Samsung Galaxy M12 vs Galaxy A23

51 out of 100

58 out of 100

Here we compared two budget smartphones: the 6.5-inch Samsung Galaxy M12 (with Exynos 850) that was released on November 24, 2020, against the Samsung Galaxy A23, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 and came out 15 months after. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy A23

90% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (302K versus 158K)
48% higher pixel density (400 vs 270 PPI)
Optical image stabilization
Compatible with Wi-Fi 5 wireless networks
Delivers 8% higher peak brightness (465 against 431 nits)
Slow-motion recording at 120FPS
Supports higher wattage charging (25W versus 15W)
The phone is 1-year and 3-months newer

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy M12 and Galaxy A23 crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	PLS TFT	PLS TFT
Size	6.5 inches	6.6 inches
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels	1080 x 2408 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	20:9
PPI	270 ppi	400 ppi
Refresh rate	90 Hz	90 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	450 nits	460 nits
HDR support	No	No
Screen protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Screen-to-body ratio	81.9%	83%

Height	164 mm (6.46 inches)	164.5 mm (6.48 inches)
Width	75.9 mm (2.99 inches)	76.9 mm (3.03 inches)
Thickness	9.7 mm (0.38 inches)	8.4 mm (0.33 inches)
Weight	214 g (7.55 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)
Waterproof	No	No
Rear material	Plastic	Plastic
Frame material	Plastic	Plastic
Colors	Black, Blue, Green	White, Black, Blue, Yellow
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-button	Yes, in-button

Chipset	Samsung Exynos 850	Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
Max clock	2000 MHz	2400 MHz
CPU cores	8 (8)	8 (4 + 4)
Architecture	- 8 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A55	- 4 cores at 1.9 GHz: Kryo 265 Silver (Cortex-A53) - 4 cores at 2.4 GHz: Kryo 265 Gold (Cortex-A73)
Lithography process	8 nanometers	6 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G52 MP1	Adreno 610
GPU shading units	24	128
GPU clock	680 MHz	1110 MHz
FLOPS	~39.4 GFLOPS	~284 GFLOPS

CPU	49204	97504
GPU	27150	49417
Memory	46333	87497
UX	36160	65836
Total score	158901	302567

Max surface temperature	41.7 °C	-
Stability	98%	98%
Graphics test	2 FPS	2 FPS
Graphics score	429	440

Web score	5424	6871
Video editing	5775	4228
Photo editing	9817	13622
Data manipulation	4274	5785
Writing score	5355	8438

RAM size	3, 4 GB	4, 6, 8 GB
Memory type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	1866 MHz	-
Channels	2	2

Storage size	32, 64, 128 GB	32, 64, 128 GB
Storage type	eMMC 5.1	eMMC 5.1
Memory card	MicroSD	MicroSD
Memory card max size	Up to 1024 GB	Up to 1024 GB

Operating system	Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)	Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	One UI Core 5.0	One UI 5.0
OS size	14 GB	24 GB

Capacity	5000 mAh	5000 mAh
Max charge power	15 W	25 W
Battery type	Li-Ion	-
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	No	No
Reverse charging	No	No
Fast charging	Yes (40% in 60 min)	Yes (32% in 30 min)
Full charging time	2:30 hr	1:43 hr

Display tests
RGB color space	93.3%	-
Response time	39 ms	-
Contrast	926:1	-

Battery life tests
Web browsing	-	13:23 hr
Watching video	-	12:41 hr
Gaming	-	06:14 hr
Standby	-	127 hr

Main camera
Matrix	48 megapixels	50 megapixels
Image resolution	8000 x 6000	8700 x 5800
Zoom	Digital	Digital
Flash	LED	LED
Stabilization	Digital	Optical
8K video recording	No	No
4K video recording	No	No
1080p video recording	Up to 30FPS	Up to 30FPS
Slow motion	No	120 FPS (720p)
Angle of widest lens	123°	-
Lenses	4 (48 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP)	4 (50 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 48 MP - Aperture: f/2.0 - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/2", Samsung S5KGM2 (CMOS) - Phase autofocus	- 50 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization
Ultra-wide lens	- 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/5.0" (CMOS)	- 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/5" (CMOS)
Macro lens	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4
Depth lens	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.2	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode

Selfie camera
Megapixels	8 megapixels	8 megapixels
Image resolution	3264 x 2448	3264 x 2448
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.2
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS
Video resolution	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi features	- Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5	5
Bluetooth features	PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP	PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	2	2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	2	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	No	No
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	7	-
5G support	No	No

Speakers	Mono	Mono
Headphone audio jack	Yes	Yes
FM radio	Yes	Yes
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes

Category	Budget	Budget
Announced	November 2020	March 2022
Release date	April 2021	March 2022
SAR (head)	0.54 W/kg	-
SAR (body)	1.39 W/kg	-
Sensors	- Proximity sensor - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Fingerprint	- Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Compass - Fingerprint
Bundled charger	-	Yes, 15 W

Samsung Galaxy M12 vs Galaxy A23

Samsung Galaxy M12 vs Galaxy A23

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion