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MagyarSamsung Galaxy A12 Exynos review: Does the new SoC make it a better smartphone?
The Korean manufacturer adds another entry-level model to its popular A series. However, the Samsung phone with the model number SM-A127F is not completely new, because it's very similar to its Galaxy A12 (SM-A125F) sibling. Although Samsung hasn't formally changed the naming scheme, we will extend the name of the "newer" Galaxy A12 with its codename "Nacho" or "Exynos" to avoid confusion. After all, the only noteworthy difference can be found in the choice of SoCs. Unlike the A12 model, which was equipped with the MediaTek Helio P35, the 2021 variant is now based on the in-house Exynos 850 chipset.
We weren't able to identify an MSRP for the Galaxy A12 Exynos, but the entry-level smartphone is available around the same street price as the 2020 model after market launch (about 170 Euros (~$192)). In return, buyers of the 6.5-inch Samsung smartphone get an HD+ display with a waterdrop notch, a 5,000 mAh battery, and a quad-camera setup with a 48 MP main camera.
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74.9 % | 12/2021 | Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1 | 205 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 | |
| 75.2 % | 02/2021 | Samsung Galaxy A12 Helio P35 MT6765, PowerVR GE8320 | 205 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 | |
| 77.1 % | 11/2021 | Motorola Moto E40 Tangula T700, Mali-G52 MP2 | 198 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 | |
| 79 % | 11/2021 | Xiaomi Redmi 10 Helio G88, Mali-G52 MP2 | 181 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 77 % | 11/2021 | Oppo A16s Helio G35, PowerVR GE8320 | 190 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.52" | 1600x720 |
Case - Samsung smartphone with notch
The front of the Nacho shows a drop-shaped notch - there are no differences to the Galaxy A12 here, just like with the rest of the design. The rather wide bezels above and below the display are perfectly acceptable for the price range. In numbers: About 82% of the front corresponds to the display.
The plastic back of the Galaxy A12 Exynos can be purchased in two color options. You can choose between a black and a white version. As expected from an entry-level smartphone, the Galaxy phone's case is neither protected against dust nor water ingress. The controls for volume adjustment as well as the on/off switch are well manufactured and have pleasing pressure points.
The build quality is at a satisfactory level, but the Galaxy smartphone doesn't feel premium. Both the back and the frame are made of plastic. We like the slightly textured surface - considering the material type - and it gives the Nacho a pleasant grip. However, haptics are somewhat marred by the seemingly hollow back. We can easily press in the plastic material by one to two millimeters in the central area above the Samsung logo.
Connectivity - Galaxy A12 Exynos with 3.5 mm audio jack
Prospective buyers of the Galaxy A12 Exynos can choose between 32 and 64 GB of eMMC storage supported by 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, respectively. After taking the operating system and the preinstalled apps into account, our review sample only has 22 GB available out of the box. This results in very limited storage in the 32 GB version. However, a microSD card of up to 1 TB can be used for expanding storage without losing the dual-SIM functionality of the Samsung smartphone.
Other connectivity features of the Galaxy A12 Exynos include Miracast, which enables the wireless transmission of display content to external monitors, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and USB OTG. External storage devices are recognized reliably in the test, but data transfer speeds with the USB Type-C port are not very high due to the use of the USB 2.0 standard.
microSD card reader
The SD card reader extracts very decent transfer rates from our Angelbird V60 reference card. The copy speed of almost 50 MB/s is at a good level, and the performance in the Cross Platform Disk Test is also respectable.
When using a microSD card, the Nacho allows the user to choose whether the storage medium should be used as an expansion or as internal storage.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Angelbird V60) | |
| Oppo A16s (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| Motorola Moto E40 (Angelbird V60) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software - Samsung smartphone with Android 11
Unlike the Galaxy A12, the Nacho comes straight with Android 11. We weren't able to get any information on when Samsung will provide an update to Android 12 during the test period. The rollout for the A12 model is planned for July 2022 at least, so a similar schedule seems realistic for the Exynos version. We also presume that the Nacho, like its sibling model, will receive two major Android updates. The latter is worthy of praise in this price segment.
As usual, Samsung combines the Android system with its in-house One UI (Core) user interface in version 3.1, which also includes the smart assistant Bixby. In terms of security updates, which should be issued quarterly, the Galaxy A12 Exynos is a bit outdated with its latest update being at the level of October, but higher-priced mid-range alternatives are usually not any more up to date, either. Video content from streaming services can be viewed in HD quality with the Nacho, since the Widevine L1 certification process has been completed.
