Samsung Galaxy M12 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

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch. With its sleek design and impressive features, it's hard to believe that it falls into the affordable category. The device boasts a large 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, providing a smooth and immersive viewing experience. Powered by the Exynos 850 chipset and equipped with up to 128GB of internal storage, this phone delivers reliable performance and ample space for all your apps and files. The quad-camera setup captures stunning photos and videos, while the 5000mAh battery ensures long-lasting usage. Available in black, blue, and green, the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers incredible value at a price starting from €235.00 / $192.50 / £140.00.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy M12 boasts a design that is both stylish and ergonomic. With its sleek form factor and slim bezels, the device offers a visually appealing aesthetic that is pleasing to the eye. The phone is constructed with a combination of glass front, plastic back, and plastic frame, which strikes a balance between durability and affordability. Despite its large 6.5-inch display, the M12 manages to maintain a manageable weight of 212g, ensuring comfortable one-handed usability. The dimensions of 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm further add to its portability, allowing users to easily slip it into their pockets or bags. The back panel features a textured finish, providing a secure grip and minimizing the risk of accidental slips. The placement of the fingerprint sensor on the side of the device is a thoughtful design choice, as it allows for convenient unlocking while holding the phone. The buttons and controls are well-positioned and offer a satisfying tactile feedback. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 showcases a robust build quality and finishing touches that give it a premium look and feel.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy M12 features a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The screen size provides a spacious viewing experience, making it suitable for multimedia consumption and gaming. The LCD technology ensures good color accuracy and vibrancy, although it may not offer the same deep blacks and contrast ratios as OLED displays.

In terms of brightness levels, the Galaxy M12 offers decent outdoor visibility, allowing for comfortable usage even in bright sunlight. The touch responsiveness of the display is smooth, ensuring a seamless user experience while navigating through apps and menus.

The display of the Galaxy M12 does not have any specific mention of display protection, such as Gorilla Glass. However, it is recommended to use a screen protector to prevent scratches and minor damage.

With a pixel density of approximately 270 pixels per inch, the display provides sharp and detailed visuals. The device also features a 90Hz refresh rate, which results in smoother scrolling and improved overall responsiveness.

While the Galaxy M12 does not offer HDR or a wide color gamut support, the viewing angles are sufficient for an enjoyable viewing experience from different angles. Additionally, the display does not have an anti-reflective coating, which could affect visibility in certain lighting conditions.

The device does not have a notch design and instead features slim bezels, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio. There is no mention of an always-on display feature, but the device does offer a blue light filter and adaptive brightness for comfortable viewing in different lighting environments. Users can also adjust the screen calibration according to their preferences.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12's display offers a satisfactory visual experience with its large size, decent color reproduction, and smooth touch responsiveness.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a decent performance for its budget-friendly price range. Powered by the Exynos 850 chipset, which features an octa-core CPU and Mali-G52 GPU, this smartphone provides a smooth user experience and lag-free performance for everyday tasks. The processor's efficiency ensures efficient multitasking and app loading speeds, allowing users to switch between different applications seamlessly.

In terms of gaming capabilities, the Galaxy M12 performs reasonably well. The Mali-G52 GPU delivers satisfactory graphics scores in benchmark tests, enabling enjoyable gaming experiences. While it may not handle high-end games at maximum settings, it can handle most casual and mid-range games without significant issues. The device's thermal management ensures that it doesn't overheat during extended gaming sessions.

When it comes to synthetic benchmarks, the Galaxy M12's CPU performance is decent, providing satisfactory scores. This translates to smooth performance in day-to-day usage, with the device rarely experiencing any lags or slowdowns. The system optimization of Samsung's One UI Core 3.1, coupled with the efficient processor, contributes to a seamless and responsive user interface.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a reliable performance package for its price point. While it may not be the most powerful device in terms of raw performance, it strikes a good balance between affordability and functionality. Whether you're browsing the web, using social media, or playing casual games, the Galaxy M12 provides a smooth and enjoyable user experience, making it a suitable choice for budget-conscious consumers.

Software and User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy M12 runs on the Android 11 operating system, with the One UI Core 3.1 interface. This combination offers a smooth and user-friendly experience for the users. The One UI Core 3.1 is a stripped-down version of Samsung's One UI, designed to provide a simplified and streamlined interface. It comes with a range of customization options, allowing users to personalize their device according to their preferences.

In terms of pre-installed apps, the Galaxy M12 comes with a standard set of Samsung apps, such as Samsung Internet, Samsung Health, and Samsung Notes. These apps provide essential functionality and are generally well-optimized for the device. However, some users may find these pre-installed apps to be unnecessary or redundant, which can be considered as bloatware.

Thanks to the Android 11 operating system, users can enjoy the latest features and security updates. Android 11 introduces features like improved notification management, enhanced privacy settings, and better control over app permissions. Additionally, the device is powered by the Exynos 850 chipset and octa-core processor, which ensures smooth performance and efficient multitasking.

