1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 163 × 76 × 7 mm | The Motorola Edge 20 is significantly thinner and slightly shorter, making it feel sleeker and more pocketable. The M12 is thicker and might feel bulkier in the hand. |
| Weight | 212g | 163g | The Motorola Edge 20 is considerably lighter (49g difference), making it more comfortable for extended use, especially one-handed. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | The Motorola Edge 20 offers a slightly larger screen, providing a more immersive viewing experience for multimedia and gaming. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The Motorola Edge 20 has a much sharper display with significantly more detail, making text and images appear clearer. |
| PPI | 270 | 385 | The higher pixel density of the Motorola Edge 20 means images will look crisper and less pixelated. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | The Motorola Edge 20's OLED display provides much better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, resulting in a more visually appealing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | The Motorola Edge 20's higher refresh rate results in much smoother animations and scrolling, especially noticeable in fast-paced games and when navigating the user interface. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness at 0 nits, which is not useful data |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | The Snapdragon 778G in the Motorola Edge 20 is significantly more powerful, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding tasks and gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 589,200 | The Motorola Edge 20's substantially higher score indicates a major performance advantage, making it feel faster and more responsive in daily use. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 642L | The Adreno 642L in the Motorola Edge 20 is considerably more powerful, providing better graphics performance for gaming and graphically intensive apps. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.80µm | 108MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52", 0.70µm | The Motorola Edge 20 captures much more detailed photos with a higher resolution sensor and a slightly wider aperture for better low-light performance and a larger sensor. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.3 | The Motorola Edge 20's selfie camera captures more detailed images due to the higher resolution. The M12 has a slightly wider aperture for better low light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 8MP, f/2.4 | The Motorola Edge 20 offers optical zoom capabilities, enabling clearer zoomed-in photos, which the M12 lacks completely. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | None | The Samsung M12 has an ultra-wide lens for capturing expansive scenes that the Edge 20 lacks. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The M12 includes a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode effects which the Edge 20 lacks. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The M12 offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots that the Edge 20 lacks. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 16MP, f/2.2 | The Edge 20 offers a combined wide angle and macro lens that provides versatility that the M12 lacks. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@up to 240fps, 720p@960fps | The Motorola Edge 20 is capable of recording much higher resolution video (4K) and offers a wider range of slow-motion capabilities. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4020mAh | The Samsung Galaxy M12 has a larger battery which should translate to longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W | 30W | The Motorola Edge 20 charges much faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse Charging, Non-removable | The Motorola Edge 20 can charge other devices wirelessly and has a non-removable battery. The M12 also has a non-removable battery. |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11, upgradeable to 12 | The Motorola Edge 20 offers at least one guaranteed OS upgrade. |
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6), Dual Band, MIMO | The Motorola Edge 20 has WiFi 6 support, which results in faster speeds, better range, and lower latency for supported networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 LE | The Motorola Edge 20 has a newer Bluetooth version, offering better power efficiency and potentially more stable connections. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | The Motorola Edge 20's support for Galileo increases location accuracy, especially in urban environments. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones offer dual SIM support. |
Storage & Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128GB | 128/256GB | The Motorola Edge 20 has more internal storage and more storage options which provides more space for apps and media. |
| RAM | 3/4/6GB | 6/8GB | The Motorola Edge 20 has more RAM, which is better for multitasking and more intensive applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD cards, so users are limited to internal storage. |
| Audio | Basic | Basic | Both phones have the same audio features. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint | Side-mounted fingerprint | Both phones offer the same fingerprint security. |
Build Quality & Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | The Motorola Edge 20 has better screen protection against scratches. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Hall, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | The Motorola Edge 20 has an additional compass sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery is likely to provide longer battery life, beneficial for users who need their phone to last all day.
- Ultra-Wide and Macro Cameras: Offers more versatility in photography with a dedicated wide angle and macro lens, which the Motorola Edge 20 lacks.
- Depth sensor: Allows for greater control over portrait photos.
Motorola Edge 20 Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED panel with higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, offering a much better viewing experience.
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 778G chipset provides drastically faster processing power for all tasks, gaming, and future-proofing.
- Better Main Camera: Higher resolution main sensor with a larger sensor, capturing more detailed and better low-light photos and videos.
- Telephoto Lens: Provides optical zoom capabilities for sharper zoomed-in photos, a feature missing on the M12.
- Faster Charging: 30W charging significantly reduces the time spent plugged in.
- Reverse Charging: Can wirelessly charge other devices.
- Advanced WiFi: WiFi 6 support for faster and more reliable wireless connections.
- More RAM/Storage: Comes with 6/8GB RAM and 128/256 GB of storage.
- Screen Protection: Has a more durable screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
- More Satellites for GPS: Has additional satellite connections to ensure faster and more accurate GPS capabilities.
- Video Recording: Higher resolution video with a better suite of slow-motion options.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 sacrifices performance and display quality for a larger battery and extra camera lenses.
- The Motorola Edge 20 sacrifices battery life and a wide angle and macro lens to offer superior performance, display, and main camera, and telephoto lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users: Those prioritizing affordability above all else, even with some performance compromises.
- Users needing long battery life: Individuals who need their phone to last throughout the day without worrying about charging.
- Basic photographers: Those who desire an ultra-wide camera lens and a macro lens, for unique pictures.
Specific Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy M12:
- Everyday tasks: Browsing, social media, calls, texts, and basic app usage.
- Long hours away from charging points: Where battery life is a primary concern.
- Basic Photography: Those who want the ability to take ultra wide and macro photography.
Motorola Edge 20 Ideal Users:
- Performance-oriented users: Gamers, power users, and those needing smooth multitasking and demanding app performance.
- Multimedia enthusiasts: Users who value a great display experience for streaming videos and playing games.
- Users who want better camera quality: Those who prioritize image quality, especially in main and telephoto shots.
- Users who want fast charging: Those who don't want to spend too much time charging their phone.
Specific Use Cases for Motorola Edge 20:
- Mobile gaming: Smooth gameplay with high frame rates and fast response times.
- High-quality media consumption: Enjoying vivid, detailed content on a superior OLED display.
- Mobile photography: Capturing sharper photos with main and telephoto lens, especially in lower light conditions.
- Frequent travelers: Those who want a phone that has reliable GPS capabilities.
- Users who need fast charging Those who need to be able to quickly charge their phone on the go.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (e.g., gaming, photography, battery life)
- How much do you value display quality and performance?
- What are your photography priorities (ultra-wide, macro, zoom, or general main camera quality)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget and Battery Focused: If budget is a primary concern and you need a device with long battery life for everyday tasks, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is the suitable choice.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Display Priority: If you prioritize gaming, high-quality media consumption, and overall performance, the Motorola Edge 20 is the clear choice despite the trade-off in battery and lacking a dedicated ultra-wide and macro lens.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: If you need a phone that has better than the basic photo-taking capabilities of the M12, can give you smooth performance, and don't mind having a slightly smaller battery, then the Motorola Edge 20 is a better choice.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Edge 20. Here's why:
While the Samsung M12 has a larger battery, the performance trade-offs are just too significant for me. I value a smooth user experience, and the massive difference in AnTuTu scores tells a clear story here. The Motorola Edge 20's OLED display is much better, which is crucial for daily usage. Furthermore, the faster charging on the Edge 20 helps offset the smaller battery capacity. Lastly, the better main camera sensor, better video recording, and the addition of the telephoto lens makes the Motorola the better choice for me for photography. Ultimately, the Motorola Edge 20 offers a significantly better experience in areas that are more important to me and most users than a slightly larger battery and the inclusion of a macro and ultra-wide sensor.
