1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-04-30 | 2024-01-18 | Asus ROG Phone 8 is significantly newer, likely with more modern features and longer software support. |
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | M12 is slightly thicker; ROG Phone 8 is slightly wider, but overall they are very similar in size. |
| Weight | 212g | 225g | M12 is slightly lighter, may be more comfortable for extended single-handed use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.78" | ROG Phone 8 has a slightly larger screen, better for immersive viewing and gaming. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | ROG Phone 8 has a much sharper display, making text and images clearer. |
| PPI | 270 | 388 | ROG Phone 8 has a noticeably sharper display, better for reading and detailed content. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | ROG Phone 8 offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better power efficiency for dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 165Hz | ROG Phone 8 offers significantly smoother scrolling and animation, enhancing the overall experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | ROG Phone 8 is much more usable in bright sunlight due to its higher brightness. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | ROG Phone 8 has a much more powerful and efficient chipset, providing much better performance for all tasks. |
| Antutu Score | 117,341 | 2,020,000 | ROG Phone 8 is dramatically faster, offering smoother multitasking, better gaming, and quicker app loading. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 750 | ROG Phone 8's GPU offers superior graphics performance for gaming and demanding apps. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5500mAh | ROG Phone 8 has a slightly larger battery for extended usage between charges. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 65W fast charging | ROG Phone 8 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both have non-removable batteries. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56", 1.00µm | ROG Phone 8 has a larger sensor and wider aperture, resulting in better low-light performance and overall image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 32MP | ROG Phone 8 offers much higher resolution for sharper selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | N/A | M12 includes a dedicated wide-angle lens. |
| Portrait (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | M12 includes a depth sensor for portrait effects. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 5MP, f/2.4 | ROG Phone 8 has a slightly higher resolution macro lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 13MP, f/2.2 | ROG Phone 8 includes a combined wide-angle and macro lens. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps; No; Slow-motion: No, 30 fps | 8K@24fps with HDR, EIS, 4K@30/60fps with HDR, EIS, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps with HDR, EIS, 720p@480fps with HDR, EIS; Yes; Slow-motion: Yes, 480 fps | ROG Phone 8 offers much better video recording capabilities with higher resolutions, stabilization, and slow-motion. |
| DxOMark | N/A | N/A | DxOMark scores are not available for either phone. |
| Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, etc. | 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital/Optical Stabilization, Gimbal, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, LAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, Night Mode, etc. | ROG Phone 8 has more advanced camera features, including OIS, optical zoom, and 4K/8K recording. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | ROG Phone 8 has a newer OS with better features and security. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | ROG Phone 8 supports significantly faster WiFi standards for better performance on modern networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 LE | ROG Phone 8 has a newer Bluetooth version with better energy efficiency and faster data transfer. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1/B2), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC | ROG Phone 8 has access to more satellite systems for potentially better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Both offer dual SIM capability. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 256 GB | ROG Phone 8 has more built-in storage. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 12/16 GB | ROG Phone 8 has substantially more RAM for smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | ROG Phone 8 offers significantly better audio with stereo speakers and improved sound processing for multimedia and gaming. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | M12 has a side-mounted sensor, while the type of fingerprint sensor on the ROG phone is unspecified. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | ROG Phone 8 has superior screen protection for enhanced durability. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | ROG Phone 8 includes additional compass and gravity sensors for more advanced usage. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Slightly Lighter: A bit more comfortable for long holding periods.
- Dedicated Wide-Angle & Depth Camera: Offers additional shooting modes, more flexibility in photography.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: Might be more intuitive for some users compared to a generic fingerprint sensor.
- Lower Price Point: Likely significantly more affordable.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Advantages:
- Significantly Newer: More modern technology and better future-proofing.
- Superior Display: Larger, sharper, vibrant AMOLED with a high refresh rate and brightness for better visual experience.
- Far Superior Performance: Top-tier processor for smoother multitasking, gaming, and overall responsiveness.
- Better Camera: Superior image and video quality, and more advanced camera features.
