Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy M12 vs. Motorola Edge 40
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 158.4 × 72 × 7.6 mm | The Motorola Edge 40 is noticeably more compact, making it easier to handle and pocket. The Galaxy M12 is bulkier and thicker. |
| Weight | 212g | 167g | The Motorola Edge 40 is significantly lighter, offering better comfort during extended use and portability. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.55" | Negligible difference; both offer similar screen real estate for content consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | The Motorola Edge 40 has a significantly sharper and clearer display, making text, images, and videos appear much more detailed. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 402 PPI | The Motorola Edge 40's higher pixel density results in a noticeably sharper display with less pixelation, enhancing visual clarity. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | P-OLED | The Motorola Edge 40's P-OLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the Galaxy M12's LCD. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | The Motorola Edge 40 has a significantly smoother visual experience with faster refresh rate, reducing motion blur, especially noticeable during gaming and scrolling. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | The Motorola Edge 40 is much more usable outdoors under bright sunlight due to its significantly higher peak brightness. The Samsung Galaxy M12 is hard to use under sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm) | The Motorola Edge 40 has a more advanced, faster chipset. Expect better performance in demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 762,526 | The Motorola Edge 40 demonstrates vastly superior performance, resulting in quicker app loading, smoother multitasking, and more fluid gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Mali-G77 MC9 | The Motorola Edge 40's GPU is much more powerful. Expect better gaming performance and graphics rendering. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | The Motorola Edge 40 has a slightly higher resolution, which can potentially provide more detail in photos. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.4 | The Motorola Edge 40's wider aperture allows more light to reach the sensor, resulting in better low-light performance and shallower depth of field. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.55" | The Motorola Edge 40 has a larger sensor, which gathers more light, leading to better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm | 1.00 µm | The larger pixels on the Motorola Edge 40 allow it to capture more light, resulting in better low-light performance and dynamic range. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 8MP | 32MP | The Motorola Edge 40 has a significantly higher-resolution selfie camera, providing more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | The Samsung Galaxy M12 has a slightly wider aperture on the selfie camera |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | None | The Samsung Galaxy M12 includes a dedicated wide-angle lens, while the Motorola Edge 40 does not have a dedicated sensor, although it does have a combined macro + wide sensor. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP | None | The Samsung Galaxy M12 includes a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode effects, which the Motorola Edge 40 lacks as a dedicated sensor. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | None | The Samsung Galaxy M12 includes a dedicated macro lens, whereas Motorola Edge 40 combines macro functionality with its wide angle lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP | The Motorola Edge 40 has a combined Wide Angle + Macro camera, offering versatility. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps | The Motorola Edge 40 can record higher resolution video, offering significantly higher quality. |
| Video Stabilization | None | HDR, EIS | The Motorola Edge 40 has better video stabilization for smoother recording. |
| Slow-Motion | 30 fps | 240 fps | The Motorola Edge 40 has significantly higher slow-motion capabilities. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera | Dual camera, OIS, Laser Autofocus, Night Mode, RAW | The Motorola Edge 40 provides OIS, laser autofocus, Night Mode and RAW, providing better flexibility and performance in a variety of scenarios. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4400mAh | The Samsung Galaxy M12 has a larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life on a single charge. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless Charging | The Motorola Edge 40 charges significantly faster and provides the convenience of wireless charging. |
| Battery Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 15W Wireless Charging | The Motorola Edge 40's wireless charging provides extra convenience. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery offers the potential for longer usage without needing to recharge.
- Dedicated Wide Angle, Depth and Macro Lenses: Offers more flexibility for photography due to having dedicated sensors.
- Lower Price Point: The Galaxy M12 is generally more affordable, making it a budget-friendly option.
Motorola Edge 40 Advantages:
- Superior Display: The P-OLED panel, higher resolution, higher pixel density, 144Hz refresh rate, and much higher brightness offer a vastly better visual experience.
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Dimensity 8020 chipset provides significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: The 68W fast charging and wireless charging provide a major convenience advantage over the Galaxy M12.
- Better Main Camera: The wider aperture, larger sensor, and larger pixel size of the main camera result in higher image quality.
- 4K Video Recording & Superior Video Stabilization: Captures higher quality videos and provides Electronic Image Stabilization.
- Newer Software: Comes with Android 13 (upgradeable to 15), offering a more modern interface and features.
- More RAM & Internal Storage: 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage are significantly better for multitasking and storing files.
- Better Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi standard and Bluetooth version.
- Better Audio: Includes Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers for better audio.
- More comprehensive camera features: OIS, Laser Autofocus, Night Mode and RAW provide better options when capturing images.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 sacrifices display quality, performance, and camera quality to offer a larger battery and a more affordable price.
- The Motorola Edge 40 sacrifices a dedicated wide angle, macro and depth sensor for a combined wide + macro sensor, for much better all round specs.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Individuals who prioritize affordability and are looking for a basic smartphone experience with long battery life.
- Casual users: People who primarily use their phones for basic tasks like calling, messaging, browsing, and light social media.
- Users who prioritize battery life: Those who need their phone to last all day without needing to recharge frequently and don't need high performance.
- Users who prioritize having dedicated lenses: Those who prioritize the flexibility offered by multiple dedicated lenses.
Motorola Edge 40 Ideal User:
- Performance-oriented users: Gamers and power users who need a phone that can handle demanding tasks, games, and multitasking.
- Media consumers: People who watch a lot of videos, browse photos, and want a vibrant and smooth display experience.
- Photography enthusiasts: Individuals who want a versatile camera system that can capture high-quality photos and videos.
- Users who prioritize speed and responsiveness: Those who want a smooth and lag-free experience with fast charging capabilities.
- Users who want to capture high quality videos: The 4k capture capabilities allow for greater flexibility.
Specific Use Cases:
- Samsung Galaxy M12: Great for a backup phone, a primary phone for those with minimal requirements, or for elderly users who prioritize simplicity and long battery life.
- Motorola Edge 40: Ideal for mobile gaming, streaming high-quality videos, content creation, photography, and everyday use with high demands on performance and responsiveness.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a good value for its price, focusing on delivering basic functionality and good battery life.
- The Motorola Edge 40 offers significantly better value for money due to the massive performance improvements and features, but at a higher price point.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is your budget? The Galaxy M12 is more budget-friendly.
- How important is performance, camera, and display quality? The Edge 40 excels in these areas, but at a higher cost.
- How important is battery life vs. fast charging and wireless charging? The Galaxy M12 has a larger battery, while the Edge 40 charges much faster and supports wireless charging.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Basic Usage on a Tight Budget: If you need a basic phone for calling, texting, and minimal browsing and your budget is very limited, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is a practical choice.
Scenario 2: Multimedia and Performance: If you enjoy gaming, watching high-resolution videos, capturing high-quality photos/videos, and prioritize performance and a premium display experience, the Motorola Edge 40 is the better option despite its higher price.
Scenario 3: Balanced Performance and Camera: If you need a phone with decent battery, capable performance and an okay camera system, neither phone is really the right fit for you. There are likely better choices available in the market.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Edge 40. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a larger battery and is more budget friendly, the overall experience offered by the Motorola Edge 40 is vastly superior. The difference in display quality is significant, moving from a low resolution, low brightness, LCD panel to a high resolution, high brightness P-OLED screen. The performance difference is night and day, and the camera offers much more flexibility and features. Ultimately, for me the improvements across most categories are more beneficial than a slightly bigger battery, especially with the benefits of fast and wireless charging on the Motorola Edge 40. The Motorola Edge 40 also offers a more future proof experience with a newer version of android.
