Galaxy M12: Is Samsung unable to make cheap phones?

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is an affordable mid-range smartphone with four cameras and a 90 Hz display that costs less than 200 Euros (~$243). That sounds like a good deal at first, especially since numerous improvements have been made compared with the Galaxy M11 predecessor like in the storage capacity, for example.

The smartphone also looks good, has a decent build quality, is easy to use, and the large 5,000 mAh battery achieves quite reasonable runtimes, which allows the user to stay away from the power outlet for several days.

As with the Galaxy M11 and Galaxy A21s, however, there are also some problems: For example, the Galaxy M12's Wi-Fi is very slow, and the camera proves to be quite blurry in detail. But the video function is even worse: The autofocus sometimes takes a long time to adjust to new scenarios.

This is annoying because the Galaxy M12 could actually be a stylish and well-equipped rival compared with other manufacturers. After all, you even get NFC, which isn't a given in this price range yet.

So why does Samsung create obstacles for itself by settling for slow Internet and installing an SoC that simply can't keep up with the fastest phones under 200 Euros (~$243) in terms of performance?

The Galaxy M12 will still probably sell well, because customers know the Samsung name and automatically associate it with the Galaxy S or Note smartphones, which are usually very good. It's just a shame that Samsung seems to settle for mediocrity when it comes to budget smartphones.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M12 has turned out to be a decent smartphone in the low-end mid-range. We recommend our detailed review if you want to find out where it can do well and where it's somewhat lacking.