Samsung Galaxy A12 vs A54: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Choosing a new Samsung phone can be overwhelming. The Galaxy A12 offered great value at its release, while the A54 represents a more modern and premium experience. This comparison will help you decide which device best suits your needs and budget.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner, offering significantly improved performance, a superior display, a better camera, and longer battery life. While the A12 remains a budget-friendly option, the A54's advancements make it a worthwhile upgrade for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy A12 (India)	Samsung Galaxy A54

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	-	1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2021, August 12	2023, March 15
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 12	Available. Released 2023, March 24

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions	164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)	158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	205 g (7.23 oz)	202 g (7.13 oz)
	-	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	PLS LCD	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Exynos 850 (8 nm)	Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPU	Mali-G52	Mali-G68 MP5
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1	Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), AF 5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
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)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Single	8 MP, f/2.2	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio, RDS, recording	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
	Virtual proximity sensing	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	15W wired	25W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue, White	Lime, Graphite, Violet, White
Models	SM-A127F, SM-A127F/DS	SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
Price	About 160 EUR	€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR	0.79 W/kg (head)	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)

Samsung Galaxy A12 (India)

Affordable
Decent battery life
Large display

Outdated chipset
Lower display quality
Slower charging
Basic camera

Samsung Galaxy A54

Excellent display
Powerful processor
Superior camera
Long battery life
Faster charging
Modern design

Higher price
No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The A54 boasts a vastly superior display. Its 980 nits peak brightness ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, a significant improvement over the A12. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks and richer colors. The A12's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and brightness of the A54.

Camera Comparison

The A54's camera system is a major step up. While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the A54's newer sensor and image processing algorithms deliver significantly better image quality, especially in low light. Expect sharper details, more accurate colors, and improved dynamic range.

Performance

The Exynos 1380 in the A54 is a substantial upgrade over the A12's Exynos 850. The A54's Cortex-A78 cores provide a noticeable performance boost for demanding tasks and gaming. The A12 is sufficient for basic usage, but struggles with more intensive applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the A54 demonstrating exceptional endurance (119h endurance rating). The A54's efficient chipset and optimized software contribute to its longevity. The A12's battery is respectable, but doesn't match the A54's stamina.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A12 (India)? Those on a very tight budget who prioritize affordability over premium features. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A54? Users seeking a modern smartphone with a great display, capable camera, solid performance, and excellent battery life, even if it means spending a bit more.