1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 161.6 × 73.9 × 8.2 mm | The Realme 11 Pro+ is noticeably slimmer and more compact, making it easier to hold and pocket. The M12 is bulkier. |
| Weight | 212g | 183g | The Realme 11 Pro+ is significantly lighter, which makes it more comfortable to use for long periods. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | The Realme 11 Pro+ offers a slightly larger screen, providing more immersive media consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2412 | The Realme 11 Pro+ has a much sharper display, making text and images clearer. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 394 PPI | The higher pixel density on the Realme 11 Pro+ means a significantly less pixelated screen with sharper details and smoother visuals. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | The AMOLED screen on the Realme 11 Pro+ provides far superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors and better power efficiency especially with dark themes compared to the M12's LCD display. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Realme 11 Pro+ offers smoother scrolling and animations due to its higher refresh rate. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 950 nits | The Realme 11 Pro+ will be much more usable in bright sunlight due to its significantly higher maximum brightness. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm) | The Dimensity 7050 in the Realme 11 Pro+ is much more powerful, resulting in faster app loading and smoother performance for demanding apps and multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 540,800 | The Realme 11 Pro+ has much higher benchmark score, indicating a significantly faster and smoother overall experience. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Mali-G68 MC4 | The Realme 11 Pro+ has a more powerful GPU, resulting in better gaming performance with higher frame rates and smoother graphics. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 200MP | The Realme 11 Pro+ captures much higher resolution photos with far more detail. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.69 | The wider aperture of the Realme 11 Pro+ allows more light to reach the sensor, improving low-light performance and resulting in brighter images. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.4" | The larger sensor in the Realme 11 Pro+ captures more light, improving dynamic range and low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 8MP | 32MP | The Realme 11 Pro+ captures much higher resolution selfies with finer details. |
| Wide Angle Lens Resolution | 5MP | 8MP | Realme 11 Pro+ captures wider shots with more detail compared to the M12 |
| Portrait Mode Camera | 2MP (depth) | None | The Samsung M12 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. The Realme 11 Pro+ relies on software. |
| Macro Lens Resolution | 2MP | 2MP | Both have a macro lens, but the Realme 11 Pro+ has a slightly wider aperture and larger pixel size. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@up to 480fps & 720p@960fps | The Realme 11 Pro+ offers significantly higher video recording capabilities, including 4K resolution and high frame rate slow-motion video. |
| Video Stabilization | No | EIS | The Realme 11 Pro+ offers electronic image stabilization for steadier videos. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have similar battery capacity, suggesting similar battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 100W Fast Charging | The Realme 11 Pro+ charges incredibly faster, significantly reducing charging times. |
| Battery Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 2x2500mAh | Both batteries are non-removable, Realme 11 Pro+ splits the battery into two cells to facilitate faster charging. |
Other Features
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13, upgradeable to 15 | The Realme 11 Pro+ runs on a newer version of Android, getting latest features, security patches and future updates. |
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | The Realme 11 Pro+ supports the latest Wi-Fi standards for faster, more reliable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | The Realme 11 Pro+ has a newer Bluetooth version for improved connectivity and power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | The Realme 11 Pro+ offers far superior GPS accuracy and reliability with more satellite systems. |
| Internal Storage | 32GB/64GB/128GB | 256GB/512GB/1024GB | The Realme 11 Pro+ offers substantially more storage options for media and apps. |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB/6GB | 8GB/12GB | The Realme 11 Pro+ provides substantially more RAM for better multitasking and demanding apps. |
| Audio | Basic audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, Noise Cancellation Microphone | The Realme 11 Pro+ offers a far better audio experience with spatial sound and noise cancellation for calls. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | The Samsung M12 offers a more convenient side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The Realme 11 Pro+ has a basic in display fingerprint reader. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: The side-mounted sensor is often considered more ergonomic than basic in-display sensors.
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: Samsung M12 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. The Realme 11 Pro+ relies on software for its portrait mode.
Realme 11 Pro+ Advantages:
- Superior Display: The AMOLED screen with higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and brightness offers a much better viewing experience.
- Significantly Higher Performance: The more powerful chipset and GPU result in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Superior Camera System: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras, larger sensor, and wider aperture result in superior image quality.
- Faster Charging: 100W charging is dramatically faster than the M12's 15W, significantly reducing downtime.
- Advanced Features: Better video recording capabilities, modern Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, more satellite systems for GPS, and better audio with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers.
- More Storage and RAM Options: Substantially more storage and RAM for media and multitasking
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 has a dedicated depth sensor for portraits and a side-mounted fingerprint reader, but it lags significantly behind the Realme 11 Pro+ in almost every other aspect.
- The Realme 11 Pro+ lacks a dedicated depth camera, relies on software for its portrait mode, and it does not have a side mounted fingerprint sensor.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 Ideal User:
- Basic users on a very tight budget: Someone who primarily uses a phone for calls, texts, and basic social media browsing with very limited gaming.
- Users who prioritize a side-mounted fingerprint sensor: This can be preferable to some individuals.
Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy M12:
- A secondary phone for basic communication.
- A simple phone for elderly users not needing advanced features.
- A phone for very limited and undemanding daily use.
Realme 11 Pro+ Ideal User:
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who enjoy watching videos, playing games, and browsing social media on a high-quality display.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value a capable camera system for capturing detailed photos and videos.
- Performance Users: Users who need smooth multitasking and gaming performance.
- Power Users: Users who want fast charging to minimize downtime.
Use Cases for Realme 11 Pro+:
- Daily driver for media consumption, social networking, and light gaming.
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos on the go.
- Demanding usage for multitasking and resource intensive applications.
- Reliable GPS for navigation.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Realme 11 Pro+ has a considerably better price-to-value ratio, considering the significant performance improvements, much higher quality display and cameras and all the other advanced features it offers. The price will likely be higher than the M12, but the features justify this.
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 offers basic features at a lower price point, however it is quite old at this point.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Basic communication vs. multimedia, gaming, photography)
- How important is display quality? (Sharpness, vibrancy, brightness)
- How important is performance? (Smooth multitasking, gaming performance)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget-Conscious Basic User): If the budget is the absolute primary concern and you just need a basic smartphone and do not need a good screen, good camera, or fast charging, then the Samsung Galaxy M12 may be a suitable choice, although the phone is aging.
- Scenario 2 (Balanced User): If you want a significantly better overall experience including a vastly superior screen, better camera, more performance, and fast charging, then the Realme 11 Pro+ is the better choice, even with a higher price, it offers much more value for money.
- Scenario 3 (Multimedia and Performance Focused User): If you plan on using the phone for media consumption, gaming, and photography, then the Realme 11 Pro+ is the clear choice because of the superior display, processing power, camera system and faster charging.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Realme 11 Pro+. The difference in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities is far too significant to ignore. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 might be more affordable, the Realme 11 Pro+ offers a vastly superior user experience that justifies the price difference. The much faster charging and more storage and ram are also very important factors in today's smartphone market. The only advantage the M12 has is its side mounted fingerprint sensor and its dedicated depth sensor for portraits, however, these are not enough to overcome the advantages of the Realme 11 Pro+. The Realme 11 Pro+ is also a more modern device and will have much better software support.