Overall, the software on the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a user-friendly interface with a range of customization options. The device comes with pre-installed apps that may or may not be useful for all users, but the Android 11 operating system provides the latest features and security updates. This combination makes the Galaxy M12 a solid choice for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a reliable software experience.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is equipped with a versatile camera setup that allows users to capture high-quality photos and videos. The main camera boasts a 48 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, ensuring detailed and sharp images. It is complemented by a 5 MP ultra-wide lens, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor, expanding the creative possibilities for users. The camera performs well in various lighting conditions, delivering impressive results in daylight photography with natural colors and excellent sharpness. Thanks to its dynamic range, images captured in challenging lighting situations also retain detail and clarity. The low-light performance is enhanced by the camera's low-light sensitivity and noise reduction capabilities, allowing for decent night photography. Users can also take advantage of the dedicated night mode for improved low-light shots. The camera app offers a range of features, including portrait mode, HDR, panorama mode, pro mode for manual control, and AI scene recognition, which automatically adjusts settings based on the subject. On the video recording front, the Galaxy M12 supports 4K video capture, ensuring crisp and detailed footage. Video stabilization helps in reducing shakes and jitters, while slow-motion and time-lapse modes add creativity to video recording. Overall, the camera of the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a capable and versatile photography experience, suitable for both casual users and photography enthusiasts.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy M12 boasts a powerful Li-Po 5000mAh non-removable battery, ensuring long-lasting battery life. Users can expect excellent battery backup, allowing for prolonged usage without the need for frequent charging. The device supports 15W wired charging, which enables quick and convenient charging sessions. With its impressive battery capacity, the Galaxy M12 offers extended screen-on time and standby time, making it ideal for users who rely heavily on their smartphones throughout the day. The phone's power efficiency and battery optimization features further enhance its battery performance, ensuring that users can make the most out of their device without worrying about battery drain. While the Samsung Galaxy M12 does not support wireless charging options, its robust battery management system and optimization settings contribute to a satisfactory battery experience, providing users with reliable battery endurance and longevity.

Connectivity and Networking

The Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a good range of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you go. It supports various network technologies including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring compatibility with most carriers. The device also features dual SIM capability, allowing you to use two different SIM cards simultaneously. In terms of wireless connectivity, the Galaxy M12 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, providing fast and reliable internet access. It also has Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP and LE support, enabling seamless pairing with other Bluetooth devices. NFC is another notable feature, allowing for convenient contactless payments and file sharing. When it comes to physical connectivity, the Galaxy M12 comes with a USB Type-C 2.0 port for fast data transfer and charging. Additionally, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing you to use wired headphones. The device also supports GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS for accurate navigation and positioning. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a wide range of connectivity options, ensuring that you can stay connected and enjoy fast data speeds on the go.

Additional Features

The Samsung Galaxy M12 comes with a range of standout features that enhance its overall functionality. While it does not have water resistance or dust resistance capabilities, it offers a durable build with a glass front, plastic back, and plastic frame. The device is equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. It also includes an accelerometer, which enables features such as auto-rotate and motion detection. Additionally, the Galaxy M12 features a sensor suite that includes advanced sensors for accurate tracking and monitoring. These sensors allow users to enjoy various motion-based applications and games. Although it does not support wireless charging or have an IP rating for water and dust resistance, the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a reliable and feature-packed smartphone experience.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is a budget smartphone that offers a decent set of features. When comparing it to other related devices in the market, it competes with smartphones like the Redmi 9 Power, Realme Narzo 20, and the Motorola Moto G9 Power.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy M12 comes with a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While this is a good feature for a budget phone, some of its competitors offer higher resolution displays. The Exynos 850 chipset and Mali-G52 GPU provide decent performance for everyday tasks, but it may lag behind some of its competitors in terms of gaming performance.

The Galaxy M12 comes with multiple memory options ranging from 32GB to 128GB, which can be expanded further with a microSD card. However, its eMMC 5.1 storage technology may not be as fast as the UFS storage found in some of its competitors.

In terms of camera performance, the Galaxy M12 features a quad-camera setup with a 48MP primary sensor. While it captures decent photos in good lighting conditions, it may struggle in low-light situations compared to devices with better camera sensors.

One of the standout features of the Galaxy M12 is its massive 5000mAh battery, which provides excellent battery life. This is a feature that sets it apart from some of its competitors in the budget segment.

When it comes to pricing, the Galaxy M12 offers good value for money with a price starting around €235.00. Its competitors in the market offer similar features at a similar price range, making the competition tough in this segment.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is a budget smartphone that competes well with its rivals in terms of features, performance, and pricing. While it may not have any unique or standout features, it offers a decent package for consumers looking for an affordable smartphone with a reliable battery life and decent performance.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a budget-friendly option with a decent set of features. The device comes with a large 6.5-inch display and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, providing an immersive viewing experience. The Exynos 850 chipset ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks. The quad-camera setup captures good quality photos, while the 5000mAh battery provides excellent battery life. However, the low-resolution display and limited internal storage may be drawbacks for some users. Overall, the Galaxy M12 is a reliable budget performer, suitable for those seeking a smartphone that offers decent performance, a long-lasting battery, and a good camera setup at an affordable price.