Oppo K12 vs. Samsung Galaxy A54: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Champions

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Oppo K12 and Samsung Galaxy A54 represent compelling options. The K12 arrives with a focus on rapid charging and a newer Qualcomm chipset, while the A54 leverages Samsung’s established brand recognition and a reputation for solid all-around performance. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right phone.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing charging speed and potentially better long-term performance, the Oppo K12 is the winner. Its 100W charging is a game-changer, and the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 offers a more modern architecture. However, the Galaxy A54 remains a strong contender, particularly for those valuing proven battery endurance and a refined software experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo K12 Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2024, April 242023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, April 29Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions162.5 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm (6.40 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM), 1100 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.63 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A715 & 3x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7550-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 720Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 14, ColorOS 14Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama-
Single16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging100W wired, 100% in 27 min25W wired
Type5500 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeladon Marble, Dark ChromeLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsPJR110SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 250 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR-0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Oppo K12

  • Blazing-fast 100W charging
  • More modern Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset
  • Potentially better thermal performance due to 4nm process

  • Camera specs currently unknown
  • Battery life potentially lower than A54 without knowing capacity

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Excellent battery life (119h endurance)
  • Bright and vibrant display (980 nits)
  • Refined software experience and established brand

  • Slower 25W charging
  • Older Exynos 1380 chipset

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a measured peak brightness of 980 nits, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. While the Oppo K12’s display specs are currently unavailable, Samsung’s display technology typically delivers vibrant colors and good viewing angles. The A54’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a strong AMOLED panel. Without knowing the K12’s panel type, it’s difficult to assess its color accuracy or HDR capabilities, but the A54 has a clear advantage in established display quality.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Oppo K12. The Galaxy A54 likely features a more mature camera system with refined image processing. Without knowing the K12’s main sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The A54’s image processing is known for producing vibrant, social media-ready photos. We’ll need more data on the K12 to determine if it can compete in image quality, but Samsung’s experience in this segment gives it an initial edge.

Performance

The Oppo K12’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the Samsung Galaxy A54’s Exynos 1380 (5nm). The 7 Gen 3 utilizes newer Cortex-A715 cores, promising improved CPU performance and efficiency. While the Exynos 1380’s Cortex-A78 cores are capable, the 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 should translate to better thermal management and sustained performance during demanding tasks like gaming. The K12’s CPU configuration (1x2.63 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A715 & 3x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) suggests a focus on multi-core performance, potentially benefiting multitasking and content creation.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A54 achieves an impressive endurance rating of 119 hours and delivers 11:15 hours of active use, demonstrating excellent battery life. The Oppo K12, however, compensates for potentially smaller battery capacity with its groundbreaking 100W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 27 minutes. This drastically reduces downtime and is a major advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery. While the A54 prioritizes longevity, the K12 prioritizes convenience and speed.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo K12 if you need incredibly fast charging, frequently game on your phone, and want a device with a more recent processor. This phone is ideal for power users who don't want to be tethered to a charger. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prioritize all-day battery life, a consistently smooth user experience, and a well-established ecosystem. It’s the safer bet for those who value reliability and a polished software experience over raw speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 experience significant throttling under sustained load?
The Exynos 1380 is known to throttle under prolonged heavy workloads, such as extended gaming sessions. While it's capable for everyday tasks, the 5nm process isn't as efficient as the 4nm node in the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, leading to higher temperatures and reduced performance over time.
❓ Is the 100W charging on the Oppo K12 likely to degrade the battery health faster?
While faster charging can theoretically contribute to battery degradation over the long term, Oppo likely incorporates battery health management features to mitigate this. The convenience of a full charge in 27 minutes often outweighs the potential for slightly accelerated degradation, especially for users who charge their phones frequently.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Oppo's ColorOS and Samsung's One UI?
Samsung's One UI is generally considered more polished and feature-rich, with a longer track record of software updates. Oppo's ColorOS is known for its customization options and performance optimizations, but some users may find it more cluttered or aggressive in its power management.
❓ Will the Oppo K12 support 5G connectivity?
Given the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3's integrated 5G modem, the Oppo K12 is highly likely to support 5G connectivity. However, specific 5G band support will vary depending on the region.