1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm | 158.5 x 72 x 7.5 mm | M12 is larger and thicker, making the Edge 30 Fusion more pocketable and easier to handle. The difference in thickness is especially noticeable when holding the phone. |
| Weight | 212g | 168g | The Edge 30 Fusion is significantly lighter, leading to a more comfortable experience, especially during long usage periods. The 44g difference is very noticeable. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.55" | Both phones have very similar screen sizes. Difference is almost negligible |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The Edge 30 Fusion offers much sharper visuals due to higher pixel density. Text and images will appear clearer and less grainy. |
| PPI | 270 | 402 | Edge 30 Fusion's higher PPI results in significantly crisper and more detailed image quality. This is particularly beneficial for reading and viewing high-resolution content. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | P-OLED | The Edge 30 Fusion's P-OLED display has superior contrast, deeper blacks, and potentially wider viewing angles compared to the M12's PLS LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | The Edge 30 Fusion will feel noticeably smoother with less lag during scrolling and gaming due to its higher refresh rate. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1100 nits | The Edge 30 Fusion is drastically brighter, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. M12 brightness is unknown but would be significantly lower. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) | The Edge 30 Fusion's chipset is vastly more powerful, handling demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking much more smoothly and efficiently. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 904,900 | The Edge 30 Fusion's benchmark score is significantly higher, translating to a much snappier and more responsive user experience. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 (ARM Mali-G52) | Adreno 660 (Adreno 660) | The Adreno 660 in the Edge 30 Fusion provides far superior graphics performance, leading to much better gaming experience and faster image processing. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.0µm | The Edge 30 Fusion captures more light with larger pixels and a wider aperture, leading to better low-light performance. Its larger sensor also improves overall image quality and detail. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP f/2.2 | 32MP f/2.2, 0.8µm | The Edge 30 Fusion takes significantly sharper and more detailed selfies, capturing a wider dynamic range. |
| Wide Angle | 5MP f/2.2 | 13MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | The Edge 30 Fusion captures much higher quality wide-angle photos with more detail and less distortion compared to the M12. |
| Portrait (Depth) | 2MP f/2.4 | 2MP f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm | Both devices have similar depth sensor, but the slightly larger pixel size on the Edge 30 Fusion may result in slightly better portrait separation with background blur. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4 | None | The M12 has a dedicated macro lens, useful for very close-up shots, while the Edge 30 Fusion lacks this feature. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps; No EIS; No slow-mo up to 30fps | 8K@30fps with EIS, 4K@30fps with EIS, 1080p@120fps with EIS, 720p@960fps with EIS; Yes EIS, slow-mo up to 960fps | The Edge 30 Fusion has far superior video capabilities including higher resolution (8K), multiple framerate options, electronic image stabilization and slow motion recording. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Autofocus, Touch focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion provides much more advanced photography features for creative users with OIS, LAF, RAW support and dedicated night mode |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4400mAh | The M12 has a larger battery, potentially leading to longer battery life. However, battery life will depend on user behaviour and the efficiency of each phone's chipset. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 68W fast charging | The Edge 30 Fusion charges much faster, minimizing downtime. A quick 15 minute charge could give the Edge 30 Fusion significantly more battery than the M12 |
| Removable | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both phones have non-removable batteries. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 (Upgradable to 13) | The Edge 30 Fusion has a newer OS and confirmed upgrade, which often includes security and performance improvements, and newer features than the older android version on the M12. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/n 5GHz/ac/ax (WiFi 6), Dual band | The Edge 30 Fusion supports newer WiFi standards, offering faster connection speeds, lower latency, and improved performance in crowded Wi-Fi networks, particularly the advantages of 5Ghz and Wifi 6. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 (Various Profiles) | Bluetooth 5.2 LE, A2DP, LE | The Edge 30 Fusion's Bluetooth 5.2 offers a more power-efficient connection, with support for more recent standards. However the M12 has more profiles supported |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1) | The Edge 30 Fusion supports a wider range of satellite systems, resulting in more accurate and faster location tracking, particularly in challenging environments. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Both devices support dual sim and dual standby |
Storage & RAM
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal | 32GB, 64GB, 128GB | 128GB, 256GB | The Edge 30 Fusion offers more internal storage options, beneficial for users who need to store many apps, photos, videos, and other large files. |
| RAM | 3GB, 4GB, 6GB | 8GB, 12GB | The Edge 30 Fusion provides much better multitasking with its higher RAM options, enabling users to run multiple apps smoothly. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. Users will need to choose a storage variant that suits their needs upfront |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Basic audio features | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | The Edge 30 Fusion offers a much more immersive and higher quality audio experience, with spatial audio, enhanced separation and improved voice capture through stereo speakers and dual mics |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | The side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the M12 is faster and can be more ergonomic to use than a basic fingerprint sensor on the Edge 30 Fusion |
Build Quality
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | The type of screen protection is unknown on both devices making the impact difficult to compare |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | The Edge 30 Fusion has a compass, useful for navigation purposes. M12 has hall sensor |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Edge 30 Fusion Advantages:
- Superior Display: Significantly sharper, brighter, and smoother with its P-OLED 144Hz screen. This translates to a much better viewing experience for multimedia, browsing, and gaming.
- Much Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 888+ chipset offers vastly superior performance, allowing for much smoother multitasking, faster app launches, and much higher gaming performance.
- Higher Quality Cameras: The Edge 30 Fusion captures significantly better photos and videos with more detail and improved low-light performance. It also has superior video recording capabilities with higher resolution options and stabilization.
- Faster Charging: 68W fast charging allows for quicker battery top-ups, much more convenient for users.
- More Advanced Connectivity: The Edge 30 Fusion supports newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, providing faster connections.
- Better Audio Experience The device has better audio quality due to stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support
- More RAM and Storage Options: Offers more RAM and Storage for better multitasking and user experience
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The M12 has a slightly larger battery, potentially providing longer battery life depending on the use-case.
- Macro Lens: Dedicated Macro lens for users who like to take very close-up shots.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Can be more convenient than fingerprint sensor on the Edge 30 Fusion.
Trade-offs:
- Edge 30 Fusion: Sacrifices battery capacity and a macro lens for significantly better performance, display, camera, and charging speed.
- Samsung Galaxy M12: Offers a slightly larger battery and macro camera at the cost of significantly lower performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Edge 30 Fusion:
- Ideal User: Power users, gamers, content creators, and users who value a high-quality multimedia experience. Those who often stream, edit photos, video, or play games.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming with high frame rates and sharp visuals.
- High-quality video recording and photography with advanced features.
- Demanding multitasking with multiple apps running simultaneously.
- Streaming HDR content with a vivid and smooth display.
- Users who need fast charging for quicker top-ups
- Price-to-Value: Offers a premium experience with high-end features, justifying a higher price point.
Samsung Galaxy M12:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who need a basic smartphone for everyday tasks, with a large battery. Users who value a simple phone without high performance or camera features.
- Use Cases:
- Basic web browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Users who prioritize battery life over all else and do not do performance intensive tasks
- Users who take occasional macro shots.
- Price-to-Value: It offers essential features at a lower price point, making it a good option for those on a tight budget.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? The Edge 30 Fusion is likely a premium option compared to the budget-oriented M12.
- How important is performance and display quality? If you play games or watch videos, the Edge 30 Fusion is a clear winner.
- What are your camera needs? If you need high-quality photos and videos, or care about creative features, the Edge 30 Fusion's superior camera system is more suitable.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is Primary Concern If you are on a very tight budget and need a basic phone with a large battery, the Samsung Galaxy M12 might suffice.
- Scenario 2: High Performance & Multimedia For users who prioritize performance, display quality, and camera features, the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is the superior option, with much higher quality hardware in all of these areas.
- Scenario 3: General Use: The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is still the better option. The higher performance and quality display/camera provide a much smoother and enjoyable daily experience.
My Choice
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 has a larger battery and a macro lens, the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion offers a vastly superior experience in almost every other aspect, which are far more important to my needs. The significantly better performance, display, camera, and charging speed on the Motorola make it a much more versatile and enjoyable phone for general use, gaming, photography, and media consumption. The small increase in cost is well worth it for the substantial upgrade in quality and user experience. The only users I would not recommend this phone to are those on an extremely tight budget or those for whom battery life and macro photography are the most important things.
