Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy M12 vs. Huawei nova 11 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Huawei nova 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-04-30 | 2023-04-27 | The Huawei is significantly newer, implying better software support and newer features. |
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 164.3 × 74.4 × 7.9 mm | Huawei is thinner and narrower, making it more pocketable and comfortable to hold. The M12 is bulkier. |
| Weight | 212g | 188g | The Huawei is notably lighter, easier to handle for extended periods. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.78" | Huawei offers a slightly larger screen for a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1200x2652 | Huawei has a much sharper display with crisper text and images. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 429 PPI | Huawei’s display appears significantly clearer and more detailed. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | Huawei has vibrant colors, deep blacks, and better contrast, and wider viewing angles. M12 will have washed out blacks and less vibrant colors |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Huawei's display is smoother with less motion blur, especially noticeable in fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 950 nits | Huawei’s display is much more visible under bright sunlight, making it easier to use outdoors. M12 is likely to be difficult to see in sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) | Huawei's chip is more powerful, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 592,297 | Huawei is significantly faster, handles demanding tasks easily, and more future proof. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 642L | Huawei’s GPU provides superior graphics performance for gaming and video editing. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2" | 50MP, f/1.9, Unknown | Huawei has a slightly better aperture, which can allow more light into the camera for better low-light pictures, and slightly higher resolution. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 60MP, f/2.4, 1/2.8" | Huawei’s front camera offers drastically better selfies with significantly higher resolution and larger sensor. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | None | Samsung has a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing wider scenes. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung has a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung has a dedicated macro lens for extreme close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP, f/2.2 | Huawei combines wide-angle and macro functionality. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@960fps | Huawei has better slow-motion capability, with video stabilization; M12 has a higher max resolution for normal video. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, PDAF, etc. | Dual camera, DIS, PDAF, Dual front camera, RAW, etc. | Huawei offers more advanced video features and raw image capture; Samsung has a quadruple camera with a dedicated depth and macro lens. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Samsung has a slightly larger battery for longer usage, but both are large. |
| Charging | 15W | 100W | Huawei charges dramatically faster, significantly reducing charging time. |
| Battery Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable | Huawei can charge other devices wirelessly. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Unknown | Huawei’s OS and its version are unknown. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Huawei has much faster and more modern WiFi standard, improving connection speeds and reliability. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 LE | Huawei has a newer Bluetooth version with lower energy consumption and better audio codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, etc. | Huawei has more satellite systems for much more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM, Nano SIM | Dual SIM, Nano SIM | Both phones support dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128GB | 128/256/512GB | Huawei offers more internal storage options for larger files and more apps. |
| RAM | 3/4/6GB | 6/8/12GB | Huawei has more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and more demanding applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither device supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic audio features | Stereo Speakers | Huawei offers enhanced audio experience with stereo speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Security Features | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Samsung's side mounted sensor is more convinient, but both offer basic biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | No information available on screen protection for either device. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Huawei has more comprehensive sensors for advanced features. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: The M12 has a 500mAh larger battery, which might provide slightly longer usage.
- Dedicated Camera Lenses: It features dedicated wide-angle, portrait, and macro lenses for more versatile photography.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint: A more convenient fingerprint sensor location.
- Lower Cost: It is significantly older and likely cheaper than the Huawei nova 11 Pro.
Huawei nova 11 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED, higher resolution, brightness, and refresh rate result in a vastly better visual experience.
- Much Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 778G chip provides significantly better performance in all areas compared to the Exynos 850.
- Significantly Faster Charging: 100W fast charging is drastically quicker than the 15W charging in the M12.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Much higher resolution front camera with larger sensor for better selfies.
- More Internal Storage and RAM: Better equipped for multitasking, gaming, and storing large amounts of data.
- Modern Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards for better connection speeds.
- Better GPS: More satellite support for precise navigation.
- Stereo Speakers: Offers better audio experience.
