Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy M12 vs. Motorola Edge 20 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-04-30 | 2021-08-16 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro is a newer device, potentially with more up-to-date features. |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm | 163 x 76 x 8 mm | Motorola is thinner and slightly smaller in volume, making it feel less bulky. |
| Weight | 212g | 190g | Motorola Edge 20 Pro is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build Material | Unknown | Unknown | No information is available, cannot compare. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Motorola Edge 20 Pro offers a slightly larger screen, which can be more immersive for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro's higher resolution provides a sharper, more detailed image. |
| PPI | 270 | 385 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro's higher pixel density results in crisper text and images. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | Motorola Edge 20 Pro offers more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast with OLED. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | Motorola Edge 20 Pro has a significantly smoother scrolling and gaming experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness. Cannot compare their performance in different lighting conditions |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Motorola Edge 20 Pro's chipset is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 813,800 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro offers drastically superior performance for all tasks. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 650 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro's GPU provides much better graphics performance, especially for gaming. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Samsung Galaxy M12 offers slightly longer battery life, especially in light usage scenarios. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 30W Fast Charging | Motorola Edge 20 Pro charges much faster, reducing time spent plugged into the wall. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable | Motorola Edge 20 Pro can act as a power bank for other devices. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Standard | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm | 108MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52", 0.7µm | Motorola Edge 20 Pro's primary camera offers higher resolution, larger sensor, and wider aperture, resulting in better low-light performance and detail. |
| Selfie | 8MP, f/2.2, | 32MP, f/2.3, 0.7µm | Motorola Edge 20 Pro has a much higher resolution front camera, providing sharper and more detailed selfies. |
| Telephoto lens | Not available | 8MP, f/3.4 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro has an additional telephoto lens for zoomed-in photos without loss in quality. |
| Wide Angle lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | Not Available | Samsung Galaxy M12 has an ultra-wide angle lens for capturing a wider field of view. |
| Depth lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | Samsung Galaxy M12 has an depth lens for capturing portrait photos with bokeh effect. |
| Macro lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a macro lens for capturing close-up photos. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Not Available | 16MP, f/2.2 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro has a wide angle + macro lens for capturing a wider field of view and close-up photos. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@960fps | Motorola Edge 20 Pro provides much higher video recording resolution and features, including higher frame rates and slow-motion capabilities. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Quad camera, PDAF | 4K/8K Video, Optical zoom, Triple camera, OIS | Motorola Edge 20 Pro has more advanced video recording features including optical zoom and image stabilization |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11 | Both run on the same version of Android out of the box. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Motorola Edge 20 Pro supports faster WiFi standards (WiFi 6) for improved wireless performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 LE | Motorola Edge 20 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version with better efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Motorola Edge 20 Pro supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones support dual SIM cards. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 128/256 GB | Motorola Edge 20 Pro offers more storage options for apps, photos, and media. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 12 GB | Motorola Edge 20 Pro provides much smoother multitasking with its significantly higher RAM. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | Basic audio features | Both phones offer similar basic audio features. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both phones have similar biometric security features. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro provides better screen protection against scratches and accidental drops. |
| Sensors | Biometric, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall | Biometric, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Motorola Edge 20 Pro has an additional compass sensor which can be useful for certain applications |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Edge 20 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Significantly faster processor and more RAM for smoother multitasking, gaming, and overall usage.
- Enhanced Display: Sharper, more vibrant OLED display with a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals and better viewing experience.
- Better Camera: Higher-resolution cameras, including a telephoto lens, and more advanced video recording features for superior photo and video quality.
- Faster Charging: 30W fast charging allows for quicker battery top-ups.
- Advanced Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi standards (WiFi 6) and more satellite systems for better location accuracy.
- Premium build: Offers better protection against scratches due to Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: Slightly larger battery capacity for potentially longer battery life.
- Lower Price: Likely available at a lower price point.
- Additional Camera Features: Features an additional wide angle, macro, and depth lens for more versatile photography.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Motorola Edge 20 Pro: Lacks a macro and depth lens and has a smaller battery compared to the Samsung M12, although it charges much faster.
- Samsung Galaxy M12: Significantly inferior performance, display, and camera quality compared to the Motorola Edge 20 Pro.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 is ideal for:
- Budget-conscious users: Those who need a basic smartphone for everyday tasks and value a lower price point.
- Users prioritizing battery life: Those who need a phone that can last a long time between charges and do not need demanding features.
- Basic Photography Users: People who want an affordable phone with versatile photography options such as wide-angle, macro and depth lenses
Use Cases:
- Basic web browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Casual media consumption (videos, music) with no high expectations.
- Everyday photography with moderate requirements.
Motorola Edge 20 Pro is ideal for:
- Performance-oriented users: Those who need a powerful phone for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Media enthusiasts: Those who prioritize a high-quality display for immersive viewing experiences.
- Photography enthusiasts: Those who want to capture high-quality photos and videos.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming, video editing, and resource-intensive applications.
- High-quality video and photo capture for memories and content creation.
- Smooth multitasking and rapid app switching.
- Users seeking a faster, more responsive and future-proofed device.
Price-to-Value:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 provides basic functionality at a lower cost.
- The Motorola Edge 20 Pro offers significantly more value for users needing higher performance, better display, and advanced camera capabilities, justifying a higher price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is your budget? The Galaxy M12 will be much cheaper than the Edge 20 Pro. If your budget is tight, the M12 would be the only viable option.
- How important is performance? If you need a phone for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, the Edge 20 Pro is the only option to consider here.
- What are your display and camera priorities? If you require a great display and top-notch photography capabilities, the Edge 20 Pro is superior. However, if you need an ultrawide, macro and depth lens on the back, the M12 will be the better choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual user on a tight budget.
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy M12 is sufficient for basic usage and provides a lower cost of entry.
- Scenario 2: User who values performance and gaming above all else.
- Recommendation: Motorola Edge 20 Pro is the clear choice, thanks to its high performance and quality screen.
- Scenario 3: User who wants the best overall smartphone and the best quality camera possible.
- Recommendation: Motorola Edge 20 Pro will be more suitable thanks to its vastly superior main camera, higher video recording quality and more professional features.
What I would choose and why!
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Motorola Edge 20 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a larger battery and a lower price point, the Motorola Edge 20 Pro's advantages are simply too significant to ignore.
The Edge 20 Pro provides a superior display with OLED technology, a higher refresh rate, and higher resolution which provides a far better viewing experience. The difference in performance is also immense, as the Snapdragon 870 chipset blows the Exynos 850 out of the water in terms of raw power. This means that the Edge 20 Pro will be able to handle any type of mobile game at high settings while the M12 will struggle with even more basic games.
While the M12 has a few advantages such as additional macro, wide and depth lens, these don't make up for the sheer difference in quality in the main camera of the Edge 20 Pro. The Edge 20 Pro also takes far better video thanks to its 8K recording, image stabilization and high FPS recording. Finally, the faster charging speeds and a more premium build make this phone an easy choice for me.
While the M12 is a decent choice for those on a tight budget, the Motorola Edge 20 Pro offers a far superior and more well-rounded experience. For these reasons, the Motorola Edge 20 Pro is my choice.
