Galaxy phones are pricey, and the Galaxy A12 bucks that trend. The Samsung Galaxy A12 is a phone that aims to provide the experience of a premium Galaxy phone for under $200. The question is, does it hit its mark, or does it sacrifice too much to keep the price low?
Galaxy A12 Quick Overview
It must be stated immediately that the A12 is, first and foremost, a budget Android phone. You cannot compare the Galaxy A12 with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, as they are built to cater to completely different audiences. While the S22 Ultra is among the most advanced phones in the world, the A12 is a much more modest product.
It does not excel in the power or performance departments and trades in shiny metals for matte plastics. That being said, the battery life is fantastic, and the affordable price makes it incredibly competitive with other similarly built phones. It would be difficult to find a phone with impressive technological specs at this price.
Ultimately, if you are not looking for a budget phone, you have no reason to buy this over one of the other Samsung Galaxy devices. But if you want something cheap, the Galaxy A12 will surprise you with its solid specs for a budget phone.
What’s the Cost of the Samsung Galaxy A12?
The price of the Samsung Galaxy A12 is its major selling point: the base model’s retail price is only $179.99. This is incredibly low when compared to the other Samsung Galaxy phones, which can be priced upwards of $1,500.
Budget phones usually do not have the brand power of the Samsung Galaxy, and the A12 gives consumers a lot of bang for their buck.
Who is the Galaxy A12 Best For?
The Samsung Galaxy A12 is a great work cell phone. If you need a separate phone for your business, the A12 is a cheap but powerful option that you can easily use separately from your main device.
It is also a solid option for kids, as it is powerful and sturdy without having all the extra bells and whistles of a premium phone. You can give a Galaxy A12 to a child, and it will be intuitive enough for them to understand how to use it safely and effectively.
Breaking Down the Galaxy A12 in 2022
Galaxy A12 Dimensions
The Galaxy A12 has a 6.5-inch display at 1,600x720. The base model has 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space. The dimensions are 6.46x2.98x0.35 inches. It can come in black, white, blue, or red. The phone weighs 7.23oz or 205g.
Galaxy A12 Battery Life
While not all aspects of the Galaxy A12 are premium, the battery size is fantastic for all phones, premium or otherwise. With a 5,000mAh battery, you will not find many devices that rival the Galaxy A12 in terms of battery life.
When you factor in the fact that the A12 does not use up nearly as much power as more premium phones, the device can last a very long time. The A12 does not struggle to go two full days between charges, even when it is being liberally used.
Samsung Galaxy A12: The Pros
- The Samsung Galaxy A12’s Design Is Excellent
- The Samsung Galaxy A12’s Camera Is One of the Best
The Samsung Galaxy A12’s Design Is Excellent
The smooth matte design of the A12 sets it apart from its flashier siblings. It tones down the expensive materials and uses its simplicity to its advantage. The 6.5-inch display is easy to grip, and it is nice that the phone has a headphone jack. The A12 has a side-mounted fingerprint reader, which is very easy to use.
Other budget phones, such as the Moto G Power, are bulky and unwieldy. The Samsung Galaxy A12 avoids this with its sleek and modest design.
The Samsung Galaxy A12’s Camera Is One of the Best
As far as budget phones go, the A12’s camera is excellent. It has a 48MP main camera which works great in various lighting options and settings. There is also a macro and ultrawide camera that you can utilize as well, and the front camerafunctions well for any and all selfie needs.
The camera app on the phone is also very easy to use, which is a big plus on its own. It has plenty of extra options like a portrait mode and shutter settings that you can modify. Comparing the camera system to a more expensive phone will not hold up, but you won’t find a ton of $200 phones with cameras this good.
Samsung Galaxy A12: The Cons
- The Samsung Galaxy A12 Charges Slowly
- The Samsung Galaxy A12 Lags Compared to Other Phones
The Samsung Galaxy A12 Charges Slowly
The great battery capacity is hindered by the slow charging time. It can take two hours to go from 1% to a full charge on the Galaxy A12. Comparatively, the S22 Ultra also has a 5,000 mAh battery, but it takes under half the time to get a full charge out of it. The A12 is not a fast charging phone; if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll be frustrated with the amount of time this spends on the charger.
The Samsung Galaxy A12 Lags Compared to Other Phones
The A12 runs on a MediaTek Helio P35 processor, which is nowhere near as powerful as the Snapdragons that power the other Galaxy phones. The A12 is not terrible in terms of connectivity — bluetooth and hotspot options work fine, and WiFi performance is standard.
However, esepcially with how ambitious it’s display is, the A12 can be very laggy than other phones with stornger chipsets. Using the Moto G again as an example, it also uses a Mediatek Helio but demands much less of its processor, leading to fewer performance issues.
Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy A12?
The A12 is a great phone for its price; as long as you know what you are getting into, it is a worthwhile purchase. You can get the A12 on most major carriers, including AT&T and T-Mobile, and if you buy it at your carrier’s brick and mortar location, you can get the activation done at checkout.
If you are expecting the full Samsung experience, you will be disappointed. But for the asking price, there is no phone with as many features as the Samsung Galaxy A12.
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Sources:
The Samsung Galaxy A12 | Verizon
Samsung launches Galaxy A12 powered by MediaTek processor | TelecomLead
