Nokia C12 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy A52: A Clash of Titans (on a Budget)

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming, especially when navigating the budget-friendly options. Today, we're pitting the ultra-affordable Nokia C12 Plus against the slightly older, but still capable, Samsung Galaxy A52. Let's see which phone offers the best value for your money.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A52 is the clear winner. While the Nokia C12 Plus offers incredible affordability, the A52's superior chipset, display, camera, and charging capabilities provide a significantly better overall user experience, justifying its higher price point.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia C12 Plus	Samsung Galaxy A52

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	LTE	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2023, April 01	2021, March 17
Status	Cancelled	Available. Released 2021, March 26

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	-	159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	-	189 g (6.67 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~267 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)
Size	6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
Chipset	Unisoc SC9863A1 (22 nm)	Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
GPU	IMG8322	Adreno 618
OS	Android 12 (Go edition)	Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	32GB 2GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	-	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	8 MP, AF	-
Video	Yes	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	5 MP	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	720p	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass

Battery
Charging	-	25W wired, 50% in 30 min
Type	Li-Ion 4000 mAh, removable	Li-Po 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Dark Cyan, Charcoal, Light Mint	Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
Models	-	SM-A525F, SM-A525F/DS, SM-A525M, SM-A525M/DS
Price	About 90 EUR	C$ 699.00 / £ 129.99 / € 169.89
SAR EU	-	0.35 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 105h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 261282 (v8) GeekBench: 5865 (v4.4), 1577 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia C12 Plus

Extremely affordable
Reliable brand
Decent battery life (estimated)
Compact size

Weak performance
Basic display
Limited camera capabilities
Slow charging
Older chipset

Samsung Galaxy A52

Good performance (Snapdragon 720G)
Bright and vibrant display
Capable camera system
Fast charging (25W)
Water and dust resistance (likely)

Older model
Price higher than C12 Plus
May lack latest software features

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A52 boasts a significantly brighter display (794 nits) with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Nokia C12 Plus likely has a more basic LCD panel, which will appear less impressive in comparison. The A52 also likely has a higher resolution.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy A52's camera system is expected to be considerably better, offering higher resolution images, improved low-light performance, and more advanced features. While the C12 Plus will likely have a functional camera, it won't compete with the A52's capabilities. Details on the C12 Plus camera are scarce, suggesting a more basic setup.

Performance

The Snapdragon 720G in the Galaxy A52 is a substantial upgrade over the Unisoc SC9863A1 in the C12 Plus. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A52. The C12 Plus will handle basic tasks adequately, but will struggle with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Galaxy A52 achieving an endurance rating of 105 hours. The Nokia C12 Plus, with its smaller size and less power-hungry components, is also expected to have good battery life, though likely not as impressive as the A52. The A52 also supports 25W fast charging, a feature absent in the C12 Plus.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Nokia C12 Plus? Those on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and a reliable brand. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A52? Users seeking a well-rounded smartphone with a good display, camera, and performance, even if it's a slightly older model.