Samsung Galaxy A12 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

If you're looking for a budget-friendly smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy A12 might just be the device for you. Launched in November of 2020, this phone has been available for some time now, and has received mixed reviews from tech experts and consumers alike.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy A12 boasts a sleek and modern design that is sure to catch anyone's eye. The phone features a glass front and a plastic back and frame, making it both lightweight and durable. Its dimensions of 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) and weight of 205 g (7.23 oz) make it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods.

The phone's ergonomics are top-notch, with the buttons and ports placed in convenient locations for easy access. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is also a welcome addition, allowing for quick and secure unlocking.

Despite its plastic construction, the Samsung Galaxy A12 feels solid and well-built, with no creaks or flexing when pressure is applied. The phone's overall construction is impressive, and it is sure to withstand daily wear and tear.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A12's design and build quality are excellent, making it a device that is both stylish and durable. Its lightweight construction and ergonomic design make it comfortable to use, while its solid construction ensures that it can withstand the rigors of daily use.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy A12 boasts a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio that offers an immersive viewing experience. The colors on the screen are vibrant and accurate, and the brightness levels are sufficient for outdoor use. The display also has decent viewing angles, and the touch sensitivity is responsive and smooth.

While the display is not as sharp as some of the higher-end Samsung models, it is still impressive for a mid-range device. The pixel density of around 270 ppi is more than enough for most daily tasks such as browsing the web, reading text, and watching videos. However, text and images may not be as crisp as on some other devices with higher resolution displays.

The phone's display also features a notch at the top center to house the front-facing camera. This design choice may not appeal to everyone, but it doesn't take away from the overall viewing experience.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A12's display is a good balance between quality and affordability. While it may not be as high-end as some of the more expensive Samsung models, it is more than capable of providing a pleasant viewing experience for most users.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A12 boasts an octa-core MediaTek Helio P35 processor with four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.35GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.8GHz. It also comes with a PowerVR GE8320 GPU and multiple RAM and storage options, including 2GB/3GB/4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB/128GB internal storage.

In terms of real-world performance, the Galaxy A12 is a decent budget device that can handle basic tasks such as browsing the web, social media, and streaming videos with ease. However, it may struggle with more demanding apps and games. The device scored a respectable 107,189 on AnTuTu benchmark test and 1034 on Geekbench 5.1, indicating that it performs well in synthetic benchmarks.

During our testing, we found that the Galaxy A12 was generally smooth and responsive, but there were occasional lag and stuttering issues when opening apps or switching between them. The gaming experience on the device was decent, but we noticed some frame drops and lag in more demanding games.

Overall, the Galaxy A12 delivers satisfactory performance for its price range, and its multitasking abilities are impressive. However, if you are a heavy user or a mobile gamer, you may want to consider a more powerful device.

Software and User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy A12 runs on the Android 10 operating system, which is upgradable to Android 11. The phone features the One UI 3.1 skin, which is user-friendly and customizable. One of the key benefits of One UI is that it's designed to make one-handed use easier. Additionally, the phone comes with several pre-installed apps, including Samsung Health, Samsung Members, and Samsung Pay.

The phone offers a clean and intuitive interface, and the icons are well-spaced out, making them easy to tap. The lock screen and home screen are highly customizable, allowing users to tailor the phone to their preferences. The phone also features a dark mode, which reduces eye strain and offers a more immersive experience when using the phone in low-light conditions.

The Samsung Galaxy A12 comes with a range of customization options, including the ability to change the app icons, the notification shade, and the theme. The phone also features Samsung DeX, which allows users to connect their phone to a monitor and use it as a desktop computer.

In terms of software support, Samsung is known for providing regular updates to its devices, and the Galaxy A12 is no exception. The phone receives regular security updates, ensuring that it remains protected against the latest threats. Samsung also provides software support for at least two years after the device's release.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a user-friendly interface, with a range of customization options and regular software updates. The One UI skin is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it a great choice for users who are looking for a phone with a clean and customizable interface.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A12 boasts a quad-camera setup on its rear, consisting of a 48 MP main camera, a 5 MP ultra-wide lens, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. On the front, there is an 8 MP selfie camera. In terms of image quality, the Galaxy A12 performs well in good lighting conditions, producing sharp and detailed shots with accurate colors. In low light, however, the camera struggles to produce high-quality images, with a noticeable drop in detail and an increase in noise.

