Samsung Galaxy A04s vs Xiaomi Redmi 12C: The Ultimate Budget Battle

Looking for a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank? The Samsung Galaxy A04s and Xiaomi Redmi 12C are popular contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you make the right choice.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A04s edges out the Redmi 12C thanks to its significantly better battery life and brighter display. While the Redmi 12C offers a slightly more powerful CPU, the A04s' overall package provides a more polished and user-friendly experience for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy A04s	Xiaomi Redmi 12C

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	-	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2022, August 31	2022, December 31
Status	Available. Released 2022, September 22	Available. Released 2023, January 01

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	-
Dimensions	164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.36 in)	168.8 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.65 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	195 g (6.88 oz)	192 g (6.77 oz)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)	720 x 1650 pixels (~268 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~80.7% screen-to-body ratio)	6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	PLS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (peak)	IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Exynos 850 (8 nm)	Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm)
GPU	Mali-G52	Mali-G52 MC2
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1	Android 12, MIUI 13

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM	32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Dual	-	50 MP, (wide), PDAF 0.08 MP (depth)
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, HDR
Single	-	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", PDAF Auxiliary lens
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)	5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video	720p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	FM radio
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer
	Virtual Proximity Sensing	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	15W wired	10W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Green, White, Copper	Graphite Gray, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Lavender Purple
Models	SM-A047F, SM-A047F/DS, SM-A047F/DSN, SM-A047M	22120RN86G, 22120RN86I, 22126RN91Y, 2212ARNC4L
Price	€ 133.89	£ 132.99 / € 107.41
SAR	-	1.08 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.52 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body)	0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 114h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1614:1	-
Loudspeaker	-30.3 LUFS (Below average)	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 145123(v9) GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1) GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Samsung Galaxy A04s

Exceptional battery life
Brighter and more vibrant display
Slightly better overall performance
15W charging

Slightly less powerful CPU than Redmi 12C
Camera performance may not be top-tier

Xiaomi Redmi 12C

Slightly more powerful CPU
Generally more affordable
Decent performance for basic tasks

Weaker battery life
Less bright display
Slower 10W charging

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A04s boasts a contrast ratio of 1614:1 and a measured brightness of 389 nits, offering a noticeably more vibrant and visible display, especially outdoors. The Redmi 12C's display, while adequate, lacks the same level of brightness and contrast, potentially making it harder to see in direct sunlight. Both phones likely feature similar resolutions (likely 720 x 1600 pixels) and panel types (likely IPS LCD).

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is difficult to definitively assess without detailed testing. Both phones offer basic camera setups, likely including a primary sensor and potentially an ultrawide lens. The A04s likely has a slightly better image processing pipeline, potentially resulting in more consistent results. Both phones offer video recording capabilities, likely up to 1080p resolution.

Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi 12C's Mediatek Helio G85 chipset features a dual-core Cortex-A75 setup, which generally provides a slight edge in raw processing power compared to the Exynos 850's all-Cortex-A55 configuration in the A04s. However, in real-world usage, the difference is likely minimal for everyday tasks. The A04s' 8nm process may offer slightly better power efficiency.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A04s absolutely dominates in this category. Its endurance rating of 114 hours is exceptional, suggesting significantly longer battery life than the Redmi 12C. The Redmi 12C's 10W charging is also slower than the A04s' 15W wired charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A04s? Users prioritizing long battery life, a brighter screen for outdoor visibility, and a generally smoother experience. Who should buy the Xiaomi Redmi 12C? Those seeking a slightly more powerful processor for basic gaming and multitasking, and who are particularly budget-conscious.