Samsung has renewed the Galaxy A family with the Galaxy A12. The mid-range phone is the successor to the Galaxy A11, launched in June 2020, and with the right to several changes in the technical sheet, such as increased battery capacity and an extra sensor in the photographic set. Despite the changes in the design of the phones, specifications such as screen resolution are maintained.
Galaxy A11 vs Galaxy A12
| Specifications | Galaxy A11 | Galaxy A12 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | June 2020 | February 2021 |
| Current price | $179 | $189.99 |
| Screen | 6.4 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Screen resolution | HD+ (1560 x 720 pixels) | HD+ (1600 x 720) |
| Processor | octa-core up to 1.8 GHz | octa-core up to 2.3 GHz |
| RAM | 2 or 3GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 32 or 64 GB | 64GB |
| Memory card | MicroSD up to 512 GB | MicroSD up to 1 TB |
| Rear Camera | Triple Camera: 13, 5 and 2MP | Quadruple Camera: 48, 5, 2 and 2MP |
| Front Camera | 8MP | 8MP |
| Operating system | Android 10 | Android 10 |
| Battery | 4,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Dimensions and weight | 161.4 x 76.3 x 8mm; 177g | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9mm; 205g |
| Colors | Black, White, Blue, and Red | Black, White, Blue, and Red |
Screen and Design
The screen size does not change significantly, as it goes from 6.4 inches in the Galaxy A11 to 6.5 inches in the successor. The resolution remains HD+, as does the panel type, which is LCD on both devices. Another aspect common to both phones is the colors, being black, white, blue, and red.
The difference between the phones is noticeable on the screen, as the Galaxy A11 brings a display without cutouts, with only a hole in the screen to house the lens for selfies, while the Galaxy A12 employs the drop-shaped notch to accommodate the front camera. Now with four lenses in the photographic arrangement, the Galaxy A12 leaves the vertical arrangement of the cameras, as it was in the A11, to integrate the sensors in a square in the corner of the device.
Finally, it is worth noting that the fingerprint scanner, which used to be on the back of the phone in the Galaxy A11 generation, now goes to the side of the phone, along with the other buttons.
Cameras
The cameras also have changed, both in the number of lenses and in the number of megapixels. In the Galaxy A11, you can find three cameras, a 13MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide camera, and a depth camera with 2MP. As for the front camera, the A11 reserves 8MP for selfies.
The successor of the A11 arrives with a quad-camera. The setup consists of a 48MP main sensor, followed by a 5MP ultra-wide and macro and depth cameras, both with 2MP. Despite the changes to the rear photographic arrangement, the front camera remains at 8MP.
Performance and Storage
The phones differ in terms of processor, as the Galaxy A11 uses a Qualcomm chipset, the Snapdragon 450, while the Galaxy A12 brings one from MediaTek, the Helio P35. The former has eight cores and speeds up to 1.8GHz, while the latter, also octa-core, has speeds up to 2.3GHz. In conjunction with the processors, the older handset brings 2 or 3GB RAM, while the newer one features only one option, the 4GB one.
As for storage, the Galaxy A11 features 32GB and 64GB versions, while the Galaxy A12 brings only the option with 64GB. Both feature the possibility to expand the memory via a microSD card, but the A11 can increase it by up to 512GB, while the A12 can guarantee up to 1TB more in terms of storage.
Battery
As with the camera, the Galaxy A12 features specifications that stand out when it comes to battery. The Galaxy A11 offers 4,000mAh capacity, while the A12 has 5,000mAh to power the phone. This means the latest smartphone can offer 21 hours of uninterrupted video playback and 109 hours of audio. Samsung has not released estimates for the 2020 handset but promises that it will spend “a day” away from the power outlet.
Both models feature 15W fast charging but do not feature wireless charging technology. The accompanying charger has a USB-C input.
System Version
As far as the system is concerned, it can be said that both leave the factory with Android 10 installed. In this sense, both are on the list of phones that should receive the update to Android 11, the latest from Google.
Additional Features
The Galaxy A11 brings facial recognition to unlock the screen as an option in addition to the fingerprint reader. The A12, meanwhile, includes 3D audio technology, provided by Dolby Atmos. In terms of connectivity, the Bluetooth version on the Galaxy A12 is newer than that of the Galaxy A11, as the former’s is 5.0, while the latter’s is 4.2.
Another aspect of the datasheets is the connection used on the A11 and the A12, which is LTE. Finally, it is worth noting that both phones do not have protection against water and dust and are missing NFC.
Price
The Galaxy A11 is the version launched last year, in June 2020. The phone is available on Amazon and can be found for a price starting at $179.
The Galaxy A12 recently arrived this year and can be found on Amazon for a price starting at $189.99.
- Buy Galaxy A11
- Buy Galaxy A12
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