vivo S12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: A Deep Dive Comparison

The vivo S12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 5G represent different approaches to the premium smartphone market. The S12 Pro, powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 1200, aims for a balance of features and affordability. The Galaxy S22 5G, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200 (depending on region), targets flagship performance in a compact form factor. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a more efficient chipset, the vivo S12 Pro offers compelling value. While the Galaxy S22 5G boasts a brighter display and potentially faster peak performance (Snapdragon variant), its battery life and thermal management are areas of concern, especially with the Exynos version.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo S12 Pro Samsung Galaxy S22 5G
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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2021, December 222022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 30Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.5 x 73.3 x 7.4 mm (6.28 x 2.89 x 0.29 in)146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight171 g (6.03 oz)167 g / 168 g (mmWave) (5.89 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 103.9 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUMali-G77 MC9Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 11, OriginOS OceanAndroid 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.3, 105˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single-10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.3, 105˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDRHDR
Single-10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging44W wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type4300 mAhLi-Ion 3700 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, YellowPhantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, Cream, Bora Purple
ModelsV2163ASM-S901B, SM-S901B/DS, SM-S901U, SM-S901U1, SM-S901W, SM-S901N, SM-S9010, SM-S901E, SM-S901E/DS
PriceAbout 430 EUR$ 172.63 / C$ 304.00 / £ 186.11 / € 198.01
SAR-1.03 W/kg (head)     1.15 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.21 W/kg (head)     1.59 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 85h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 745496 (v8), 881428 (v9) GeekBench: 3682 (v5.1) GFXBench: 69fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo S12 Pro

  • Faster 44W charging
  • More efficient Dimensity 1200 chipset
  • Potentially better sustained performance

  • Likely lower peak display brightness
  • Camera specs are less detailed

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G

  • Brighter display (982 nits)
  • Compact form factor
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Potential thermal throttling (Snapdragon/Exynos)
  • Slower 25W charging
  • Exynos variant may have lower performance

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G clearly leads in display technology, achieving a measured peak brightness of 982 nits. This is a substantial advantage for outdoor use. While the S12 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s unlikely to match the S22’s brightness. The S22’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a high-quality AMOLED panel. The S22’s smaller 6.1-inch size also contributes to a higher pixel density, resulting in a sharper image, a key benefit for media consumption. The S12 Pro likely prioritizes size over peak brightness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited. The Galaxy S22 5G’s camera is described as ‘Photo / Video’ without specifics, but Samsung’s image processing is known for vibrant colors and strong detail. The S12 Pro’s camera specs are also vague. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the S12 Pro is likely a marketing feature with limited real-world benefit. The S22’s OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is crucial for stable video recording and low-light photography, a feature likely present on the S12 Pro as well, but its effectiveness remains unknown.

Performance

The chipset is where the core difference lies. The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G utilizes either the Exynos 2200 (Europe) or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (ROW), both built on a 4nm process. This offers a theoretical performance advantage over the vivo S12 Pro’s 6nm Dimensity 1200. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known for thermal throttling under sustained load. The Dimensity 1200, while not as powerful on paper, is generally more efficient and maintains performance for longer periods. The S22’s CPU configuration, with the Cortex-X2 prime core, aims for peak performance, while the S12 Pro’s utilizes Cortex-A78 cores, prioritizing efficiency. The S22’s LPDDR5 RAM is standard for flagships, but the S12 Pro’s RAM speed is unspecified.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G has an endurance rating of 85 hours, indicating reasonable battery life, but not exceptional. Its 25W wired charging is slower than the vivo S12 Pro’s 44W charging, meaning the S12 Pro will reach 100% faster. The S22 also supports 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the S12 Pro. While the S22’s battery capacity is unspecified, the lower charging wattage suggests a smaller battery. The S12 Pro’s faster charging is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo S12 Pro if you need a phone with reliable all-day battery life, fast 44W charging, and a smooth user experience for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G if you prefer a more compact design, a significantly brighter display for outdoor visibility, and are willing to accept potentially shorter battery life and the risk of thermal throttling, particularly if you receive the Exynos variant.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 chip in the Galaxy S22 5G overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 variant of the Galaxy S22 5G is known to be more prone to thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 version. This means that during prolonged gaming or demanding tasks, the chip may reduce its clock speed to prevent overheating, resulting in reduced performance. The vivo S12 Pro’s Dimensity 1200 is generally more efficient and less susceptible to throttling.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge the vivo S12 Pro with its 44W charger?
With its 44W wired charging, the vivo S12 Pro can be fully charged from 0% to 100% in approximately 50-60 minutes, depending on battery health and usage. This is significantly faster than the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G’s 25W charging, which typically takes over 90 minutes.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the vivo S12 Pro actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on smartphones offer limited image quality. Due to the small sensor size, images often lack detail and can appear noisy, especially in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. It's a marketing feature more than a genuinely useful photographic tool.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G maintain a stable 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G (Snapdragon variant) can generally maintain 60fps in PUBG Mobile at high graphics settings. However, the Exynos variant may experience frame drops and thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, potentially requiring lower graphics settings for a smoother experience.