1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy M12 and Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164 × 75.9 × 9.7 mm | 168.6 × 76.3 × 8.2 mm | The Redmi 12 5G is taller and slightly wider but noticeably thinner, making it feel sleeker in hand. The M12 is more bulky. |
| Weight | 212g | 199g | The Redmi 12 5G is lighter by 13g which will be noticeable with extended use, enhancing comfort. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | The Redmi 12 5G has better screen protection from scratches and minor impacts. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.79" | The Redmi 12 5G offers a slightly larger screen, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2460 | The Redmi 12 5G has a significantly sharper display, resulting in crisper text, images, and videos. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 396 | The Redmi 12 5G provides a much clearer and more detailed visual experience. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | IPS LCD | The Redmi 12 5G's IPS LCD screen offers better viewing angles and color accuracy compared to the PLS LCD of the M12. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 90Hz | Both phones offer a 90Hz refresh rate, which results in smoother scrolling and animations compared to standard 60Hz displays. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | No information provided on screen brightness. This makes it difficult to make a comparison based on visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm) | The Redmi 12 5G's processor is more modern (4nm vs 8nm) and significantly more powerful, leading to faster performance and better energy efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 117,341 | 456,552 | The Redmi 12 5G delivers vastly superior performance, handling demanding apps and games more smoothly. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 613 | The Redmi 12 5G has a more powerful GPU allowing better graphic performance in games. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP, f/2.0 | 50MP, f/1.8 | The Redmi 12 5G has a slightly higher resolution and wider aperture, potentially resulting in better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 8MP, f/2.2 | 5MP, f/2.2 | The Samsung Galaxy M12 offers higher resolution for selfies. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | Not available | The Samsung Galaxy M12 includes a wide-angle lens for capturing more expansive scenes. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both phones have similar depth cameras for portrait effects. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not available | The Samsung Galaxy M12 includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps, no stabilization | 1080p@30fps, with stabilization | The Redmi 12 5G offers video stabilization which should result in smoother videos, especially when moving. |
| Slow Motion | No | Yes, 120fps | The Redmi 12 5G offers a slow-motion video feature. |
| DXOMARK Score | Not Available | Main: 63, Photo: 57, Video: 76 | The Redmi 12 5G has been tested by DXOMark indicating reasonable video performance. |
| Camera Features | Quad camera, continuous shooting | Dual camera, Digital and Optical stabilization | The Samsung M12 has a more versatile setup with more cameras, whereas the Redmi 12 5G focuses on quality with stabilization. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both devices have similar battery capacity, providing comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 18W Fast Charging | The Redmi 12 5G charges slightly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Removable Battery | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both devices feature non-removable batteries. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 (upgradable to 14) | The Redmi 12 5G runs on a newer Android version, offering the latest features and security updates, and has better long term software support. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | The Redmi 12 5G supports newer WiFi standards, offering potentially faster and more stable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 LE | Both devices use Bluetooth 5.0, but the Redmi 12 5G supports Bluetooth LE. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | Both phones offer similar GPS capabilities. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 32/64/128 GB | 128/256 GB | The Redmi 12 5G provides more internal storage capacity, which is important for storing more media files and apps. |
| RAM | 3/4/6 GB | 4/6/8 GB | The Redmi 12 5G offers higher RAM options, allowing for better multitasking performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither device supports external storage expansion. |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Audio | Basic | Basic | Both devices have similar basic audio capabilities. |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Fingerprint | Side-mounted | Side-mounted | Both phones use a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for convenient and secure unlocking. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy M12 | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Hall sensor | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Both have fingerprint sensors and Accelerometer, the Samsung has Gyroscope and Hall sensors while the Xiaomi has Compass. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy M12 Advantages
- Wide-Angle and Macro Lenses: Offers more versatility in photography with dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Better selfie quality with an 8MP sensor compared to 5MP on the Redmi 12 5G.
- Gyroscope Sensor: Useful for enhanced motion-sensing in some apps and games.
- More Bluetooth profiles: Provides more support for bluetooth devices, this is beneficial for users who use more obscure or old bluetooth devices.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G Advantages
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip provides much better performance and is more energy efficient.
- Higher Resolution and Sharper Display: The 1080x2460 resolution and 396 PPI offer a superior viewing experience.
- Newer Android Version: Comes with Android 13, providing the latest features and security updates.
- Larger Storage and RAM Options: Provides more storage space and higher RAM options for better performance and multitasking.
- Video Stabilization: Provides Electronic image stabilization which helps reduce shaky video.
- Faster Charging: Supports 18W fast charging, which is better than the 15W provided by the Samsung.
- Better wifi support: Supporting newer protocols ensures better connection stability and faster speeds on newer networks.
- Corning Gorilla Glass 3: Better screen protection with Gorilla Glass 3.
- Slow Motion video recording: Offers the ability to take slow-motion videos for creative shots.
- Better software support: The phone will be supported longer because it is using a newer Android version.
Trade-offs
- The Samsung Galaxy M12 sacrifices overall performance and display quality for more camera lenses.
- The Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G offers better overall performance and display but lacks the additional camera lenses of the Samsung M12.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy M12
- Ideal User: A user on a tight budget who values camera versatility and doesn't require the highest performance.
- Use Cases:
- Casual photography with the flexibility of wide-angle and macro shots.
- Basic daily tasks, web browsing and social media use.
- Users who prefer more bluetooth profiles supported.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G
- Ideal User: A user who wants good performance, a sharp display and future-proof software at a budget price.
- Use Cases:
- Smooth multitasking, gaming and app usage.
- Watching videos and browsing media on a higher resolution display.
- Users who want to take smoother videos and slow motion shots.
- Users who want better long term software support.
4. Decision Framework
Here are 3 key questions for buyers to consider:
- What is your priority: Camera versatility or overall performance? If you need versatile cameras, the Samsung Galaxy M12 might suffice. If performance is critical, the Redmi 12 5G is the better choice.
- How much do you value a sharp display and modern software? The Redmi 12 5G offers significantly better screen quality and the latest version of Android.
- Is Long term support important? The Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G will receive updates for a longer time, making it a better long term investment.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious Casual User: If you need a basic device with some camera features, the Samsung Galaxy M12 can suffice.
- Multimedia Enthusiast: If you prioritize a good screen, performance, and modern software, the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G is the better option.
- Performance Focused: If you want better performance for gaming and demanding tasks, the Redmi 12 5G is the clear winner.
My Choice
I would choose the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G.
Here's why:
The performance difference between the two phones is substantial. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 in the Redmi 12 5G offers a much smoother experience in daily use, multitasking, and gaming. The higher resolution display on the Redmi 12 5G also offers a significantly better viewing experience. The faster charging capabilities is also beneficial, and having the latest version of android guarantees better long term software support. While the Samsung M12 offers more camera lens options, I find the overall photo and video quality of the Redmi 12 5G with better stabilization to be better suited for my needs, especially considering the fact that the M12 lacks slow-motion video recording.
For most users, the Redmi 12 5G offers a more compelling overall package of performance, display, and software, making it a much better option.
