1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Poco M5s | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm | 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm | Poco M5s is more compact and easier to handle, especially for smaller hands. The M12 is bulkier and less pocketable. |
| Weight | 212g | 178.8g | Poco M5s is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and less fatiguing to carry around. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.43" | Virtually the same screen size, negligible difference. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Poco M5s has a significantly sharper and more detailed display, better for viewing photos, videos and reading text. |
| PPI | 270 | 409 | Poco M5s has a much sharper screen, leading to clearer text and images. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | Poco M5s offers superior contrast, deeper blacks and more vibrant colours for more immersive media consumption, especially in dark environments. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | M12 offers slightly smoother animations when scrolling and in supported apps. Poco M5s screen is not as fluid in comparison. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1100 nits | Poco M5s offers dramatically better visibility in bright sunlight, making it suitable for outdoor use. M12 screen will be harder to view outside. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Mediatek Helio G95 (12 nm) | Poco M5s chipset is faster and more capable, providing better app performance and gaming experience. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 418,627 | Poco M5s delivers a substantially faster overall user experience, with significantly smoother multitasking and more fluid gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Mali-G76 MC4 | Poco M5s' more powerful GPU provides significantly better graphics processing performance in games. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main | 48MP, f/2.0 | 64MP, f/1.9 | Poco M5s' main camera captures slightly more detailed images, and with the wider aperture, may have slightly better low-light performance, although the sensor size is the same. |
| Front Selfie | 8MP, f/2.2 | 13MP, f/2.4 | Poco M5s has more detail in its selfies. |
| Wide Angle | 5MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2 | Poco M5s has higher resolution in its wide angle lens, resulting in better detail capture. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, 720p@960fps | Poco M5s offers superior video recording capabilities, including 4K, higher frame rates and better slow motion. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have the same battery capacity and should have similar battery life. |
| Charging | 15W | 33W | Poco M5s charges much faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable | Poco M5s can charge other devices, which is a very useful feature. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 | Poco M5s comes with a newer version of Android and potentially offers access to the latest features. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Poco M5s supports faster WiFi standards for quicker downloads and more reliable connections, especially on 5 GHz networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 LE | Both have Bluetooth 5.0, however, Samsung M12 has more additional audio related profiles. Poco M5s has low energy features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Poco M5s is able to utilise more satellite systems, offering superior GPS tracking accuracy. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 64/128/256 GB | Poco M5s offers more storage options, especially with a 256GB variant for users with larger media libraries and apps. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 4/6/8 GB | Poco M5s offers more RAM for better multitasking and handling memory intensive applications. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither device can expand the storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Poco M5s provides superior audio quality with hi-res audio and stereo speakers, better for music and video. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both have a side-mounted fingerprint reader for biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Poco M5s offers better screen protection against scratches and minor impacts. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Poco M5s offers a more comprehensive sensor suite for enhanced functionality including compass. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages:
- Slightly Smoother Display: The 90Hz refresh rate offers a marginally smoother scrolling experience.
- More Audio Bluetooth Profiles The M12 offers more audio related Bluetooth profiles, if these are needed this may be a deciding factor.
Xiaomi Poco M5s Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with significantly higher resolution, pixel density and brightness provides a much better viewing experience, particularly in outdoor conditions.
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Helio G95 chipset and higher AnTuTu score result in a much smoother, faster user experience with more fluid multitasking and gaming.
- Better Camera System: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras, as well as superior video recording capabilities including 4K, result in better image and video quality.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging significantly reduces charging time.
- Reverse Charging: Can charge other devices.
- More Storage Options: Provides a 256GB option for users needing more storage.
- Stereo speakers: Offers better audio quality.
- Better Wifi : Supports newer WiFi standard, offering ; Xiaomi Poco M5s additionally supports: Dual band, Wi-Fi MiMO
- Better Screen Protection: Offers more screen protection.
- More Accurate GPS Tracking: Galileo satellite support allows for better GPS accuracy.
- More Comprehensive Sensors: Provides more sensors.
- Newer OS: Comes with Android 12 and may receive further updates, offering a more modern software experience.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung M12 features a slightly higher refresh rate, and a lower resolution AMOLED display. The Samsung M12 however, offers more audio related Bluetooth profiles, which may be useful for certain users.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious User: Prioritizes affordability above all else.
- Basic Usage Needs: Primarily uses the phone for calls, texts, basic browsing, social media and very light gaming.
Smooth Scrolling Enthusiasts: Users who prefer a smooth scrolling experience due to the slightly higher refresh rate.
- Use Cases:
- Basic daily communication.
- Casual social media use.
- Occasional light gaming.
- Users who want a budget smartphone from a known brand.
- Users who may use certain Bluetooth audio profiles.
- Use Cases:
Xiaomi Poco M5s Ideal User:
- Multimedia Consumer: Enjoys watching videos, playing games, and browsing high-quality images.
- Performance Seeker: Wants a smooth and responsive phone with good multitasking capabilities.
- Photography Enthusiast: Values higher-resolution images and video recording quality.
- Users who need good outdoor screen visibility.
- Users who need to charge their device quickly.
- Users who want high quality audio through a smartphone.
Users who want more accurate GPS.
- Use Cases:
- Regular streaming and media consumption.
- Mobile gaming (including some higher-end games at medium settings).
- Taking photos and videos, including in low light conditions.
- Daily use as a work or personal phone with multitasking.
- Outdoor navigation, due to GPS accuracy.
- Listening to music and consuming media, with stereo speakers and Hi-Res audio.
- Use Cases:
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
What is your priority: price or performance?
- If you're on a very tight budget and your needs are basic, the Samsung M12 might be adequate.
- If you prioritize a better user experience, smooth performance, a great display and better cameras, the Poco M5s is the better investment.
How important is multimedia consumption and camera quality?
- If you watch a lot of videos, play games, or take photos regularly, the Poco M5s is the clear choice.
- If you're just looking to make calls, text, and browse lightly, the M12 will get the job done.
Do you need the additional audio Bluetooth profiles?
- If you require certain audio related Bluetooth profiles, the Samsung M12 may be the better option. If not, the Poco M5s should be suitable.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Very Tight Budget, Basic Use:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy M12. It meets basic needs, such as calling, texting and browsing.
- Scenario 2: Multimedia Consumption, Mobile Gaming & Camera:
- Recommendation: Xiaomi Poco M5s. Offers a much better display, faster performance and better camera capabilities.
- Scenario 3: Outdoor Use, Fast Charging, and Reliable Performance:
- Recommendation: Xiaomi Poco M5s. The 1100 nits of brightness, combined with 33W charging will provide a better user experience for a user who is outdoors often.
- Scenario 4: Need Certain Bluetooth Profiles
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy M12. If those extra audio profiles are required, the M12 offers them. If not, the Poco M5s is the better choice.
My Choice
Based on the detailed comparison, I would choose the Xiaomi Poco M5s. The performance gains, significantly superior AMOLED display, better camera quality, faster charging, and the additional features such as reverse charging and superior audio features make it the better device overall. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 does have a slightly smoother 90Hz refresh rate, the advantages of the Poco M5s far outweigh this one benefit in my opinion, especially given the use case for this phone is more multimedia based, as well as gaming, in which the M5s excels. The brighter screen and more accurate GPS are also valuable additions in the M5s for users who are frequently outdoors. The difference in performance between the two phones is extremely significant, with the M5s offering nearly 300% increase in benchmark performance. In addition to this, the ability to utilise more satellite GPS systems may be essential to some users, and the Samsung M12 lacks this capability. Overall, the Xiaomi Poco M5s provides a much better balance of features and performance for a better user experience.
