Huawei nova 12i vs Samsung Galaxy A55: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Champions
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and a brighter, more vibrant display, the Samsung Galaxy A55 is the stronger choice. Its Exynos 1480 chipset and 1010 nit display offer a noticeable upgrade over the nova 12i’s Snapdragon 680 and unspecified display capabilities, despite slower charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 12i | Samsung Galaxy A55 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, March 19 | 2024, March 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, April 16 | Available. Released 2024, March 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 74.7 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) | 161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm (6.34 x 3.05 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~391 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Exynos 1480 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Xclipse 530 |
| OS | EMUI 14, no Google Play Services | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 3-62% in 30 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Green, Black, White | Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon |
| Models | CTR-AL20, CTR-L81 | SM-A556V, SM-A556B, SM-A556B/DS, SM-A556E, SM-A556E/DS, SM-A5560 |
| Price | About 110 EUR | $ 324.99 / £ 251.50 / € 319.99 / ₹ 23,998 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 1.04 W/kg (body) |
Huawei nova 12i
- Faster 40W charging
- Efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Less powerful processor
- Likely lower display brightness
- Uncertain camera performance
Samsung Galaxy A55
- More powerful Exynos 1480 processor
- Brighter and more vibrant display (1010 nits)
- Longer battery life (13:27h active use)
- Slower 25W charging
- Potentially higher price
- Samsung’s One UI software can be divisive
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A55 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1010 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the nova 12i’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume it falls short of this peak brightness. The A55’s panel likely benefits from Samsung’s color science, offering more accurate and vibrant colors. The absence of LTPO technology on either device suggests both will rely on adaptive refresh rates to conserve battery, but the A55’s superior brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for the nova 12i, a direct comparison is challenging. However, Samsung typically equips its A-series phones with capable camera systems. The A55 likely features a more sophisticated image processing pipeline and potentially larger sensor sizes than the nova 12i. While both phones may include a standard set of lenses, the A55’s image stabilization (OIS) – if present – would provide a significant advantage in low-light photography and video recording. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests limited utility; focusing on the main sensor quality is more crucial.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Huawei nova 12i utilizes the 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 680, while the Samsung Galaxy A55 is powered by the 4nm Exynos 1480. The 4nm process node of the Exynos 1480 translates to improved power efficiency and thermal performance compared to the 6nm Snapdragon 680. Furthermore, the Exynos 1480’s CPU configuration – featuring four Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.75 GHz – provides a substantial performance uplift over the nova 12i’s Cortex-A73 cores at 2.4 GHz. This difference will be most noticeable in demanding applications and multitasking scenarios. The A55 is likely to handle graphically intensive games with higher frame rates and fewer stutters.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A55 delivers an impressive 13 hours and 27 minutes of active use, demonstrating excellent battery life. While the nova 12i’s battery capacity is unknown, its Snapdragon 680 chipset is known for its efficiency. However, the A55’s longer runtime suggests a combination of optimized software and a larger battery. The nova 12i compensates with faster 40W wired charging, capable of reaching 62% charge in 30 minutes, while the A55 is limited to 25W, resulting in a slower charging experience. This trade-off favors the nova 12i for users who prioritize quick top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 12i if you need a reliable daily driver for basic tasks, prioritize efficient power consumption, and value a faster charging experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A55 if you prefer a more powerful processor for multitasking and gaming, demand a brighter and more visually appealing display, and appreciate Samsung’s software ecosystem and longer-term software support.