1. Specifications Comparison
Design
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 168.3 × 77.7 × 9 mm | The Huawei is slightly taller and wider, while the Samsung is a bit thicker. The difference in hand feel might be minor, but the Huawei might be a little less pocketable. |
Weight | 212g | 199g | The Huawei is 13g lighter, making it slightly more comfortable for extended use, especially one-handed. |
Display
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
Size | 6.5" | 6.75" | The Huawei has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption. |
Resolution | 720x1600 | 720x1600 | Both displays have the same resolution. Text and images might not be as sharp as higher-resolution displays but will be adequate for most tasks. |
PPI | 270 | 260 | Similar pixel density, meaning both have approximately the same level of visual clarity. The difference is hardly noticeable. |
Technology | PLS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD in the Huawei generally offers better viewing angles and color reproduction than PLS LCD found in the Samsung. |
Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | The Samsung's 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations smoother and more responsive compared to the standard 60Hz of the Huawei. |
Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness data is missing. This means we cannot determine which phone has better outdoor visibility under bright sunlight. |
Performance
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Kirin 710A (14 nm) | The Exynos 850 (8nm) is built on a more efficient manufacturing process (8 nm) than the Kirin 710A (14 nm), generally resulting in better power efficiency and slightly better performance. |
AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 103,500 | The Samsung scores higher in benchmarks, suggesting it should be faster overall and be smoother for day to day tasks and light gaming. |
GPU | Mali-G52 | Mali-G51 MP4 | The Samsung's Mali-G52 GPU should handle graphics-intensive tasks and games better than the Mali-G51 MP4 in the Huawei. |
Camera
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
Standard Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm pixels | 48MP, f/1.8 | The Huawei has a wider aperture (f/1.8), which can allow more light to reach the sensor, potentially leading to better low-light performance. The Samsung has more known sensor data |
Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.0 | The Huawei has a slightly wider aperture (f/2.0) on its front-facing camera, potentially leading to slightly better low-light selfies. |
Wide Angle | 5MP, f/2.2 | 5MP, f/2.2 | Both phones offer the same specs for their wide-angle lens, suggesting comparable performance in capturing wider shots. |
Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both phones have the same lens for depth sensing, leading to similar portrait mode performance. |
Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | The Samsung has a dedicated macro lens for taking close-up photos, which the Huawei lacks. |
Video | 1080p@30fps, No Stabilization, Slow Motion 30 fps | 1080p@30fps, No Stabilization, Slow Motion 120 fps | Both offer standard 1080p video recording, but the Huawei offers superior slow-motion at 120 fps, a feature not found in the Samsung. |
Features | Quad camera, PDAF, HDR | Triple Camera, 4K Video, Digital Image Stabilization, PDAF, HDR | The Huawei can record in 4K, but lacks a macro lens. The Samsung has a quad camera setup with a dedicated macro lens. |
Battery
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
Capacity | 5000mAh | 6000mAh | The Huawei has a significantly larger battery, which should offer longer battery life. |
Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 22.5W Fast Charging | The Huawei charges faster thanks to its higher charging wattage, reducing time spent plugged in. |
Other
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
Operating System | Android 11 | (Not Specified) | The Samsung runs Android 11, which is known. The Huawei OS is unknown. |
WiFi | 802.11b/g/n, Hotspot, Direct | 802.11b/g/n, Dual band, Hotspot, Direct | The Huawei includes dual-band support, which can provide more stable and faster Wi-Fi connections on compatible networks. |
Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 LE | The Huawei has a newer Bluetooth version that should offer more efficient power consumption. |
GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | The Huawei has additional satellite systems which offer more accurate location tracking. |
Storage | 32GB/64GB/128GB | 64GB/128GB | Both phones offer similar storage options, and both have no expandable storage. The Samsung has an additional 32GB variant. |
RAM | 3GB/4GB/6GB | 4GB | The Samsung has higher RAM options, which can be useful for more intensive users or multitasking. |
Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both offer similar biometric authentication with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | The Samsung includes additional sensors (Gyroscope) useful in specific use cases. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Smoother Display: 90Hz refresh rate provides a noticeably smoother user experience.
- Better Performance: The Exynos 850 chipset and higher AnTuTu score suggest slightly better overall speed, graphics performance and overall performance.
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens for close-up photography.
- More RAM Options: Offers a 6GB RAM variant which is better for multitasking.
- Gyroscope Sensor: The inclusion of a gyroscope sensor is useful for games and VR-type applications.
Huawei nova Y70 Plus Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 6000mAh battery should provide significantly longer battery life.
- Faster Charging: 22.5W fast charging reduces charging times.
- Better Screen Technology: IPS LCD offers superior viewing angles and color reproduction.
- Better Low-Light Camera Performance: Wider aperture on the main and front cameras should produce better results in low light.
- 4k Recording: Capable of shooting 4k video for higher resolution footage
- More Accurate GPS: Supports more satellite systems for better GPS performance.
- Newer Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1, offering better power efficiency and performance compared to 5.0.
- Slow Motion at 120 fps: Superior slow motion video recording.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy M12: Has a smaller battery and slower charging, but a smoother display and better performance
- Huawei nova Y70 Plus: Has a larger battery and better low-light camera, but a standard display and lacks a dedicated macro lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize smooth scrolling, responsiveness, and better gaming performance, and don't mind the smaller battery.
- Use Cases: Casual gamers, social media users, general use, and those who prefer smoother animations.
- Strengths: Superior screen responsiveness, better chipset, better GPU performance, and a dedicated macro lens.
Huawei nova Y70 Plus:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize battery life, good low-light camera performance, and a bigger screen.
- Use Cases: Long days without charging, frequent travelers, content creators that need slow motion video, and those who value a larger screen and better low-light performance.
- Strengths: Larger battery, faster charging, better display technology, better low light camera and 4K recording.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is battery life? If you need a phone that can easily last a full day or more on a single charge, the Huawei is better.
- How important is smooth performance and responsiveness? If you prioritize smooth animations and gaming performance, the Samsung is better.
- Which camera features do you need most? If you need better low light images or slow motion capabilities, the Huawei is better. If you require a macro lens the Samsung is better.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: "The Power User": Needs the best performance and is mostly indoors: Samsung Galaxy M12 is the better choice due to its smoother display and more powerful processor.
- Scenario 2: "The Battery-Minded User": Needs long-lasting battery life, a good camera for low light, and is often on the move: Huawei nova Y70 Plus is the better option thanks to its large battery and better low light camera.
- Scenario 3: "The Balanced User": Wants a bit of everything, doesn't game much, and wants longer battery and slightly better camera performance: Huawei nova Y70 Plus is the better option.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would pick the Huawei nova Y70 Plus. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a slightly smoother experience with its 90Hz display and better chipset, the Huawei's significantly larger battery and faster charging are more valuable to me for daily usage. I am often on the go, and I need a phone that can comfortably last throughout the day without needing to be recharged frequently. Additionally, the larger battery and faster charging are more useful for me in my day to day usage. While the better low light camera and 4K recording are not essential for me, they are nice additions. Although the Samsung has a macro lens, I personally don't use that feature, making it less useful for me. The newer Bluetooth 5.1 is a nice addition, offering better power efficiency.