Samsung Galaxy M12 vs Huawei P50 Pro - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date April 30, 2021 August 12, 2021
Release Year 2021 2021

Physical

Volume 120.74 cm³ 98.27 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.07 "/g 3.38 "/g
Weight 212 g 195 g
Height 164 mm 158.8 mm
Width 75.9 mm 72.8 mm
Thickness 9.7 mm 8.5 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Black
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Pearl White
  • Golden Black
  • Cocoa Gold
  • Charm Pink

Display

Screen Size 6.5 " 6.6 "
Resolution 720 x 1600 1228 x 2700
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 81.9 % 91.6 %
Pixel Density 270 PPI 450 PPI
Refresh Rate 90 Hz 120 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A N/A
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 118.34 mAh/in² 100.09 mAh/in²
Battery Density 41.41 mAh/cm³ 44.37 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 4360 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Exynos 850 (8 nm) Kirin 9000 (5 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Mali-G52 Mali-G78 MP24

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 3.1
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0 USB Type-C 3.1, OTG

Software

Operating System Android N/A
Initial OS Version 11 N/A
Maximum OS Version

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureSamsung Galaxy M12Huawei P50 ProPractical Impact
Design
Dimensions164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm158.8 × 72.8 × 8.5 mmM12 is taller, wider and thicker, making P50 Pro more pocketable and comfortable in hand.
Weight212g195gP50 Pro is significantly lighter, better for extended use and portability.
Display
Size6.5"6.6"Negligible difference in size.
Resolution720x16001228x2700P50 Pro has much sharper, clearer display with significantly higher detail.
Pixel Density270 PPI450 PPIP50 Pro display will appear much sharper; text and images will be crisper.
TechnologyPLS LCDOLEDP50 Pro has superior color vibrancy, deeper blacks, and better contrast.
Refresh Rate90Hz120HzP50 Pro has smoother scrolling and animations, creating a more responsive user experience.
Brightness0 nits0 nitsBoth have unknown brightness.
Performance
ChipsetExynos 850 (8 nm)Kirin 9000 (5 nm)P50 Pro offers much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance due to its more powerful and efficient chipset.
Antutu Score117,341697,566P50 Pro provides significantly smoother overall experience and more future-proofing for demanding tasks.
GPUMali-G52Mali-G78 MP24P50 Pro has a more powerful GPU resulting in better graphics performance for gaming and video editing.
Battery
Capacity5000mAh4360mAhM12 has a larger battery, likely offering longer battery life between charges.
Charging15W fast charging66W fast chargingP50 Pro charges much faster, allowing for quicker top-ups and less downtime.
FeaturesNon-removableNon-removable, 50W Wireless charging, Reverse wireless chargingP50 Pro provides wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities for added convenience.
Camera
Standard Lens48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.0µmP50 Pro captures more light and has slightly better image quality due to its wider aperture and larger sensor.
Selfie Lens8MP, f/2.213MP, f/2.4P50 Pro captures higher-resolution selfies, M12 has slightly wider aperture.
Telephoto LensNone64MP, f/3.4, 1/2", 0.7µmP50 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities which M12 lacks, allowing closer shots without significant loss of quality.
Wide Angle Lens5MP, f/2.2NoneM12 captures ultrawide shots, useful for landscapes and group photos, P50 Pro lacks a dedicated ultrawide lens
Portrait Lens2MP, f/2.4NoneM12 can do depth sensing for portrait mode, P50 Pro lacks a dedicated depth sensor.
Macro Lens2MP, f/2.4NoneM12 captures close-up details, P50 Pro lacks dedicated macro lens
Wide Angle + Macro LensNone13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.06", 1.12µmP50 Pro offers a combination of wide-angle and macro in one lens, but M12 offers these separately.
Black & white LensNone40MP, f/1.6, 1/1.7", 1.0µmP50 Pro provides a dedicated black and white sensor for improved monochrome images.
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps/960fpsP50 Pro captures higher-resolution videos with more frames for crisper video quality and slow-motion capabilities.
DXOMarkNoneMobile: 143, Selfie: 144P50 Pro has been rigorously tested and scores very high, showing its superior camera quality. M12 has not been tested on DXOMark
Camera FeaturesBasic featuresAdvanced features including OIS, 4K video, RAW, Night modeP50 Pro offers a wider range of shooting options, image stabilization and advanced post-processing
Software
OSAndroid 11UnknownSamsung has an android OS while the P50 pro's is unconfirmed.
Connectivity
Wi-Fi802.11b/g/n802.11a/b/g/n/ac/axP50 Pro supports the latest Wi-Fi 6, resulting in faster and more stable connections.
Bluetooth5.05.2P50 Pro uses newer version of Bluetooth for better efficiency, range and data transfer.
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeidouGPS, A-GPS, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5)P50 Pro offers superior location accuracy with a wider range of satellite systems.
SIMDual SIM Dual StandbyDual SIM Dual StandbyBoth support dual SIM functionality.
Storage
Internal32/64/128 GB128/256/512 GBP50 Pro has significantly more internal storage options for storing more data.
RAM3/4/6 GB8/12 GBP50 Pro has much higher RAM capacity for smooth multitasking with more demanding apps.
ExpandableNoNoNeither phone allows expandable storage via SD cards.
Audio
QualityBasicDolby Atmos, Stereo SpeakersP50 Pro provides richer sound with surround-sound and dual speakers, better for immersive experiences
Security
FeaturesSide-mounted fingerprintBasic fingerprint sensorM12 has a more convenient side-mounted fingerprint reader, P50 Pro's exact sensor location is unconfirmed.
Build Quality
ProtectionUnknownUnknownBoth phone's display protection is not mentioned
Sensors
SensorsFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, GyroscopeFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, BarometerP50 Pro has additional sensors, providing a richer set of functionalities including atmospheric pressure detection.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:

