Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy M12 vs. Honor 50 Lite
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Honor 50 Lite | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-04-30 | 2021-11-17 | Honor 50 Lite is newer by 6 months, 18 days, potentially having newer software and features |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm | 161.8 x 74.7 x 8.5 mm | Honor 50 Lite is slightly smaller and thinner, likely more comfortable to hold. The M12 is slightly larger, which might be better for users with larger hands. |
| Weight | 212g | 192g | Honor 50 Lite is 20g lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and carrying. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.67" | Honor 50 Lite offers slightly larger screen, better for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2376 | Honor 50 Lite has significantly sharper display, better for reading, photos, and videos. |
| PPI | 270 | 391 | Honor 50 Lite has a noticeably clearer and more detailed image. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD offers better viewing angles and color reproduction than PLS LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | Samsung M12 offers slightly smoother scrolling and animation experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is identical, but the overall quality of the Honor 50 Lite screen should be superior. Brightness is missing for a full comparison. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | 8 | Honor 50 Lite chipset's model is not specified but performs significantly better. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 201,000 | Honor 50 Lite offers significantly faster performance for apps, multitasking and gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Qualcomm Adreno 610 | Honor 50 Lite's Adreno 610 provides better graphics performance, likely resulting in smoother gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2" | 64MP, f/1.9, 1/1.7" | Honor 50 Lite has higher resolution, a wider aperture, and larger sensor, leading to better low light performance and overall photo quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.0 | Honor 50 Lite offers sharper, clearer selfies with its higher resolution and wider aperture. |
| Wide Angle | 5MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.4, 1.12 µm pixel size | Honor 50 Lite captures more detail with higher resolution for wider shots. |
| Portrait | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixel size | Both phones offer a comparable depth sensor. |
| Macro | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixel size | Both phones offer similar macro capabilities. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, No slow-motion | 1080p@30fps, 120fps slow-motion | Honor 50 Lite offers slow-motion video recording, better for creative video use. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4300mAh | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Honor 50 Lite charges much faster, which is convenient for users short on time. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Standard for most modern smartphones |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11 | Both start with Android 11. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Honor 50 Lite supports faster WiFi speeds with 802.11ac. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 LE | Both offer the same Bluetooth standard but with different features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | Standard GPS features. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both offer dual SIM support. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 128 GB | Honor 50 Lite offers a standard 128GB storage, the M12 has variations with less space but same maximum. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 6/8 GB | Honor 50 Lite has more RAM, better for multitasking and app performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio | Noise cancellation microphone, 2 microphones | Honor 50 Lite offers superior audio recording and clarity during calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Side-mounted fingerprint | Similar for biometric security |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Screen protection is missing for both phones. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both share common sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery offers potentially longer battery life.
- 90Hz Refresh Rate: Provides a slightly smoother user interface experience.
- WiFi Direct: Allows direct WiFi connection to other devices, useful for file transfer.
Honor 50 Lite Advantages:
- Significantly Better Performance: Higher AnTuTu score and superior GPU, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, pixel density, and IPS LCD technology, offering a much clearer and more vibrant viewing experience.
- Faster Charging: 66W fast charging drastically reduces charging time.
- Better Main and Selfie Cameras: Higher resolution and better sensors, leading to higher quality photos and videos.
- Slow-motion Video Recording: Captures fast-paced moments in slow-motion.
- Better Audio Recording: Noise cancellation and dual mics offer superior call quality.
- More RAM: 8 GB compared to 6 GB max on M12, leading to better multitasking.
- Newer WiFi Standard: Supports ac WiFi for faster speeds.
Trade-offs:
- The Honor 50 Lite sacrifices a bit of battery capacity for its faster charging and overall performance improvements.
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 has a slightly smoother display due to its higher refresh rate, but this is less significant than the Honor 50 Lite's superior resolution and clarity.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize a long-lasting battery over raw performance and camera quality and users who need WiFi Direct.
- Use Cases:
- Users who primarily browse the web, social media, and stream media.
- Users who need a phone that can last through a full day without needing to be charged and use WiFi Direct.
Honor 50 Lite:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize display quality, performance, faster charging, and better camera quality.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers looking for a smooth gaming experience.
- Users who frequently take photos and videos.
- Users who value fast charging and want to minimize charging time.
- Users who consume a lot of media (videos, social media) and value a clear display.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Assuming both phones are priced similarly, the Honor 50 Lite offers significantly better value due to its superior performance, display, camera, and charging capabilities.
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 will appeal to users who value longer battery, but overall the Honor 50 Lite offers better tech.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What's more important: battery life or fast charging? If battery life is paramount, the Galaxy M12 may be a better fit; if fast charging is a priority, choose the Honor 50 Lite.
- How important is display quality for you? If display clarity and vibrant colors are essential for your use cases, the Honor 50 Lite is superior.
- What's your main use case for the camera? If taking high-quality photos and videos is critical, the Honor 50 Lite has better camera. If just basic shots the M12 may suffice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gamer: Choose the Honor 50 Lite due to its superior GPU, higher RAM, and faster display and better performance.
- Scenario 2: Social Media Enthusiast: Choose the Honor 50 Lite for its sharper display, higher-quality cameras, and fast charging, better for content creation and consumption.
- Scenario 3: Budget-Conscious User with Basic Needs: Choose the Galaxy M12 if battery life is most important and price is a key decision factor. If budget is less of a factor, the Honor 50 Lite offers a better overall experience.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Honor 50 Lite. The superior display quality, significantly better performance, faster charging, and better camera capabilities make it a more compelling option for most users. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 has a larger battery and a slightly smoother display, these advantages do not outweigh the Honor 50 Lite's overall superior specifications. The Honor 50 Lite also provides much better performance across the board and has features more pertinent to the modern day user, such as fast charging and quality cameras, making it a more worthwhile purchase.
