Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy M12 vs. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the two smartphones, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm | 163.1 x 76 x 8.8 mm | The Edge 30 Pro is slightly thinner and less bulky, making it potentially more comfortable to hold. |
| Weight | 212g | 196g | The Edge 30 Pro is significantly lighter, which can be crucial for prolonged use. |
| Build | Unknown | Gorilla Glass 3 (Screen) | Edge 30 Pro has a more durable screen. M12 screen material not specified. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | The Edge 30 Pro has a slightly larger screen for a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1080 x 2400 | The Edge 30 Pro's higher resolution results in sharper images and text, better for reading and content. |
| PPI | 270 | 393 | Edge 30 Pro provides much sharper visuals. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | OLED | OLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to PLS LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | Edge 30 Pro's higher refresh rate makes animations and scrolling noticeably smoother. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Brightness is the same for both phones. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Edge 30 Pro's chipset is significantly more powerful, resulting in much faster performance in all tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 1,061,400 | The Edge 30 Pro has 8x more performance, making it capable of handling intensive gaming and multitasking. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 730 | Edge 30 Pro's GPU is significantly more powerful for graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 8/12 GB | The Edge 30 Pro offers substantially more RAM for smoother multitasking and running multiple apps simultaneously. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.0µm | Edge 30 Pro's main camera captures more light and detail with a larger sensor and wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 60MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 0.61µm | Edge 30 Pro has a much higher-resolution front camera for sharper, detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | None | Galaxy M12 can capture wider scenes. Edge 30 Pro does not have a dedicated wide-angle lens |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Similar depth sensors for creating background blur. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Galaxy M12 has a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots. Edge 30 Pro does not have a dedicated macro camera |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Edge 30 Pro has a combined lens for wide-angle and macro shots. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | Up to 8K, 960fps Slow-mo | Edge 30 Pro offers significantly more versatile video recording, including higher resolution, slow-motion and video stabilization. |
| DxOMark | Not tested | 101 overall, 107 photo, 102 video | Edge 30 Pro has been professionally tested for camera quality. M12 has not been tested. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4800mAh | Galaxy M12 offers slightly more capacity, but differences in efficiency might make the difference negligble. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging | Edge 30 Pro charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 15W Wireless Charging, 5W Reverse Charging | The Edge 30 Pro offers convenience with wireless and reverse charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Here's a breakdown of the major advantages of each phone and the trade-offs involved:
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: May provide marginally better battery life under similar use conditions.
- Dedicated Macro and Wide-Angle Lens: Offers more versatility in photography with dedicated lenses for close-up and wide-angle shots, although lower quality.
- Lower Price Point: Likely a more affordable option.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset provides a much faster experience for all tasks.
- Higher Resolution Display: OLED screen with higher resolution and refresh rate offers significantly better image quality and smoothness.
- Much Faster Charging: 68W fast charging drastically reduces charging times, enabling much faster turnaround time.
- Advanced Camera System: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras with larger sensors and additional video recording features.
- Wireless & Reverse Charging: Provides added convenience in daily use.
- Better Audio: Dolby Atmos and Stereo speakers offer a much better audio experience
Trade-offs:
- Galaxy M12: Slower performance, lower quality display, and basic camera.
- Motorola Edge 30 Pro: More expensive, lacks dedicated macro & wide-angle lens (combines into a single lens), slightly smaller battery.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Samsung Galaxy M12:
- Budget-conscious users: Prioritizing affordability over performance and premium features.
- Users focused on battery life: A slightly larger battery may provide marginally longer usage times.
- Casual photographers: Users who want versatility with dedicated macro and wide-angle lens.
Specific Use Cases for Galaxy M12:
- Everyday browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Occasional photography in adequate lighting.
- Users requiring a reliable phone for basic functions.
Ideal Users for Motorola Edge 30 Pro:
- Power users: Demanding high performance for gaming, multitasking, and resource-intensive tasks.
- Multimedia enthusiasts: Users who value a high-quality display for video streaming and content consumption.
- Photography enthusiasts: Users who require a versatile and capable camera system.
- Users who enjoy audio Experience is enhanced with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers.
Specific Use Cases for Edge 30 Pro:
- Playing graphics-intensive games.
- Editing photos and videos on the go.
- Video recording and watching high-resolution content.
- Users who need fast charging.
Price-to-Value:
- Galaxy M12: Offers good value for basic functionality at a low price.
- Edge 30 Pro: Provides premium features and performance at a higher price point.
4. Decision Framework
Here are key questions for buyers to consider:
- What is your budget? If budget is the main constraint, the Galaxy M12 might be the only realistic option.
- How important is performance? If you need a phone that can handle demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, the Edge 30 Pro is the better choice.
- What do you value more, battery or screen quality? The Galaxy M12 has slightly better battery capacity, while the Edge 30 Pro has a superior display.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget shopper, basic use: The Samsung Galaxy M12 is a suitable option, if the price of the Motorola is too much.
- Scenario 2: Moderate user, decent display and good battery The Samsung Galaxy M12 is the better option.
- Scenario 3: Power user, gaming enthusiast: The Motorola Edge 30 Pro is the ideal choice due to its significantly higher performance.
- Scenario 4: Photography enthusiast: The Motorola Edge 30 Pro provides a far more capable camera and video system.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Motorola Edge 30 Pro. Despite its higher price and slightly smaller battery, the advantages it offers in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities are substantial and far more relevant for my needs. I am a moderate to heavy smartphone user, and would appreciate the smoothness of the higher refresh rate screen, the speed of the processor, and much faster charging times. The inclusion of wireless charging and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos are also significant bonuses for my daily usage. The differences are just too vast to consider the M12.
