Samsung Galaxy M12 vs Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date April 30, 2021 August 9, 2021
Release Year 2021 2021

Physical

Volume 120.74 cm³ 110.64 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.07 "/g 3.17 "/g
Weight 212 g 205 g
Height 164 mm 164 mm
Width 75.9 mm 75.8 mm
Thickness 9.7 mm 8.9 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Black
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Black
  • Red
  • Blue

Display

Screen Size 6.5 " 6.5 "
Resolution 720 x 1600 720 x 1600
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 81.9 % 82.1 %
Pixel Density 270 PPI 270 PPI
Refresh Rate 90 Hz N/A
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A N/A
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 118.34 mAh/in² 118.34 mAh/in²
Battery Density 41.41 mAh/cm³ 45.19 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Exynos 850 (8 nm) Exynos 850 (8 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Mali-G52 Mali-G52

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0 USB Type-C 2.0

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 11 11
Maximum OS Version 13

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy M12 and Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho, focusing on practical implications:

Design

FeatureSamsung Galaxy M12Samsung Galaxy A12 NachoPractical Impact
Launch Date2021-04-302021-08-09A12 Nacho is a slightly newer model.
Dimensions164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mmM12 is slightly thicker and has a larger volume, potentially feeling bulkier in hand.
Weight212g205gA12 Nacho is slightly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and one-handed operation.

Display

FeatureSamsung Galaxy M12Samsung Galaxy A12 NachoPractical Impact
Size6.5"6.5"Identical screen size for both phones.
Resolution720 x 1600720 x 1600Both have the same HD+ resolution, which is adequate for daily use but not as sharp as FHD displays.
PPI270270Both have the same pixel density, resulting in similar sharpness.
TechnologyPLS LCDPLS LCDIdentical display technology; expect similar color reproduction and viewing angles.
Refresh Rate90Hz60HzM12's 90Hz refresh rate offers a smoother user experience, especially when scrolling and gaming.
Brightness0 nits0 nitsPeak brightness is not specified, making outdoor visibility unclear for both.

Performance

FeatureSamsung Galaxy M12Samsung Galaxy A12 NachoPractical Impact
ChipsetExynos 850 (8nm)Exynos 850 (8nm)Both have identical chipsets, offering similar performance for everyday tasks.
AnTuTu Score117,341117,300Nearly identical benchmark scores indicate very similar performance profiles.
GPUMali-G52Mali-G52Both use the same GPU, meaning comparable graphics performance.

Battery

FeatureSamsung Galaxy M12Samsung Galaxy A12 NachoPractical Impact
Capacity5000mAh5000mAhBoth have a large battery capacity, providing long battery life for typical use.
Charging15W fast charging, Li-Polymer15W fast charging, Li-IonSimilar charging speed. Li-Polymer in M12 may offer a slight advantage in longevity.
FeaturesNon-removableNon-removableBatteries are not user-replaceable on both devices.

Camera

FeatureSamsung Galaxy M12Samsung Galaxy A12 NachoPractical Impact
Standard Camera48MP, f/2.0, 1/2", Samsung S5KGM248MP, f/2.0, Unknown SensorBoth have similar main cameras for decent photos in good lighting; M12 sensor is known, A12 Nacho is not specified.
Selfie Camera8MP, f/2.28MP, f/2.2Similar front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.
Wide Angle5MP, f/2.25MP, f/2.0A12 Nacho has a slightly wider aperture for potentially better low-light wide-angle shots.
Portrait (Depth)2MP, f/2.42MP, f/2.4Similar depth sensors for bokeh effects.
Macro2MP, f/2.42MP, f/2.4Identical macro lenses for close-up shots.
Video1080p@30fps, No stabilization, Slow-motion: No, 30 fps1080p@30fps, No stabilization, Slow-motion: Yes, 34 fpsBoth capture video at 1080p, 30fps, but A12 Nacho has slightly better slow-motion features.
FeaturesDigital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance, ISO, Exposure, Scene, Self-timerDigital zoom, Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, Geotagging, HDR, Face detection, Scene mode, Self-timerM12 offers slightly more advanced camera settings; A12 Nacho does not.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:

