Samsung Galaxy M12 (India) 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 was released in March of 2021 and has quickly become a popular choice for budget-conscious smartphone buyers. With a large 6.5-inch PLS LCD display, a quad-camera setup, and a massive 6000mAh battery, the M12 boasts some impressive specs for a phone in its price range.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy M12 boasts an attractive and sleek design that feels comfortable to hold, thanks to its curved edges and smooth finish. The phone measures 164 x 75.9 x 9.7 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.38 in) and weighs 221 g (7.80 oz), making it slightly heavy, but not too bulky. The phone's body is made of plastic, with a glass front that blends seamlessly with the rest of the phone's body.

In terms of ergonomics, the phone feels comfortable to hold and use, with the buttons and ports all conveniently placed for easy access. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is also a great addition, making it easy to unlock the device without having to reach for the back of the phone.

The phone's build quality is solid, and it feels durable enough to withstand everyday use without any issues. The plastic back may not feel as premium as other materials, but it is sturdy enough to protect the phone from minor bumps and scratches.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12's design and build quality are impressive, offering a sleek and comfortable design that feels durable and well-built. While the plastic body may not be as premium as other materials, it still feels sturdy and reliable, making it a great option for those looking for a reliable and attractive phone design.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy M12 boasts a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen-to-body ratio is an impressive 81.9%, ensuring an immersive viewing experience.

The display technology used in the Samsung Galaxy M12 is LCD, which is not as advanced as OLED or AMOLED displays. However, the colors are still vibrant and the contrast is good. The display offers a decent level of brightness, making it easy to use outdoors in direct sunlight.

The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the display are impressive and the screen is smooth to the touch. The display also has a feature that allows for easy one-handed use, which is a nice touch.

While the resolution may not be as high as some other devices in the market, the display is still sharp and clear. Users will appreciate the 90Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling through apps and websites smooth and seamless.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12's display is a strong point with its large size, good color accuracy, and smooth refresh rate. The only downside may be the lower resolution compared to some other devices in the market.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is equipped with an Exynos 850 chipset that delivers an excellent performance. The octa-core processor with four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.0GHz and another four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.0GHz ensures a smooth multitasking experience even when running demanding apps. The Mali-G52 GPU ensures that users can enjoy playing games without any lag or stuttering.

In terms of RAM and storage options, the Samsung Galaxy M12 comes with either 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. This storage space can be expanded up to 1TB with the use of a microSD card, which is a significant advantage for users who need more space for storing their files.

The device performs well in everyday tasks like browsing, messaging, and social media usage. It also handles heavier tasks, such as gaming and video streaming, with ease. The phone's benchmark scores are impressive, and it can run multiple apps at once without any issues.

The Samsung Galaxy M12 has a massive 6000mAh battery that offers a long-lasting battery life. The device can last for over a day on a single charge, even with heavy usage. Additionally, the phone supports 15W wired charging, which is reasonably fast, but there is no wireless charging support.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a great performance for its price point. The device has enough power to handle everyday tasks and can run heavy apps and games without any lag. The long battery life ensures that users can use the phone for an extended period without having to worry about running out of charge.

Software and User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy M12 runs on Android 11 with One UI 3.1, which is a clean and user-friendly interface. The phone offers a smooth and seamless user experience, thanks to its Exynos 850 chipset and Octa-core processor.

The UI is highly customizable, allowing users to tweak the interface to their preferences. The phone comes with pre-installed apps such as Samsung Health, Samsung Members, and Samsung Pay, among others. However, there is some bloatware present, which may be a slight inconvenience to some users.

The phone's user interface is user-friendly, making it easy to navigate through the phone's features and settings. The UI is also designed to optimize power consumption, and the phone comes with a range of power-saving features such as adaptive battery and the ability to adjust screen resolution to conserve battery life.

Samsung is known for its timely software updates, and the Galaxy M12 is no exception. The phone receives regular updates for security and performance enhancements, ensuring that the phone remains up-to-date.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 offers a clean and user-friendly interface, with a range of customization options, power-saving features, and timely software updates. However, the presence of bloatware may be a downside for some users.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy M12 boasts a quad-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 48 MP primary shooter, a 5 MP ultra-wide lens, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The front-facing camera is an 8 MP sensor.

In daylight conditions, the primary camera captures images with impressive detail and color accuracy. The ultra-wide lens is great for taking landscape and group shots, but the quality drops a bit when compared to the primary camera. The macro lens does a decent job of capturing close-up shots, but it struggles in low-light conditions. The depth sensor helps in achieving bokeh effect in portrait shots, and the edge detection is fairly accurate.