- Larger Battery with Much Faster Charging: Longer usage and less time spent charging.
- More Storage and RAM: Better performance for heavy multitasking and future-proof for larger applications.
- Enhanced Audio: Stereo speakers and DTS/DTS X support, leading to an immersive media experience
- Better Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi and Bluetooth versions.
- Superior Build Quality: Offers significantly better screen protection
- More Comprehensive Sensor Suite: Offers additional compass and gravity sensors for more advanced usage.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Galaxy M12: Trades performance, display quality, camera, and build quality for a lower price.
- ROG Phone 8: Is significantly more expensive.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users needing a functional smartphone for basic tasks.
- Users who prioritize battery life over processing power.
- Individuals who need an extra wide-angle lens for photography.
- Users who don't need high performance for gaming and other demanding tasks.
- Those who prefer side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Specific Use Cases for Galaxy M12:
- Basic web browsing and social media.
- Making calls and sending messages.
- Casual photography in good lighting conditions.
- Long battery life for travel or extended use away from chargers.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Ideal User:
- Performance-oriented users who prioritize speed and responsiveness.
- Gamers who need the best possible graphics and frame rates.
- Users who need professional-grade camera features and image/video quality.
- Users who consume a lot of multimedia content and care about display and sound.
- Those who need the latest features and performance.
Specific Use Cases for ROG Phone 8:
- Playing demanding mobile games at high settings.
- Heavy multitasking between multiple apps.
- Professional-quality photo and video capture.
- Immersive media consumption with high-quality display and audio.
- Fast charging when time is limited.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Budget: How much am I willing to spend on a smartphone?
- Primary Use Case: What will I primarily use the phone for (basic tasks, gaming, photography, multimedia)?
- Longevity: How long do I intend to use this device (do I need future-proofing)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Tight Budget): If you need a basic smartphone for calls, messaging, and light browsing and have a very limited budget, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is a viable option. Be aware that the performance will be far less satisfactory than the ROG Phone 8.
- Scenario 2 (Multimedia/Gaming Focused): If you're serious about gaming and consuming multimedia content, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is the clear choice. The performance, display, audio, and battery far outweigh its higher price tag for this usage scenario.
- Scenario 3 (Photography Focused): The Asus ROG Phone 8 is the better option for photography due to its higher quality main camera sensor, better video recording capabilities, more advanced features such as OIS, and night mode. While the Galaxy M12 offers wide-angle and depth sensors, the overall photo quality will not be as high as the Asus ROG Phone 8.
What I would choose and why
I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 8. While it is significantly more expensive, the gains in performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and overall user experience are too compelling to ignore for my personal needs. My priorities in a smartphone include:
- Smooth Performance: I appreciate a phone that feels fast and responsive. The ROG Phone 8's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and ample RAM will ensure that the phone handles all my tasks effortlessly and feels much more future-proof.
- High-Quality Display: I consume a lot of videos, and having an excellent display is essential for me. The ROG Phone 8's AMOLED screen with its high refresh rate and brightness would make viewing videos and gaming much more enjoyable.
- Excellent Camera: I value a high-quality camera. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 has more camera lenses, the overall sensor quality and video recording on the ROG Phone 8 are far superior.
- Enhanced Audio Experience: I like to listen to music and watch videos without headphones and having stereo speakers and DTS/DTS X support is a plus for me.
- Future-Proofing: The ROG Phone 8's newer technology will ensure that the phone will remain relevant for longer.
- Premium Build Quality: I would be paying more for the phone, so I prefer the better build quality.
- Better connectivity and sensors: I want to have access to the latest wifi and bluetooth standards and have access to more satellite location systems. I also like having more sensors since this opens the door to using the phone in innovative ways.
While the Samsung Galaxy M12 does have its advantages in terms of price, wide-angle camera, side mounted fingerprint sensor and lighter weight, these benefits do not outweigh the massive improvements offered by the ROG Phone 8 for my usage and preferences. The ROG Phone 8 is simply a superior phone in nearly every aspect that is important to me, therefore it is my preferred choice.
