Choosing a budget-friendly Samsung phone can be tricky. The Galaxy A12 Nacho and A23 5G are both solid contenders, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will help you determine which device offers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G emerges as the clear winner, offering a faster chipset, 5G connectivity, and faster charging. While the A12 Nacho remains a budget option, the A23 5G's improvements in performance and features justify its slightly higher price.
| 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 |
| | - | 2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 09 | 2022, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 09 | Available. Released 2022, September 02 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | PLS LCD | PLS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 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 | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS
5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2 | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA
8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International |
| Video | 1080p@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 |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | SM-A127F/DSN, SM-A127F/DS, SM-A127F, SM-A127M, SM-A127U | SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL |
| Price | About 130 EUR | $ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000 |
| SAR | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.67 W/kg (head) 1.38 W/kg (body) | 1.49 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 138h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.9 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 318821 (v9)
GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho
- Very affordable
- Decent battery life
- Large display
- Outdated chipset
- Slow charging
- Lower display brightness
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
- Faster performance (Snapdragon 695 5G)
- 5G connectivity
- Brighter and better display
- Faster charging
- Slightly more expensive
- Design is similar to A12
Display Comparison
The A23 5G boasts a brighter display (508 nits vs. A12's estimated 400-450 nits) and a slightly improved contrast ratio, resulting in more vibrant colors and better visibility in sunlight. Both offer a similar resolution and panel type (likely LCD), but the A23 5G's enhancements are noticeable.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer decent camera systems, the A23 5G generally delivers better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The A23 5G likely has improved image processing and potentially a higher resolution main sensor. Both offer standard camera features like portrait mode and panorama.
Performance
The Snapdragon 695 5G in the A23 5G provides a significant performance boost over the Exynos 850 in the A12 Nacho. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A23 5G. The A12 is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones share an impressive endurance rating of 138 hours, indicating excellent battery life. However, the A23 5G's faster 25W charging means it will recharge quicker than the A12 Nacho's 15W charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho? Those on a very tight budget who prioritize affordability above all else. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G? Users seeking a smoother experience, 5G connectivity, and a better camera, willing to spend a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the A23 5G worth the extra money compared to the A12 Nacho?
Yes, the A23 5G offers significant improvements in performance, display quality, and charging speed, making it a worthwhile upgrade if your budget allows.
❓ Does the A23 5G support 5G in all regions?
5G support depends on your carrier and region. Check with your carrier to ensure compatibility.
