1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm | 159.4 x 74.2 x 6.8 mm | The Edge 30 is noticeably thinner and more compact, making it easier to hold and carry. The M12 is bulkier and may feel less comfortable. |
| Weight | 212g | 155g | The Edge 30 is significantly lighter, resulting in a more comfortable in-hand feel, especially during extended use. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.5" | Both have the same screen size. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The Edge 30's higher resolution provides a much sharper image, with finer details, which is better for reading text and viewing images and video. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 405 PPI | The higher pixel density on the Edge 30 results in a sharper display, where individual pixels are much less noticeable. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED displays offer deeper blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant colors than PLS LCDs, resulting in a visually superior experience. Also, AMOLED offers better power efficiency for dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | The Edge 30's 144Hz refresh rate will lead to much smoother animations and scrolling compared to the 90Hz of the M12, providing a more fluid experience for gaming and general navigation. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness, which is unknown, making it difficult to compare viewing experience in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | The Edge 30's Snapdragon chipset offers significantly better processing power, resulting in snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and better performance for demanding applications and games. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 609,900 | The Edge 30 has dramatically higher benchmark performance, meaning it will perform much faster in almost all use cases compared to M12. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 642L | The Adreno 642L in the Edge 30 offers significantly better graphics performance, leading to improved gaming and video playback. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4020mAh | The M12's larger battery will likely provide longer battery life, though the more efficient chipset of the Edge 30 may close the gap. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | The Edge 30's faster charging can significantly reduce charging times, allowing users to quickly top up their battery when needed. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP f/2.0, 1/2" sensor | 50MP f/1.8, 1/1.55" sensor | The Edge 30's larger sensor, wider aperture, and higher resolution main camera will generally capture better images with better low-light performance, more detail and a shallower depth of field. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP f/2.2 | 32MP f/2.25, 1/3.14" sensor | The Edge 30's significantly higher resolution selfie camera will capture much more detailed and higher quality selfies, with slightly less wider aperture. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP f/2.2 | Not available | The M12 has a dedicated wide angle lens. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP f/2.4 | 2MP f/2.4 | Similar depth sensors will create comparable bokeh effects in portrait photos. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4 | Not available | The M12 includes a macro lens for close-up photos. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Not available | 50MP f/2.2, 1/2.76" sensor | The Edge 30 has a dual-purpose wide-angle/macro lens offering flexibility. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps | The Edge 30 supports higher resolution and frame rate recording, which results in much more detailed and smoother video. The Edge 30 offers better options for slow-motion. |
| Camera Features | Quad camera, PDAF, HDR | Triple camera, OIS, EIS, PDAF, RAW, Night Mode | The Edge 30 boasts more advanced features for higher quality results, especially in low-light and for videos. |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12, upgradable to 13 | The Edge 30 runs on a newer version of Android, which typically has better security features and more up-to-date features. |
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | The Edge 30 supports newer Wi-Fi standards, offering faster data speeds and better connectivity on modern networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | The Edge 30's newer Bluetooth version offers better power efficiency and potentially better audio quality, while offering codecs such as APT-x and LDAC. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | The Edge 30 supports more satellite systems, which can translate to better location accuracy, especially in difficult environments. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones offer dual SIM functionality. |
Storage & Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 128/256 GB | The Edge 30 offers more storage, especially for users who take a lot of photos and videos or download large files. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 6/8 GB | The Edge 30 has more RAM, which will result in smoother multitasking and performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage via SD card. |
| Audio | Basic audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | The Edge 30 offers an enhanced audio experience, including immersive spatial audio and louder sound with stereo speakers. |
Security & Build
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones offer fingerprint sensors for biometric security. The side-mounted implementation in the M12 may be more convenient for some users. |
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | The Edge 30 has a layer of Gorilla Glass 3 for improved screen protection from scratches and minor impacts. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both devices include necessary sensors for typical smartphone use, with the Motorola Edge 30 featuring a compass and M12 a Hall sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery offers potentially longer battery life, which may be important for heavy users who are often away from a charger.
- Dedicated wide angle and Macro lens: Having this separate lens allows for more versatile photography.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: This placement can be more intuitive and faster for some users compared to a traditional in-screen or rear sensor.
- Hall sensor: Having a Hall sensor can be important for certain applications.
Practical Implications: The M12 is tailored for users who prioritize battery endurance and prefer a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The additional lenses may be useful for people who take a lot of different types of photos.
Motorola Edge 30 Advantages:
- Superior Display: The AMOLED panel with a higher resolution and refresh rate results in a much sharper, more vibrant, and smoother visual experience.
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 778G+ chipset provides much faster processing and graphics performance, suitable for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Advanced Camera System: The Edge 30 boasts a more capable camera with a larger sensor, wider aperture, OIS and 4K video recording, resulting in superior image and video quality.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging refills the battery more quickly.
- More Storage and RAM: The higher storage options and RAM provide better multitasking and a more future-proof device.
- Enhanced Audio: With Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers the audio experience is superior to the basic audio of the M12.
- Newer Software: Running a newer version of Android offers better features and security.
- Better Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards provide faster and more reliable connections.
- Better Screen protection: Thanks to Gorilla Glass 3 the screen is more resistant to damage.
Practical Implications: The Edge 30 is a much better choice for users who value performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and a premium overall experience.
Trade-offs:
- Battery vs. Performance/Features: The M12 prioritizes battery life, while the Edge 30 prioritizes performance and advanced features.
- Bulk vs. Comfort: The M12 is bulkier, while the Edge 30 is much lighter and thinner.
- Camera features vs dedicated lenses: The M12 has more dedicated lenses but the Edge 30 has higher quality and more versatile lenses.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Seeking an affordable phone with long battery life.
- Users who prioritize battery: Those who are often away from charging outlets.
- Users who like having more lenses: People who take various types of photos.
Use Cases:
- Basic daily tasks, like browsing the web, social media and calls.
- Users who need a reliable phone for day-to-day use without demanding requirements.
- Users who want a basic device with decent photography, even if it is not the best.
Motorola Edge 30 Ideal User:
- Performance-oriented users: Gamers, multitaskers, and users who require a fast and responsive phone.
- Users who value display quality: Those who want a vibrant, sharp display for media consumption.
- Photography enthusiasts: Users who want good image and video quality, particularly in challenging situations.
- Users who enjoy multimedia: Those who value audio quality for videos or music.
Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming with smooth frame rates.
- High-quality media consumption (streaming, videos).
- Taking great photos and videos.
- Professional work requiring fast processing and multitasking.
Price-to-Value:
- The Motorola Edge 30 offers much better value for performance and features. If the price difference is acceptable, this device provides significantly better value than the M12.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? The M12 will likely be more affordable, while the Edge 30 provides a more premium experience at a higher price point.
- How important is performance to you? If you need a smooth, responsive experience for gaming or multitasking, the Edge 30 is clearly superior.
- What is more important, battery life or screen quality? The M12 will likely have better battery life whereas the Edge 30 has an exceptional screen.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget User: If budget is the primary concern, the Samsung Galaxy M12 may be the better option, but only if you're okay with compromises in performance and display quality. The Edge 30 provides better value but it will cost more.
- Performance User: If you need smooth performance for gaming and demanding applications, the Motorola Edge 30 is the clear winner.
- Photography User: The Edge 30 is the better choice for photography, given its superior sensor, wider aperture, OIS, and additional shooting modes.
- Battery Life User: If you absolutely prioritize the longest possible battery life, the Samsung Galaxy M12 will likely last longer, however, the faster charging of the Edge 30 may offset this to some degree.
- Multimedia user: If you value having an amazing display and immersive audio for media consumption, the Edge 30 would be the better choice.
Personal Choice
If I had to choose between the two, I would choose the Motorola Edge 30. Although the Samsung Galaxy M12 has a bigger battery and additional lenses, the superior display, significantly better performance, enhanced camera capabilities, faster charging, and overall better user experience of the Edge 30 make it worth the additional cost. The Edge 30 provides a more modern, smooth, and versatile smartphone experience which makes it superior overall.
