1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Huawei Pura 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-04-30 | 2024-05-06 | Huawei Pura 70 is significantly newer, implying newer features and technologies. |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm | 157.6 x 74.3 x 8 mm | Samsung Galaxy M12 is taller, wider, and thicker, making it feel bulkier in hand. Huawei Pura 70 is more compact. |
| Weight | 212g | 207g | Huawei Pura 70 is slightly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.6" | Negligible difference in screen size; both offer a similar viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1256x2760 | Huawei Pura 70 has a significantly sharper display with much higher pixel density, leading to clearer images and text. |
| PPI | 270 | 460 | Huawei Pura 70 will look noticeably sharper and clearer. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | Huawei Pura 70 has richer colors, deeper blacks, and wider viewing angles compared to the LCD on the Samsung. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Huawei Pura 70 will have smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | Huawei Pura 70 offers much better visibility in bright sunlight compared to Samsung Galaxy M12. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Kirin 9000S1 | Huawei Pura 70 has a much more powerful chipset leading to much faster app loading, multitasking, and gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 768,000 | Huawei Pura 70 is vastly more powerful in performance, able to handle demanding tasks much better than the Samsung. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Maleoon 910 | Huawei Pura 70 has a more powerful GPU for graphics-intensive tasks. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4900mAh | Both phones have similar battery capacities and should provide comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless, 7.5W Reverse Wireless | Huawei Pura 70 charges much faster wired and has the added benefit of wireless and reverse wireless charging, offering greater versatility. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse, Wireless, Non-removable | Huawei Pura 70 can charge other devices wirelessly, a convenient feature absent in the Samsung. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Huawei Pura 70 has slightly higher resolution but this difference is not drastically significant. |
| Rear Main Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.4 | Huawei Pura 70's wider aperture allows for better low-light performance and shallower depth of field. |
| Rear Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.3" | Huawei Pura 70 has a larger sensor, allowing it to capture more light and detail resulting in better image quality, especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 8MP | 13MP | Huawei Pura 70 offers a higher-resolution front-facing camera for sharper selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | Samsung M12 has slightly wider aperture which might be better in some low light situations |
| Telephoto Lens | No | 12MP | Huawei Pura 70 has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities which is not present in the Samsung. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | 13MP | Huawei Pura 70 offers much higher resolution for its wide angle lens. |
| Portrait (Depth) Lens | 2MP | No | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | No | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K with slow-motion up to 960fps | Huawei Pura 70 records in higher quality and has significantly better slow motion recording capabilities. |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | Huawei Pura 70 offers video stabilization capabilities missing in Samsung, resulting in smoother video recording. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Samsung runs on an older version of Android. OS info is missing for Huawei Pura 70 | |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Huawei Pura 70 supports newer WiFi standards for faster speeds and lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Huawei Pura 70 has a newer version of bluetooth with improved speed and stability. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5), Galileo (E1+E5a+E5b) | Huawei Pura 70 supports more satellite systems resulting in more precise positioning in various conditions. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both have dual SIM support for simultaneous usage of two phone numbers. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | Huawei Pura 70 has significantly more internal storage options, suitable for storing many photos, videos, and apps. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 12 GB | Huawei Pura 70 has much more RAM allowing for better multitasking and smoother performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for external memory cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Huawei Pura 70 offers richer audio quality with spatial audio and stereo sound capabilities. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint | Both have biometric security. Samsung M12's implementation is stated to be more advanced. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | No specific protection information is available for either device. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity, RGB | Huawei Pura 70 has more sensors for advanced functionality and improved usability. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Dedicated Depth and Macro Camera: The M12 includes dedicated depth and macro cameras, which are not present on the Pura 70, catering to specific photography interests.
- Wider Selfie Camera Aperture: The selfie camera has a slightly wider aperture, potentially better for some low-light scenarios.
- More advanced fingerprint sensor: The side mounted fingerprint sensor is stated to be more advanced compared to the fingerprint sensor on the Pura 70
Huawei Pura 70 Advantages:
- Superior Display: The OLED display with a much higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and significantly higher brightness offers a far better viewing experience.
- Much Higher Performance: The Kirin 9000S1 chipset provides significantly superior performance, resulting in snappier response, better gaming, and overall fluidity.
- Advanced Camera System: The Pura 70 features a much better primary camera with wider aperture and larger sensor and a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom. It also supports 4K video recording and advanced video stabilization, leading to superior photo and video quality.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Charging: The significantly faster wired charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging provide added convenience.
- More Storage & RAM: Vastly more internal storage and RAM options for running more apps and storing larger amounts of data.
- Better Connectivity: It has support for the latest WiFi standards and a more recent version of bluetooth, offering better and faster connections.
- Better Audio: Enhanced audio features with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos technology provide a better entertainment experience.
- More sensors: The Pura 70 has additional sensors like compass, gravity and RGB that can allow for improved functionality.
- Newer Device: The device is much more recent (2024 vs 2021), which implies newer tech and longer software support
Trade-offs:
- The Huawei Pura 70 lacks dedicated depth and macro lenses, which may be desired by some users.
- The Samsung M12 has a slightly wider selfie camera aperture.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users seeking a basic smartphone with a large screen for media consumption and everyday tasks, with specific interests in macro and depth photography.
- Use Cases: Casual browsing, social media, basic photography, media consumption.
- Strengths: Basic functionality at a low price, large screen, dedicated macro and depth sensors.
- Weaknesses: Significantly weaker performance, inferior display, slower charging, poorer camera quality overall, and outdated software.
Huawei Pura 70:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize performance, camera quality, and a premium display experience with a preference for a sleek, compact design.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, photography, video editing, media creation, fast-paced multitasking, and outdoor use.
- Strengths: Superior display quality, top-tier performance, high-quality versatile camera system, fast wired and wireless charging, and more storage.
- Weaknesses: Lacks the macro and depth camera found in the Samsung Galaxy M12.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a basic experience at a lower price point, suitable for users with minimal requirements.
- The Huawei Pura 70 delivers a premium experience with advanced features that justify its higher cost. The increased price is easily justified by the sheer number of improvements across the board.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? The Samsung Galaxy M12 is a budget-oriented device, while the Huawei Pura 70 is a higher-end smartphone.
- What are your primary use cases? If you need a basic phone for calls, social media, and very casual use, the M12 might suffice. However, for gaming, photography, and overall performance, the Pura 70 is the better choice.
- How important is display quality and camera performance? The Pura 70 provides a much better display and camera system.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight budget, basic user: Choose the Samsung Galaxy M12 for basic functionality.
- Scenario 2: Performance and camera enthusiast: Choose the Huawei Pura 70 for its top-tier performance, advanced camera system, and superior display.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: Choose the Huawei Pura 70 if display quality, camera performance and high performance are important, and budget allows. The differences in every other metric are too big to ignore.
- Scenario 4: Specific Photo Preferences If you specifically need the macro or depth lenses, the Samsung M12 is the better choice.
My Choice
I would choose the Huawei Pura 70. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 has a lower price, the sheer difference in performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and charging speed of the Pura 70 makes it a much more compelling choice, even considering the lack of depth and macro lenses. The Pura 70 is just an all-around significantly better phone. The experience from daily usage would be so much better than the Samsung. The older processor, poor display, and slower charging of the Samsung make it a poor choice, even at a lower price point.