In low-light conditions, the primary camera struggles to capture enough light resulting in noisy images. However, the dedicated Night mode helps in improving the image quality significantly. The front-facing camera performs well in daylight and low-light conditions, but the images tend to look slightly soft.

Video recording on the Samsung Galaxy M12 is limited to 1080p at 30fps, and the quality is decent but not exceptional. The lack of 4K recording might disappoint some users, but it's not a dealbreaker.

Overall, the camera performance of the Samsung Galaxy M12 is respectable for a budget smartphone. It's not the best in its class, but it gets the job done for most users.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Samsung Galaxy M12 comes with a range of connectivity and networking options that make it a versatile and convenient device for everyday use. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, which means you can connect to the internet and make calls from almost anywhere.

The phone also has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Wi-Fi Direct, making it easy to connect to wireless networks and other devices. Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, and LE are also included, allowing you to connect to a variety of Bluetooth-enabled accessories such as headsets, speakers, and smartwatches.

In terms of positioning, the Galaxy M12 features GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS, ensuring that you can always find your way around with ease. However, it does not have NFC, which means you won't be able to use it for contactless payments or other NFC-based services.

The phone also comes with a USB Type-C 2.0 port and OTG support, which allows you to connect external storage devices or other USB accessories to the phone. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, making it easy to connect your favorite headphones or speakers.

In terms of sensors, the Galaxy M12 has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is fast and accurate, and an accelerometer for motion detection. It also features virtual proximity sensing, which allows the phone to detect when it is close to your face during calls and adjust the screen accordingly.

Overall, with its comprehensive range of connectivity and networking options, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is a device that is well-suited to a wide range of users, whether you're looking to stay connected on the go or simply need a reliable device for everyday use.

Additional Features

The Samsung Galaxy M12 packs in some impressive additional features that make it an attractive choice for budget-conscious buyers. For starters, the phone comes with a headphone jack, which is a rare find in modern smartphones. The audio quality is decent, and you can enjoy your favorite tunes or podcasts on the go without any hassle.

Another noteworthy feature is the phone's water and dust resistance. While it's not fully waterproof, the M12 can withstand splashes and accidental spills, which is a nice touch. This makes it more durable and less prone to damage, which is always a plus point.

The expandable storage option is also a great feature, as it allows you to add up to 1TB of extra storage space. This means you can store all your favorite movies, photos, and apps without worrying about running out of space.

The speaker performance is decent, and you can enjoy loud and clear audio without any distortion. The phone also comes with a range of sensors, including a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and accelerometer. The fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, and you can unlock your phone with ease.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 comes with some impressive additional features that add to its overall appeal. From water and dust resistance to expandable storage, this phone has a lot to offer, especially at its budget-friendly price point.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Samsung Galaxy M12 with other related phones, there are a few devices that come to mind. The first is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10. Both phones offer a similar screen size and resolution, as well as a quad-camera setup. However, the Redmi Note 10 edges out the Galaxy M12 in terms of processor and chipset, as well as overall camera performance.

Another competitor to the Galaxy M12 is the Realme C25s. While the Realme phone offers a slightly smaller screen size, it does boast a higher resolution and a faster processor. Additionally, the C25s has a larger battery capacity and supports faster charging than the Galaxy M12.

For those looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Nokia C20 Plus is worth considering. It has a similar screen size and resolution to the Galaxy M12, as well as a dual-camera setup. However, the Nokia phone does have a weaker processor and less RAM.

Ultimately, when comparing the Samsung Galaxy M12 with other related phones, it's clear that it offers a solid balance of performance and value. While it may not be the best phone on the market in any one area, it's a reliable choice for those looking for a budget-friendly device that can handle everyday tasks with ease.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is an excellent budget performer that packs in a lot of features for its price. With its decent processor and chipset, ample RAM and storage options, and a large battery, this phone is great for everyday use and basic gaming. The camera setup is impressive for the price range, with the rear quad-camera delivering good image quality in most lighting conditions.

While the display's resolution is not the best in the market, the 90Hz refresh rate and PLS LCD technology provide an overall smooth and enjoyable viewing experience. The user-friendly One UI 3.1 interface and Android 11 operating system offer customization options and regular software updates.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a budget smartphone with good performance, a decent camera, and a long-lasting battery. Its competitive pricing makes it an attractive option in the crowded budget smartphone market.

However, potential buyers should note that the phone's plastic build and lack of water resistance may pose durability concerns. Additionally, the lack of support for wireless charging and NFC may be a deal-breaker for some users.

In summary, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is a great budget device that offers a lot of value for its price. It may not be perfect, but for anyone looking for a budget phone that can handle most day-to-day tasks with ease, the Samsung Galaxy M12 is definitely worth considering.