Samsung Galaxy A12 review

Competition

The Galaxy A12 is Samsung's answer to the Redmis and the Realmes of the world - a budget-minded offering that tries to fit as much phone as possible into a low price tag. So how does it stack up to the competition?

The Redmi Note 9 is the first one that comes to mind, and it's very closely matched in terms of price. You'll get slightly better battery life out of the Redmi and slightly quicker charging, plus a higher-res display - though these don't seem to be deciders all on their own. The camera performance is very similar overall, so that's not going to help settle it either. However, the Redmi Note 9 does have a more powerful chipset, and that fact alone is enough to score a victory for the Redmi.

Not quite Xiaomi, but sort of Xiaomi, the Poco M3 is another viable option, and that comes even cheaper than the A12. You'll get a FullHD display and more RAM for your dollar, plus stereo speakers, longer battery life and better performance. The Galaxy is one ultra-wide camera ahead, however.

The Realme 7 (non 5G) is about 15% more expensive than the Galaxy A12, but we reckon it can justify the premium with its 90Hz FullHD display, vastly more powerful chipset, and much quicker charging (with comparably great battery life to begin with).

The Moto G9 Power is in about the same price ballpark as the Galaxy in some places, and the Power moniker does indeed mean something - it's in our all-time Top3 for battery life. It comfortably outlasts the A12, with a brawnier chipset too. A higher-res and overall better main camera is in the Moto's favor as well, but the Galaxy counters with the ultra-wide, missing on the Moto.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 • Xiaomi Poco M3 • Realme 7 (Global) • Motorola Moto G9 Power

Verdict

Samsung often struggles to compete with the value-oriented brands in the lower market segments, and that's the case with the Galaxy A12 we have here. It's not a bad phone, and it excels in endurance, it takes decent pictures, and it looks good in the process. It's also a Samsung, and the brand itself could make it more appealing than its actual merits.

But if you're on a limited budget, is it really all that important what badge is on the back of your phone? Opting for one of the competitors will likely get you a superior overall package, and you might even save a little. If, however, you must absolutely get a Galaxy, the A12 is a reasonable compromise. It wouldn't be our top choice for the money, though.

Pros

• Standout textured back, nice-feeling plastics.
• Excellent battery life.
• Relatively capable camera setup, ultra-wide is not all that common in the price range.

Cons

• Slow charging.
• Underpowered chipset.
• No night mode, no video stabilization.