers more storage options (up to 256GB) out of the box, which is good for storing photos, videos, and apps. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 3GB/4GB/6GB | A52 5G has more RAM, offering better multitasking and overall smoother performance. |
| Expandable | No expandable storage | No expandable storage | Neither phone has expandable storage, so choosing a variant with enough built in storage is key. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus | Basic | A52 5G delivers a more immersive audio experience with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus. |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a better side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is fast and accurate. |
| Build | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | A52 5G offers superior screen protection with Gorilla Glass 5. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | A52 5G has a geomagnetic sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED, higher resolution, higher pixel density, and 120Hz refresh rate offers a significantly better viewing experience with vibrant colors, sharp details, and smoother animations.
- Much Better Performance: The Snapdragon 750G chipset and higher AnTuTu score result in significantly faster performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Enhanced Camera System: Higher resolution cameras across the board, with better apertures and sensors, leading to superior photo and video quality (especially in low light). 4K video recording is a significant advantage.
- Faster Charging: 25W fast charging reduces charging time significantly compared to 15W on the M12.
- Software support: Guaranteed update to Android 14
- Advanced Audio: Dolby Atmos provides a much more immersive audio experience.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- More Storage Options: Up to 256GB of storage
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: 5000mAh battery offers potentially longer battery life between charges.
- More advanced fingerprint scanner: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor is usually faster and more practical
- More Bluetooth Features: Advanced audio and remote control bluetooth profiles.
Trade-offs:
- A52 5G: Sacrifices battery capacity for better performance, display, and camera capabilities.
- M12: Sacrifices performance, display, and camera quality for longer battery life and a lower price.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is ideal for:
- Power Users: Users who prioritize performance for gaming, multitasking, and using demanding applications.
- Media Consumers: Users who watch a lot of videos, movies, and other visual content on their phones and want a high-quality viewing experience.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system with good low-light performance and advanced video features like 4K recording.
- Users who want a future-proofed device: Guaranteed update to Android 14
Use Cases:
- Gaming: Smooth gameplay at higher frame rates, better graphics handling.
- Video Streaming: Enjoying movies and videos in high resolution with vibrant colors and deep blacks.
- Social Media: Capturing and sharing high-quality photos and videos, smoother scrolling experience.
- Content Creation: Recording high-resolution videos and taking quality photographs.
- Work/Productivity: Multitasking between apps, editing documents, running professional applications
Samsung Galaxy M12 is ideal for:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users who prioritize affordability and battery life over top-tier performance and display quality.
- Basic Smartphone Users: Users who primarily use their phones for calls, texts, social media, and basic app usage.
Use Cases:
- Everyday communication (calls, texts, email)
- Basic social media browsing
- Music and Audio playback
- Users who value a long-lasting battery over other features
- Users who prefer side-mounted fingerprint scanner
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Gaming, media consumption, general use, work)
- How important is display quality? (Sharpness, color accuracy, smoothness)
- How much do you value performance vs. battery life?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If you need the best performance, display, and camera quality and are willing to pay a premium: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G.
- If you want the longest possible battery life and are on a tight budget: Choose the Samsung Galaxy M12.
What I Would Choose and Why
Given the specifications and my typical usage, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. While the M12 has a larger battery, the A52 5G offers a significantly better overall experience in almost every other aspect.
My reasoning is as follows:
- Superior Display: The AMOLED screen with higher resolution and 120Hz refresh rate is a huge advantage for daily use, especially for media consumption and general browsing.
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 750G will handle any task I throw at it, and will provide a smoother experience, which I value a lot.
- Better Camera: I often take pictures and record videos, and the A52 5G is clearly superior in this aspect
- Future-Proofing: The guaranteed update to Android 14 means the device will have access to the latest features for longer
While I acknowledge the better battery on the M12, I am willing to trade off some battery life for a much better display, vastly superior performance, and a far more capable camera system that meets my requirements.