  • Larger Battery: The M12's 5000mAh battery provides better endurance for extended usage.
  • Wider Aperture Selfie Camera: The f/2.2 aperture on the M12's selfie camera may result in slightly better low light performance than the P50 Pro's f/2.4.
  • Dedicated Wide-Angle, Macro, and Depth Lenses: The M12 offers these as separate lenses, whereas the P50 Pro combines the Wide-Angle with a Macro lens.
  • Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Some users find side-mounted fingerprint scanners more convenient than in-display or rear-mounted ones.

Huawei P50 Pro Advantages:

  • Superior Display: OLED display with higher resolution and 120Hz refresh rate delivers a much sharper and smoother visual experience.
  • Significantly Faster Performance: The Kirin 9000 chipset results in drastically faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming.
  • Significantly Better Camera System: The P50 Pro's primary camera has a larger sensor and wider aperture; it also has a telephoto lens, a black and white sensor, a better video and a combined Wide Angle + Macro Lens.
  • Faster Charging: The 66W fast charging and 50W wireless charging offer much more convenient and quicker power replenishment.
  • Advanced Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 provide better connectivity options.
  • Better Audio Quality: Features Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers for immersive audio experience.
  • More RAM and Storage: Larger RAM and storage capacity allow for better multitasking and data management.
  • More Advanced Sensors: The inclusion of a barometer and compass expands the functionality of the device for specific use cases and apps.

Trade-offs:

  • The M12's larger battery is offset by the P50 Pro's much faster charging.
  • The M12's lower price (assumed based on its specs) comes at the expense of significant compromises in display, performance, and camera quality.
  • The P50 Pro's superior camera quality is offset by the lack of dedicated macro, wide-angle and depth sensor lenses.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Samsung Galaxy M12:

  • Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize battery life over performance and cutting-edge features.
  • Use Cases:
    • Daily communication and browsing.
    • Casual photography and social media use.
    • Users who need a long-lasting device that won't need to be recharged frequently.
    • Light gaming and media consumption.
  • Price-to-Value: Offers reasonable functionality at a lower cost but does not compete well in performance or camera quality with higher-end devices.

Huawei P50 Pro:

  • Ideal User: Users who prioritize a premium display, top-tier performance, and advanced camera capabilities.
  • Use Cases:
    • Professional and high-quality photography and videography.
    • Heavy gaming and demanding applications.
    • Users who need a high-resolution display for media consumption, work, or graphic-intensive tasks.
    • Users who require quick charging and convenient wireless charging.
    • Users who want better audio quality.
  • Price-to-Value: Offers exceptional value at a higher price point, justifying the increased cost with cutting-edge technology and superior performance, but it lacks some dedicated lenses.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions:

  1. What is your primary use case? (e.g., photography, gaming, daily browsing, media consumption)
  2. How important is a high-quality display and fast performance?
  3. What is your budget?

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Tight Budget & Basic Needs: If budget is the primary concern, and your needs are for basic communication and media consumption, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is a viable choice. The M12 provides a reasonable user experience for common tasks and excels in battery life.

  • Scenario 2: High Performance & Camera Focus: If you need a top-performing phone with an exceptional camera system and a high-quality display for gaming, photography, or video creation, the Huawei P50 Pro is the clear choice. The P50 Pro significantly outperforms the M12 in all these areas.

  • Scenario 3: Moderate Usage, Balanced Features: If you want a balance of features and good performance but are on a tight budget, the Samsung Galaxy M12 should be considered, acknowledging that there are better phones in the market.

My Choice

If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Huawei P50 Pro.

Here's why:

While the Samsung Galaxy M12 has a larger battery and lower price point, the P50 Pro offers a significantly superior experience in almost every other important area. The massive jump in performance with the Kirin 9000 chipset is a game-changer, making the phone significantly more fluid and responsive. The OLED display is noticeably sharper, brighter, and more vibrant, making everyday use much more enjoyable. Additionally, the camera system on the P50 Pro is far more advanced, and the faster charging and additional features like wireless charging are practical conveniences.

Though the P50 Pro is likely more expensive, the leap in quality justifies the increased price for me, and the lack of dedicated wide angle, macro and depth lenses is a fair trade-off for the overall camera performance and versatility. I prioritize a phone that is future-proof, capable of demanding tasks, has a great display for media, and takes excellent photos. The P50 Pro fulfills these needs much better than the Samsung Galaxy M12, making it my clear choice.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
  • Digital media communication
  • Technical storytelling
  • User-centric technology insights

Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.