  • Smoother Display: 90Hz refresh rate offers a noticeably smoother experience compared to the A12 Nacho's 60Hz.
  • More Camera Features: Offers more manual controls and additional features like continuous shooting and panorama mode.
  • Gyroscope Sensor: Includes a gyroscope for enhanced motion tracking, beneficial for certain games and AR applications.

Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho Advantages:

  • Slightly Lighter Design: The 7g difference might be noticeable during prolonged usage.
  • Wider Aperture for Wide-Angle Lens: May offer better performance in low-light wide-angle shots (f/2.0 vs f/2.2).
  • Slow-Motion Video: Slightly better slow motion capabilities (34 fps vs 30 fps).
  • Dolby Atmos Audio: Provides a more immersive audio experience.
  • Updated Wifi: Supports newer WiFi standards for faster and more reliable connections.
  • Software Updates: Higher version support

Trade-offs:

  • M12's Advantages come at the expense of being slightly thicker and heavier, while A12 Nacho trades a bit of display smoothness for the other advantages.
  • Camera: While the M12 has more options, their practical impact for basic photography may not be huge to the average user, while the wide angle lens advantage in A12 Nacho may be preferable.
  • The software of the A12 Nacho is better, supporting a newer version of android.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Samsung Galaxy M12:

  • Ideal User: Casual gamers, multimedia consumers, users who value a smoother display, users who want more control over camera settings.
  • Use Cases:
    • Browsing social media with smoother scrolling.
    • Playing games where the 90Hz refresh rate provides a more responsive feel.
    • Taking photos with a more configurable camera app.
    • AR applications that require a gyroscope.

Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho:

  • Ideal User: Everyday users focused on basic tasks, those who value a lighter and thinner design, users who value enhanced audio, and users who want the latest software.
  • Use Cases:
    • Daily communication (calls, messages, emails).
    • Consuming media with enhanced audio
    • Casual photography with a good wide-angle lens.
    • Users who want the latest software with long term support
    • Users who prefer a lighter phone for all-day use.

4. Decision Framework

Here are three key questions to help buyers decide:

  1. How important is display smoothness?
    • If a smoother visual experience (90Hz) is crucial, choose the Galaxy M12.
    • If a standard 60Hz display is acceptable, consider the Galaxy A12 Nacho.
  2. Is a lighter phone a priority?
    • If a lighter and thinner profile is more important, the Galaxy A12 Nacho is a better choice.
    • If those trade offs are not important, the Galaxy M12 is also viable.
  3. Is audio experience or longer software support a priority?
    • If enhanced audio with Dolby Atmos is important, choose the Galaxy A12 Nacho.
    • If long term software support is important, choose the Galaxy A12 Nacho.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Casual Gamer: Choose the M12 for the 90Hz screen and gyroscope.
  • Scenario 2: Everyday User: The A12 Nacho is suitable for basic tasks with a slightly more compact feel, Dolby Atmos audio and better long term support.
  • Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast (Basic): M12 has more camera features, but A12 Nacho has wider aperture lens. It is a trade off depending on user needs.

My Choice

If I were to choose between the two, I would pick the Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho. While the 90Hz screen of the M12 is a nice-to-have feature, the A12 Nacho offers a few practical advantages that I value more. The slightly lighter design will make it more comfortable for extended use, and the wider aperture of the wide-angle lens should result in better photos in low-light conditions, which I often experience. The better audio experience from Dolby Atmos and the slightly better slow-motion recording are also small, but valuable advantages. The longer software support will keep the phone more relevant for longer. Although both have the same chip and similar performance, these small, yet important advantages makes the A12 Nacho the better choice for me.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

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