Samsung DeX is not supported by the Galaxy A12 Exynos. Samsung's Knox security environment is integrated into the Nacho's software as well as hardware. Consequently, the inexpensive mid-range model is not equipped with an extra desktop mode through Samsung DeX.
Communication and GNSS - Galaxy A12 Exynos with slow Wi-Fi
Samsung has installed a dedicated SIM card tray for two nano SIM cards as well as a slot for memory expansion in its entry-level smartphone. Both card slots in the Galaxy smartphone can connect to the mobile Internet via the LTE standard. As is typical for a smartphone in this price range, the number of frequency bands that the Nacho uses to communicate is low. The Exynos version of the Galaxy A12 can only access 10 LTE bands. However, no frequency bands are missing for the German-speaking region.
Bluetooth version 5.0 is available for wireless communication, and a chip for near-field communication (NFC) is also on board, so Google Pay can be used with the entry-level phone. A Play Protect certification for the payment service is provided.
The Wi-Fi module only supports the IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards, which means that it only communicates using the 2.4 GHz frequency band. This results in very low average transfer rates of about 40 to 50 Mb/s in our Wi-Fi test. Furthermore, the rates measured with the Nighthawk AX12 reference router aren't very stable.
To assess the positioning accuracy in practice, we take the Galaxy smartphone on a short trip. We simultaneously log the route with a Garmin Venu 2 for comparison purposes. The GPS module uses the main satellite systems GPS (L1), GLONASS, QZSS, and Galileo (E1), as well as the satellite-based supplementary system SBAS to determine its position. About 20 meters lie between the smartphone GPS module and the smartwatch at the end of the nearly 4.5-kilometer test track, which is not a lot.
The Galaxy A12 Exynos also makes minor positioning errors, but the deviations in the detailed view of the GPS log are quite small, so there are hardly any noteworthy inaccuracies in the route.
Telephone and call quality - Samsung smartphone with VoLTE
The low-priced Samsung phone offers a VoLTE function as well as Wi-Fi calling. Video calls via Skype using the built-in front-facing camera work without problems in the test, and voices are reproduced clearly via the speaker. The call quality over the earpiece of the Galaxy A12 Exynos is fine as well. We didn't experience any issues with voice transmission.
Cameras - Galaxy A12 Exynos quad-camera setup
The 8 MP camera, which is located in the punch hole at the front, produces solid selfies with a high degree of softening in Photo mode. In portrait shots, the dynamics in the pictures take a hit, and the sky looks "burned out" even in wintry conditions.
Like the Galaxy A12, the camera module on the back of the Nacho offers a macro and a depth camera as well as an ultra wide-angle lens with a resolution of 5 MP, in addition to the 48 MP main camera. Photos taken with the Samsung GM2 are captured in pixel-binning mode by default, resulting in 12 MP images instead of 48 MP ones.
The results achieved with the main camera that comes with an aperture of f/2.0 and EIS are perfectly fine for this price range - but not much more. The autofocus function doesn't work reliably all the time, and the overall image sharpness could be a bit higher. Furthermore, details are often washed out by soft focus, and exposure isn't always optimal. There are clear drawbacks in low light, although the subjects are reproduced quite sharply. However, dynamic range isn't very good, so bright areas are often overexposed.
With a field of view of 123 degrees, a lot of image content can be captured with the ultra wide-angle lens. However, we see a lot of room for improvement in terms of quality here. The Galaxy phone has big problems with exposure, and the image sharpness, which is already low, decreases noticeably at the edges in particular.
Videos can only be recorded at up to 30 fps in FHD quality with the Nacho, although the built-in Exynos 850 theoretically supports 60 fps. Switching between the wide-angle and ultra wide-angle lenses while recording isn't possible with the Galaxy A12 Exynos.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain cameraLow lightWide angle
We analyze the color reproduction of the 48 MP lens under controlled lighting conditions using the ColorChecker Passport in comparison with the actual reference colors. The colors are checked once under full studio lighting and once at a light intensity of 1 lux. Besides the smartphone-typical brightening, the Nacho reveals particularly large deviations from the ColorChecker when it comes to gray tones. Compared to the reference colors, brown and green tones also show shortcomings in their reproduction.
The picture of our test chart, including pixel-binning, confirms the rather high degree of soft focus and a decrease in sharpness around the edges.
Accessories and warranty - Samsung smartphone with 15-watt charger
Besides the Samsung phone, a 15-watt charger, a USB cable, and a SIM pin are included in the box. A protective case is not included with the Galaxy A12 Exynos. The Korean manufacturer hasn't listed any special accessories in its online store yet, either.
Samsung offers a 24-month warranty for its Galaxy A devices.
