The smartphone landscape is vast, with options for every budget and need. Today, we're pitting a modern budget contender, the vivo Y12a, against a classic flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S7. Can a newer, cheaper phone truly compete with a device that once defined premium mobile experiences?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S7, despite its age, still holds a significant advantage in performance, camera quality, and overall user experience. While the vivo Y12a offers affordability, the S7's superior hardware and software make it the clear winner for most users, assuming you can find one in good condition.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 - G930FD |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - G930F, G930FD, G930W8 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G930F, G930FD |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G930W8 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 21 | 2016, February 21. Released 2016, March 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 21 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 76.3 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM (G930F)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G930FD) |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 152 g (5.36 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~577 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.51 inches, 102.3 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.1 inches, 71.5 cm2 (~72.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.45 GHz Cortex A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Mongoose & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM439 Snapdragon 439 (12 nm) | Exynos 8890 Octa (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 505 | Mali-T880 MP12 |
| OS | Android 11, Funtouch 11 | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, Panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8 | 12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8 | 5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1440p |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| | - | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
5W reverse wired | 15W wired, QC2
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | - | Up to 62 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 22 h (3G) |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Glacier Blue | Black, White, Gold, Silver, Pink Gold |
| Models | V2102 | SM-G930F, SM-G930A, SM-G930P, SM-G930V, SM-G930T, SM-G930R, SM-G930F, SM-G930FD, SM-G930W8, SM-G930S, SM-G930L, SM-G930K, SM-G9300 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.40 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.41 W/kg (head) 0.62 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 80h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.376 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 71dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 2128Basemark X: 32345 |
vivo Y12a
- Affordable
- Long battery life (potentially)
- Decent for basic tasks
- Weak performance
- Low-quality display
- Mediocre camera
- Slow charging
Samsung Galaxy S7
- Excellent performance
- Superior display
- Great camera
- Wireless charging (market dependent)
- Compact size
- Older device
- Potential battery degradation
- Limited software updates
- May be difficult to find in good condition
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S7 boasts a significantly better display. Its AMOLED panel offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles, a stark contrast to the Y12a's likely lower-quality LCD. The S7's contrast ratio is notably superior, even considering the 'infinite' nominal rating. While both offer good sunlight visibility, the S7's overall display quality is a clear winner.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy S7's camera remains impressive even today. It captures detailed photos with accurate colors and excellent dynamic range. The Y12a's camera is functional but lacks the S7's image processing capabilities and overall quality. Low-light performance is also significantly better on the S7.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S7's Exynos 8890 chipset and Mongoose cores provide a substantial performance advantage over the vivo Y12a's Snapdragon 439. Apps launch faster, multitasking is smoother, and demanding games run better on the S7. The Y12a is adequate for basic tasks, but struggles with more intensive workloads.
Battery Life
While the vivo Y12a likely has a larger battery capacity, the Galaxy S7's endurance rating of 80h is remarkable, suggesting exceptional power efficiency. However, keep in mind that the S7's battery is old and may have degraded over time. The Y12a's 10W charging is slower than the S7's 15W and QC2 support.
Buying Guide
The vivo Y12a is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and long battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S7 is for those seeking a premium, compact experience with a great camera and performance, and are willing to accept an older device and potential battery degradation.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S7 still worth buying?
If you can find one in good condition and don't need the latest features, the Galaxy S7 remains a capable phone with a great camera and performance. However, be mindful of potential battery degradation and limited software updates.
❓ What are the main differences between the vivo Y12a and the Samsung Galaxy S7?
The Galaxy S7 offers significantly better performance, a superior display, and a better camera. The Y12a is more affordable and may offer longer battery life, but compromises on overall quality and features.
