Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy M12 vs. Motorola Edge 50 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 161.2 × 72.4 × 8.2 mm | Motorola Edge 50 Pro is more compact and easier to handle, especially for smaller hands. |
| Weight | 212g | 186g | Motorola Edge 50 Pro is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers a slightly larger viewing area for content consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1220x2712 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has a much sharper display with significantly more detail. |
| PPI | 270 | 446 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro’s higher pixel density results in clearer text and images. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | P-OLED | Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers superior color reproduction, contrast, and deeper blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | Motorola Edge 50 Pro provides much smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2000 nits | Motorola Edge 50 Pro is significantly more readable outdoors in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has a much more powerful and efficient chipset for faster performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 866,863 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro provides vastly superior performance for apps, multitasking, and gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 720 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has a significantly more powerful GPU for better graphics performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Samsung Galaxy M12 likely offers slightly longer battery life due to its larger capacity. |
| Charging | 15W | 125W | Motorola Edge 50 Pro charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime. |
| Charging Features | Non-removable | Reverse, Wireless, Non-removable | Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers wireless charging and reverse charging, while both have non-removable batteries. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.4, 2.0µm | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has a wider aperture for better low-light performance and larger pixel for improved light capture |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | 50MP, f/1.9, 0.64µm | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has a much higher resolution and wider aperture for better selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 10MP, f/2.0, 1.0µm | Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities for greater versatility. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has a higher resolution for wider field of view. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy M12 provides a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Samsung Galaxy M12 provides a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps | Motorola Edge 50 Pro provides higher quality video recording with 4K and more options for frame rates. |
| Camera Features | Limited | More | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has more camera features like OIS, RAW and night mode. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has a much more up-to-date operating system with the latest features and security patches. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | Wi-Fi 7 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has the latest Wi-Fi standard, offering significantly faster speeds and lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.4 LE | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has a newer, more efficient version of Bluetooth for better connectivity. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC | Motorola Edge 50 Pro supports more satellite systems for more accurate positioning. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM + eSIM | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has support for eSIM for digital carrier switching. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers significantly more storage space. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 12/16 GB | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has substantially more RAM for smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 Mics | Motorola Edge 50 Pro provides better audio quality with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos for immersive experience. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | Side-mounted | Basic | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a more advanced side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Motorola Edge 50 Pro provides better protection against scratches and damages. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Motorola Edge 50 Pro has an additional compass sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Edge 50 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: Much higher resolution, pixel density, P-OLED technology, higher refresh rate, and drastically higher brightness, making for a far better viewing experience.
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset and more RAM lead to drastically superior performance for apps, multitasking, and gaming.
- Much Faster Charging: The 125W fast charging significantly reduces battery downtime.
- Advanced Camera System: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras, telephoto lens, and superior video capabilities with 4K recording.
- Modern Software: Ships with Android 14, providing access to the latest features and security updates.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Latest Wi-Fi standard for faster speeds and lower latency, newer Bluetooth version and e-sim support.
- More Storage: Offers significantly more internal storage for media and apps.
- Better Audio: Includes stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos for enhanced audio quality.
- Better Build: Offers Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for better protection.
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: Slightly larger battery capacity that may translate into slightly longer battery life.
- Macro Lens & Depth Sensor: Offers dedicated macro and depth sensors that are missing on Motorola Edge 50 Pro.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: A more advanced fingerprint sensor than the basic one on Motorola.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a slightly larger battery and dedicated macro/depth sensors but significantly lags behind in every other performance-related category.
- The Motorola Edge 50 Pro sacrifices a tiny bit of battery capacity for dramatically better overall performance, significantly faster charging, and a better user experience.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for Samsung Galaxy M12:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Individuals with very limited budgets looking for a basic phone.
- Basic Smartphone Users: Users who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, and very light social media browsing and who value a long-lasting battery.
- Users Who Value Depth/Macro Lens: User's that specifically seek these features for specific camera shots.
Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy M12:
- Long-lasting battery life for basic day to day tasks.
- Basic social media browsing.
Ideal User for Motorola Edge 50 Pro:
- Power Users: Individuals who require high performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Users who want a great display for watching videos and content consumption.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system with better low light performance and zoom capabilities.
- Users that Value Fast Charging: Those who need minimal down time for their phones.
- Users that need up to date features: Those who value the latest software.
Use Cases for Motorola Edge 50 Pro:
- High-end mobile gaming.
- High-quality photography and video recording.
- Demanding work tasks and heavy multitasking.
- Enjoying media consumption on the move with good audio.
- Professionals who rely heavily on their phones for productivity and quick charging.
Price-to-Value:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 is a basic device and offers limited value beyond its low price point.
- The Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers a significantly higher price-to-value ratio because of its significantly better all round performance and features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? If you have a very limited budget, the Samsung Galaxy M12 may be an option, but the Motorola Edge 50 Pro is a better phone if your budget can accommodate it.
- What are your primary use cases? If you just need basic functions the M12 may be ok. If you want high performance, advanced photography, and a great display the Edge 50 Pro is a must.
- How important is battery life vs. charging speed? If a longer battery is absolutely necessary but you do not require high charging speeds, then the M12 may be preferable. Otherwise, the edge 50 Pro is the better choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: If you need a cheap, functional phone for basic communication with a long-lasting battery and don't care about high performance, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is an option.
- Scenario 2: If you require high performance, a superior display, advanced camera features, and fast charging and can afford it, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro is the far superior option.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would definitely choose the Motorola Edge 50 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 has a slightly larger battery and depth sensor, the advantages of the Motorola Edge 50 Pro are far too significant to ignore. The dramatically superior display, processing power, camera capabilities, charging speed, and overall user experience offered by the Edge 50 Pro make it a far more practical and enjoyable device for daily use. Even with the slight decrease in battery capacity, the fast charging capabilities of the Edge 50 Pro mean I will never be out of power for long. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro is simply a much more modern and capable device that would suit my use cases far better.