- Reverse Charging: Can wirelessly charge other devices.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 has a slightly larger battery, but that's offset by the more efficient processor of the Nova 11 Pro and its much faster charging.
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a wider variety of rear camera lenses, but the overall image quality of the Huawei is likely to be far superior.
- The Huawei nova 11 Pro has a premium price tag and may not be as affordable as the M12, which is now likely available at a lower price.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Those looking for a very affordable phone and okay with the compromise of basic features and performance.
- Users who don't prioritize performance: Those who only use their phones for calls, texts, social media, and light browsing.
- Users who need versatile cameras: Those who prefer a larger number of camera lenses for taking different kinds of pictures.
- Users with a focus on battery life: Those who prioritize longer battery life on a budget.
Use Cases:
- Basic communication and social media
- Casual browsing and media consumption
- Photography of a variety of subjects using separate macro, wide, and depth lenses
- Backup phone
Huawei nova 11 Pro Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize performance and speed: Those who play demanding games, multitask frequently, and want fast app loading.
- Users who value display quality: Those who consume a lot of media and appreciate a vibrant, sharp, and bright screen.
- Users who need a capable camera: Those who want high-quality selfies and versatile, well-detailed shots.
- Users who need fast charging: Those who don't want to wait long for their phone to charge.
- Users who want a future-proof phone: Those who are looking for modern technology that will remain relevant for years to come.
- Users who travel frequently: Those that need a comprehensive GPS system with support for multiple satellite navigation systems.
Use Cases:
- Gaming and heavy app usage
- High-quality video streaming and consumption
- Professional-grade photo and video capture
- Heavy multitasking
- Frequent travel requiring highly accurate navigation
- Everyday main smartphone
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The M12 is a budget phone, whereas the Nova 11 Pro is more of a mid-range, premium option.
- How important is performance, display, and camera quality to me? The Nova 11 Pro offers a vastly superior experience in these aspects.
- Do I prioritize charging speed and battery life? The Nova 11 Pro has much faster charging, but the M12 has a slightly larger battery.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-constrained, basic user: The Samsung Galaxy M12 is adequate if cost is the primary factor and performance isn't a concern.
- Performance and visual quality seeker: The Huawei nova 11 Pro is the obvious choice, providing a far superior all-around experience for those who prioritize performance and display.
- Photography enthusiast: The Huawei nova 11 Pro is the better option with a higher quality main camera and excellent front facing camera.
- Power User: The Huawei nova 11 Pro's additional RAM, storage, and performance will be beneficial for demanding tasks.
What I would choose and why!
I would choose the Huawei nova 11 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a slightly larger battery and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, the overall experience of the Huawei nova 11 Pro is vastly superior in almost every way.
Here's a breakdown of why:
- Display Quality: The OLED display with its higher resolution, brightness, and refresh rate makes a massive difference in everyday use, from browsing social media to watching videos. The vivid colors, deep blacks and high brightness of the OLED panel alone make the Huawei phone much more attractive.
- Performance: The Snapdragon 778G chipset is significantly more powerful than the Exynos 850, providing a smoother and faster experience. This difference is noticeable in app loading times, multitasking, and especially gaming.
- Charging: The 100W fast charging is a game-changer, especially for people who are constantly on the move and don't have long periods to plug in the phone. This eliminates any advantage the M12 has for battery life.
- Selfie Camera: The much higher resolution front camera and larger sensor make the selfie camera on the Nova 11 Pro a significant upgrade over the M12.
- Overall User Experience: The faster WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS are all added advantages. The modern features and performance would mean the device would remain relevant for much longer. The addition of stereo speakers and reverse charging adds to the overall premium experience of the phone.
- Value: The Nova 11 Pro is more expensive, but you get significant value for money. The M12 is a budget phone, and it performs like a budget phone, whereas the Nova 11 Pro provides a premium experience with a mid-range price tag.
While the Samsung Galaxy M12 might be a good choice for basic needs on a very tight budget, the Huawei nova 11 Pro offers a better overall smartphone experience, which is why I would recommend it without hesitation.
