Home Phone comparison Samsung Galaxy M12 and Samsung Galaxy S21 - Which is better?

Samsung Galaxy M12 vs Samsung Galaxy S21

39 out 100
Samsung Galaxy M12
VS
65 out 100
Samsung Galaxy S21
Samsung Galaxy M12
Samsung Galaxy S21

Compared 2 smartphones : Samsung Galaxy M12 Manufactured in April, 2021, with display 6.5 with chipsetSamsung Exynos 850, vs Samsung Galaxy S21, Manufactured in February, 2021 with chipsetSamsung Exynos 2100. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Samsung Galaxy M12
  • Larger display: 6.5in
  • Higher battery capacity: 5000mAh vs 4000mAh
Reasons to choose Samsung Galaxy S21
  • Higher pixel density: 421ppi
  • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Lighter design: 169g vs 214g
  • Supports newer USB: 3.2 vs 2
  • Built-in eSIM

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Memory Options - 3/32 GB
- 4/32 GB
- 4/64 GB
- 4/128 GB		 - 8/128 GB
- 8/256 GB

Review

Key Specs Samsung Galaxy M12 and Samsung Galaxy S21
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Camera
Main & front camera tests
Performance
App & system performance
Games
3D gaming performance
Battery
Battery life, charging speed & type
Connectivity
Connectivity features
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Customize your score
Function
Importance (Weight)
Display:
Camera:
Performance:
Gaming:
Battery:
Connectivity:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison
Smartphones:
Samsung Galaxy M12
vs
Samsung Galaxy S21

Display

Display quality comparison
Type PLS TFT Dynamic AMOLED
Size 6.5 in 6.2 in
Resolution 720x1600 pixels 1080x2400 pixels
Aspect ratio 20:9 20:9
Pixel density 270 ppi 421 ppi
Refresh rate 90 Hz 120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No Yes (48-120 Hz)
Max brightness 450 nits 800 nits
HDR support No Yes HDR10+
Screen-to-body ratio 82 % 85.9 %
Features n/a - DCI-P3
- Always-On Display
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Samsung Galaxy M12
424 nits
Samsung Galaxy S21
854 nits
sRGB gamut93.3 %99.5 %
PWM (Flicker)n/a240 Hz
Response time39 ms5 ms
Contrast926:1∞ Infinite
Sources: NotebookCheck [Samsung Galaxy M12], [Samsung Galaxy S21]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 164 mm (6.46 in) 151.7 mm (5.97 in)
Width 75.9 mm (2.99 in) 71.2 mm (2.8 in)
Thickness 9.7 mm (0.38 in) 7.9 mm (0.31 in)
Weight 214 g (7.55 oz) 169 g (5.96 oz)
Water resistance No IP68
Back panel Plastic Plastic
Frame Plastic Metal
Colors - Black
- Blue
- Green		 - White
- Gray
- Pink
- Purple
Fingerprint sensor Yes In-Button Yes In-Display
Screen-to-body ratio
Samsung Galaxy M12
82 %
Samsung Galaxy S21
85.9 %

Performance

Testing Samsung Galaxy M12 and Samsung Galaxy S21 In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Samsung Exynos 850 Samsung Exynos 2100
Max Frequency 2000 MHz 2900 MHz
CPU Cores 8 (8) 8 (1 + 3 + 4)
Architecture 8/2 (Cortex-A55) - 4/2.2 (Cortex-A55)
- 3/2.81 (Cortex-A78)
- 1/2.91 (Cortex-X1)
Process Samsung Samsung
Transistor Size 8 nm 5 nm
Neural Processor No Yes
Graphics Mali-G52 MP1 Mali-G78 MP14
GPU Cores 24 896
GPU Frequency 680 MHz 854 MHz
FLOPS 40.8 GFLOPS 1530.4 GFLOPS
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Samsung Galaxy M12
481
Samsung Galaxy S21
1331
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Samsung Galaxy M12
1522
Samsung Galaxy S21
3593
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)4811331
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)15223593
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Samsung Galaxy M12
185374
Samsung Galaxy S21
903780
CPU64990253391
GPU26753281676
Memory54180158352
UX39451210361
NanoReview Score185374903780
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Samsung Galaxy M12
429
Samsung Galaxy S21
5715
Max Surface Temp.41.7 °C38.9 °C
Stability98 %66 %
Graphics Test2 fps34 fps
Graphics Score4295715
Sources: 3DMark [Samsung Galaxy M12], [Samsung Galaxy S21]
PCMark 3.0
PCMark 3.0
Samsung Galaxy M12
5926
Samsung Galaxy S21
13123
Writing score564816101
Web score585311909
Video editing57417097
Data manipulation473410153
NanoReview Score592613123