The camera app is easy to use and offers a range of features such as panorama, HDR, and a dedicated night mode for low light photography. The ultra-wide lens is a great addition, allowing for wider shots and a unique perspective. The macro lens is also a nice touch, allowing for close-up shots with good detail.

The video recording capabilities of the Galaxy A12 are decent, with the ability to shoot 1080p videos at 30 frames per second. The lack of 4K recording is a bit disappointing, but not unexpected at this price point.

Overall, while the camera performance of the Galaxy A12 is not exceptional, it is certainly adequate for most users' needs. The addition of the ultra-wide and macro lenses adds versatility, and the camera app is user-friendly. However, the camera struggles in low light conditions, so if photography in low light is a priority, this may not be the best phone for you.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Samsung Galaxy A12 boasts a range of connectivity and networking features that make it an attractive option for users who need to stay connected on-the-go. This smartphone is compatible with GSM, HSPA, and LTE cellular networks, ensuring great coverage across different regions.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Galaxy A12 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Wi-Fi Direct, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP and LE for seamless pairing with other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as wireless headphones and speakers. NFC is also available, but its availability may depend on the market or region.

For navigation and location services, the Galaxy A12 comes with GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS. These features provide accurate and reliable positioning information, making it a great device for users who rely on navigation apps such as Google Maps or Waze.

In terms of sensors, the Galaxy A12 features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for easy and secure access to the device, as well as virtual proximity sensing. Unfortunately, it does not have water and dust resistance, but the plastic body provides some level of durability.

Overall, the connectivity and networking features of the Samsung Galaxy A12 are impressive for a device in its price range. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of a flagship device, it offers a solid set of features that should satisfy most users' needs.

Additional Features

The Samsung Galaxy A12 comes with a range of additional features that make it an attractive option for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone. One of its standout features is its water and dust resistance, which means that the device can withstand accidental spills or exposure to damp environments.

Another feature that sets the Samsung Galaxy A12 apart is its expandable storage options. With a dedicated microSD slot, users can easily increase the device's internal storage space and keep all their important files, photos, and apps close at hand.

Audio quality is also a highlight of the Samsung Galaxy A12, with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a loudspeaker that delivers clear and rich sound. The speaker performance is particularly impressive, with good volume levels and minimal distortion even at high volumes.

In terms of other unique features, the Samsung Galaxy A12 offers a fingerprint sensor located on the side of the device for added security and convenience. Additionally, it comes with a virtual proximity sensor that allows users to interact with their phone without having to physically touch the screen.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A12 boasts a solid set of additional features that make it a strong contender in the budget smartphone market. Its water and dust resistance, expandable storage options, and impressive audio quality are just a few of the features that set it apart from its competitors.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Samsung Galaxy A12 to other phones in its price range, it's important to consider the competition. One of the closest competitors to the A12 is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10, which has a similar price and specifications. The Redmi Note 10 has a better screen, with a 6.43-inch AMOLED display that offers a higher resolution and better color accuracy. However, the A12 has a larger battery, with a 5,000mAh capacity compared to the Redmi Note 10's 5,020mAh battery.

Another phone that can be compared to the A12 is the Moto G Power (2021), which also offers a large battery and a similar price point. The Moto G Power has a slightly better processor, with a Snapdragon 662 chipset compared to the A12's Helio P35. However, the A12 has a better camera setup, with a quad-camera system that includes a 48MP primary sensor.

Finally, the Nokia 5.4 is another phone in the same category as the A12, with a similar price and specifications. The Nokia 5.4 has a better screen, with a 6.39-inch IPS LCD display that offers a higher resolution and better color accuracy. However, the A12 has a larger battery and more RAM, with up to 6GB compared to the Nokia 5.4's maximum of 4GB.

Overall, while the Samsung Galaxy A12 has strong competition in its price range, it offers a good balance of features and performance that make it a solid choice for budget-conscious consumers.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers a lot of value for its price. Its design is sleek and comfortable to hold, and its display is vibrant and responsive. The phone's performance is impressive, with its processor and RAM providing smooth multitasking and app performance. Additionally, the camera setup takes clear and detailed photos and videos, and the battery life is impressive, providing ample power for all-day use.

While the phone may lack some of the premium features of higher-end devices, it more than makes up for this with its affordability and overall quality. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable and capable smartphone without breaking the bank.

However, it is worth noting that there are other devices on the market that offer similar features at similar price points, such as the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 and the Realme 7. It ultimately comes down to personal preference and priorities. Nonetheless, the Galaxy A12 is certainly a contender and should be considered as a viable option for anyone looking for a mid-range smartphone.