1. Specifications Comparison
Design
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 162 × 75.1 × 8.7 mm | realme 8 is slightly shorter, narrower and thinner making it more pocketable and comfortable in hand |
Weight | 212g | 191g | realme 8 is noticeably lighter, reducing hand fatigue during extended use |
Display
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Size | 6.5" | 6.78" | realme 8 offers a slightly larger viewing area for media consumption and gaming |
Resolution | 720x1600 | 1264x2780 | realme 8's display is much sharper with finer details; text and images look crisper |
Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 450 | realme 8 has much higher sharpness, resulting in less pixelation |
Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | realme 8's AMOLED panel provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors; better outdoor visibility |
Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | realme 8 offers smoother scrolling and animations, especially noticeable in fast-paced games and UI navigation |
Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Unable to compare brightness without specific values. |
Performance
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7675 Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (4 nm) | realme 8's newer chipset offers significantly higher processing power, better performance in demanding apps and games, and improved power efficiency |
AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | N/A | Unable to compare performance directly due to missing score for realme 8. However based on the chipset, realme 8 should have significantly higher score |
GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 732 | realme 8's GPU is more powerful, resulting in smoother graphics in gaming and other GPU-intensive tasks. |
Camera
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Main Camera | 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2" sensor | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 provides decent images in good lighting but low light performance may not be good. The realme 8 lacks any main camera information, so direct comparison is not possible |
Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a basic selfie camera; the realme 8 lacks selfie camera details for comparison |
Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a wide angle camera for capturing more in the scene; realme 8 lacks this feature |
Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode; realme 8 lacks this sensor |
Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots; realme 8 lacks this feature |
Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@60fps, 1080p@120fps | realme 8 offers higher resolution video recording with better frame rates. This results in videos with more details and smoothness |
Video Stabilization | Stabilization | OIS/EIS | realme 8 provides image stabilization for smoother footage |
Additional 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 | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 offers advanced camera features for more control and better picture taking |
Battery
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Capacity | 5000mAh | 0 mAh | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a large battery; realme 8 battery information is missing. Based on this, M12 should have significant better battery life. |
Charging | 15W Fast Charging | Standard Charging | Samsung Galaxy M12 allows for quicker charging times; realme 8 lacks fast charging support |
Software
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | realme 8 has a newer Android OS version, which might come with latest features and security updates |
Connectivity
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n, Hotspot, Direct, Display | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 has older wifi standard compared to modern standards and offers Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Display |
Bluetooth | 5.0 | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 supports Bluetooth 5.0 with various profiles for enhanced connectivity |
GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 has multiple satellite systems resulting in more accurate location tracking. |
SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 supports dual SIM for better flexibility |
Storage
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Internal Storage | 32/64/128 GB | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 offers different storage options while the storage options on the realme 8 is unknown |
RAM | 3/4/6 GB | N/A | Samsung Galaxy M12 has 3 RAM configuration to choose from for smooth multitasking. realme 8 is missing this information |
Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage; user should select appropriate internal storage from the start |
Security
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Basic | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a more convenient and faster side mounted fingerprint sensor. |
Other Features
Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall | Basic sensors | Samsung Galaxy M12 has a complete sensor suite for diverse applications |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages
- Larger Battery: A 5000mAh battery, potentially offering extended battery life.
- More Complete Camera System: Includes main, wide-angle, macro, and depth cameras, allowing for diverse shooting scenarios.
- More Camera Features: Has features like 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
- Fast Charging: Supports 15W fast charging, reducing charging times.
- Complete Connectivity Suite Includes wifi, bluetooth, GPS and dual sim capabilities.
- More Sensor Includes fingerprint, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope and hall sensor.
realme 8 Advantages
- Significantly Better Display: AMOLED panel with higher resolution, pixel density, and refresh rate for superior visual quality.
- Far Superior Performance: Newer and powerful chipset, resulting in faster and smoother operation and gaming.
- Superior Video Quality: Shoots at much higher video resolution and frame rates than the Samsung.
- Lighter Design: More comfortable to hold and carry due to its lighter weight.
- Newer Android OS: Android 14 offers latest features and security updates.
Trade-offs
- The realme 8 lacks camera details and sensor information.
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 has a less impressive display (lower resolution, PLS LCD) and weaker processing power than realme 8.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 Ideal User
- Budget-Conscious Users: Looking for a reliable phone with basic features at a lower price point.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Prioritize a versatile camera system with multiple lenses and features.
- Users Prioritizing Battery Life: Needs long battery life for extended use.
- Users who prefer complete connectivity and sensor suite
Use Cases:
- Casual photography and videography
- Daily social media browsing and app usage
- Longer periods away from a charger
- Basic Gaming
realme 8 Ideal User
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Prioritize a high-quality display for media consumption and gaming.
- Performance Seekers: Need a phone that can handle demanding applications and games.
- Content Creators Focus on shooting high quality videos.
- Users who prefer a lighter and more premium feeling phone.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming
- Streaming high-definition videos
- Running demanding applications
- High quality video recording
Price-to-Value Ratio
- Samsung Galaxy M12: Offers a budget-friendly option with an all-around feature set for basic daily tasks and those that need camera versatility, long battery, and full suite of connectivity and sensors.
- realme 8: Provides a superior display and performance at a potentially higher price, catering to users who prioritize visual quality and performance.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions
- How important is display quality to you? (High importance: realme 8; lower importance: Samsung Galaxy M12)
- Do you need high-end processing power for demanding apps and games? (Yes: realme 8; No: Samsung Galaxy M12)
- How important is having a versatile camera system with multiple lenses? (High importance: Samsung Galaxy M12; lower importance: realme 8)
- Is long battery life a priority for you? (Yes: Samsung Galaxy M12 ; not as much: realme 8)
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User, General Use: Choose the Samsung Galaxy M12 for a balance of features and a good value.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gamer, Content Creator: Choose the realme 8 for a superior display and better performance.
- Scenario 3: Media Enthusiast: Choose the realme 8 for better video quality and a higher quality display.
- Scenario 4: Photography Enthusiasts Choose the Samsung Galaxy M12 for a more versatile camera system.
- Scenario 5: User focused on complete suite of connectivity and sensors Choose the Samsung Galaxy M12.
My Choice
Based on the information available, I would choose the realme 8. Although the Samsung Galaxy M12 is a decent phone, the realme 8 significantly outperforms it in crucial areas like display quality and performance, making it a superior device for my personal needs. I highly value a great visual experience and smooth performance, which the realme 8 clearly delivers with its AMOLED display and more powerful processor. Additionally, the realme 8's ability to record higher resolution videos is a significant advantage. While some information is lacking about the realme 8, such as the camera specs and battery capacity, I would assume it is competitive for the category. The realme 8 also features the latest Android operating system, which makes it a compelling option for future proofing. Even though the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a more versatile camera system with multiple lenses and potentially better battery life, those aren't my top priorities. The realme 8 provides the better features that I prioritize.