Memory

RAM
RAM Size - 3 GB
- 4 GB		 8 GB
Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR5
Memory Frequency 1866 MHz 2750 MHz
Channels 2 2
Storage
Storage Capacity- 32 GB
- 64 GB
- 128 GB		- 128 GB
- 256 GB
Storage TypeeMMC 5.1UFS 3.1
Memory CardMicroSDNo

Software

OS Android 11 (Upgradeable to Android 13) Android 11 (Upgradeable to Android 14)
OS Size 14 GB 28.1 GB
UI Skin One UI Core 5.0 One UI 6.0

Battery

Volume 5000 mAh 4000 mAh
Max Charging Power 15 W 25 W
Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
Removable No No
Wireless Charging No Yes (15 W)
Reverse Charging No Yes (Wireless)
Fast Charging Yes (40% in 60 min) Yes (55% in 50 min)
Full Charge Time 2:30 h 1:35 h
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Samsung Galaxy M12
22:27
Samsung Galaxy S21
17:54
Web Browsing08:52 h06:01 h
Video Playback12:52 h11:06 h
Games05:12 h04:21 h
Standby Mode113 h95 h

Main camera

Matrix 48 MP 12 MP
Photo resolution 8000x6000 pixels 4000x3000 pixels
Zoom Digital Optical, 1.1x
Flash LED Dual LED
Stabilization Digital Optical
8K Recording No Up to 24FPS
4K Recording No Yes (Up to 60 fps)
1080p Recording Yes (Up to 30 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
Slow Motion No 960 fps (720p)
Wide-angle lens 123 ° 120 °
Lenses count Standard: 48 MP
Ultra-wide: 5 MP
Macro: 2 MP
Depth: 2 MP		 Standard: 12 MP
Telephoto: 64 MP
Ultra-wide: 12 MP
Features - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode		 - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
- RAW support
Main lens
Matrix48 MP12 MP
Aperturef/2.0f/1.8
Focal lengthn/a26 mm
SensorSamsung S5KGM2Sony IMX555
Sensor size1/21/1.76
Pixel size0.8 μm1.8 μm
AutofocusPhase autofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationDigitalOptical
Telephoto
Matrixn/a64 MP
Aperturen/af/2.0
Focal lengthn/a28 mm
Sensorn/aSamsung Bright S5KGW2
Sensor sizen/a1/1.72
Pixel sizen/a0.8 μm
Stabilizationn/aOptical
Ultra-wide lens
Matrix5 MP12 MP
Aperturef/2.2f/2.2
Focal lengthn/a13 mm
Sensorn/aSony IMX563
Sensor size1/5.01/2.55
Pixel size1.12 μm1.4 μm
StabilizationDigitalDigital
Main camera DxOMark results
Photo quality
Samsung Galaxy M12
n/a
Samsung Galaxy S21
129
Video quality
Samsung Galaxy M12
n/a
Samsung Galaxy S21
137
Overall camera score
Samsung Galaxy M12
n/a
Samsung Galaxy S21
133
Bokehn/a70
Previewn/a72
Zoomn/a126
Sources: DxOMark [Samsung Galaxy S21]

Front camera

Matrix 8 MP 10 MP
Photo resolution 3264x2448 pixels 3872x2592 pixels
Aperture f/2.0 f/2.2
Focal length n/a 26 mm
Sensor CMOS Sony IMX374
Sensor size n/a 1/3.24
Pixel size n/a 1.22 μm
Autofocus No Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
Stabilization No Digital
Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps 2160p (4K) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor No No

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 a/b/g/n) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi features - Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot		 - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- 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 LE, A2DP
USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
USB version 2 3.2
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG		 - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- USB-Host mode
- OTG
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS
- Beidou
- Galileo		 - GPS
- GLONASS
- Beidou
- Galileo
NFC* Yes Yes
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM Count*22
SIM TypeNanoNano
SIM ModeDual SIM StandbyDual SIM Standby
eSIM Support *NoYes
Hybrid SlotNoNo
2G BandsGSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
3G BandsUMTS B1 (2100), B2 (1900), B4(AWS), B5(850), B8 (900)WCDMA Band 1, 2, 4, 5, 8
LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B20/B26/B28/B66)LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B32/B38/B39/B40/B41/B66)
LTE category724
5G SupportNoYes

Sound

Speakers Mono Stereo
3.5 mm Jack Yes No
FM Radio Yes No
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
Speaker Test
Max Volume
Samsung Galaxy M12
77.6 dB
Samsung Galaxy S21
87 dB

Other

Class Budget Flagship
Announced November, 2020 yr January, 2021 yr
Release Date April, 2021 yr February, 2021 yr
Launch Price ($) 180 800
Sensors - Proximity Sensor
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Fingerprint sensor		 - Hall Sensor
- Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint sensor
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

After analyzing the data, we consider Samsung Galaxy S21 the clear winner in this comparison.

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