Input devices and handling - Galaxy A12 Exynos with FaceUnlock
An active fingerprint scanner is located on the case's frame. The biometric finger recognition is quite reliable, but the sensor's speed isn't very high. Another unlock option is a simple 2D face recognition, which works through the front-facing camera. The recognition rates are compelling, but the FaceUnlock function is quite insecure.
Inputs on the 6.5-inch LC display are accurately and quickly processed, even up to the touchscreen's corners. The low-priced Samsung phone doesn't offer a high refresh rate that exceeds 60 Hz.
Display - Samsung smartphone with IPS panel
The 6.5-inch 60 Hz LC display only has a resolution of 1600x720 pixels and therefore a low pixel density of well below 300 PPI. With the Redmi 10 or Redmi Note 8 2021, the Xiaomi competition has a clear advantage in sharpness in this price segment.
The brightness of the PLS panel is even. However, shadow formations are clearly visible on the Samsung phone in the area of the front camera. In addition, the illumination at the top edge of the display is quite uneven.
The maximum brightness of the Nacho using a pure white display background is within a satisfactory range of 446 cd/m² considering it's an entry-level phone, but this isn't a lot in absolute terms. And the competition in this price range, such as the Redmi 10 with 90 Hz, has a much higher brightness than the Galaxy A12 Exynos. Samsung uses pulse width modulation (PWM) to control the display brightness despite it being an LC panel. We noticed screen flickering starting at a display brightness of 7%.
In addition, we examined the display's brightness with an evenly distributed ratio of dark to bright areas (APL50). We determined a maximum brightness of 447 cd/m².
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 446 cd/m²
Contrast: 1538:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.94 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
93.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.145
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F IPS LCD, 1600x720, 6.50 | Samsung Galaxy A12 PLS-LCD, 1600x720, 6.50 | Motorola Moto E40 IPS, 1600x720, 6.50 | Xiaomi Redmi 10 IPS, 2400x1080, 6.50 | Oppo A16s LCD, 1600x720, 6.52 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -10% | -3% | 34% | 12% | |
| Brightness middle | 446 | 458 3% | 452 1% | 542 22% | 607 36% |
| Brightness | 423 | 427 1% | 431 2% | 518 22% | 586 39% |
| Brightness Distribution | 88 | 85 -3% | 90 2% | 93 6% | 90 2% |
| Black Level * | 0.29 | 0.53 -83% | 0.46 -59% | 0.22 24% | 0.52 -79% |
| Contrast | 1538 | 864 -44% | 983 -36% | 2464 60% | 1167 -24% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.94 | 4.04 18% | 4.15 16% | 3 39% | 3.1 37% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 8.81 | 6.84 22% | 6.47 27% | 6.7 24% | 6.7 24% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 5.1 | 4.8 6% | 4 22% | 1.4 73% | 2 61% |
| Gamma | 2.145 103% | 2.293 96% | 2.157 102% | 2.27 97% | 2.17 101% |
| CCT | 7890 82% | 7535 86% | 7557 86% | 6450 101% | 6806 96% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 178.6 Hz | ≤ 7 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 178.6 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 7 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 178.6 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17924 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Compared with the IPS competition, the Galaxy A12 Exynos offers an appealing contrast. The analysis performed with the spectrophotometer and the CalMAN software doesn't reveal low average DeltaE deviations from the sRGB color space for the Samsung entry-level smartphone with values of 4.9 (colors) and 5.1 (grayscale) - but the results are acceptable considering the price level.
The default color temperature of about 7,900 K is far away from the ideal value (6,500 K) as well, and in contrast to the mid-range and high-end models from Samsung, the Nacho's OneUI interface doesn't allow for any adjustments to color reproduction. This means that the slightly bluish color tint can't be corrected.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 34 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 17 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 17 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 89 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 58 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 31 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 27 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 93 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
The viewing-angle stability of the LC panel is at a decent level. Content is displayed without color inversions even at flat viewing angles. However, the display dims noticeably even when tilted slightly.
The Samsung phone can be used outdoors without problems when the sun isn't shining. If sunlight is added, the brightness of the A12 Exynos will no longer be sufficient to be able to read the content on the screen properly.
Performance - Galaxy A12 with Exynos SoC
In contrast to the Galaxy A12 with its MediaTek MT6765 Helio P35, the Nacho is equipped with the in-house Exynos 850 SoC. The latter offers eight cores with a performance of up to 2 GHz. Not only is the processor's performance low, but the graphics power of the built-in Mali-G52 MP1 is also rather on the lower end of the performance spectrum.
Nevertheless, there's still a significant increase in our benchmark package compared with the Galaxy A12 with the MediaTek SoC, especially when it comes to graphics.
Unfortunately, this performance gain is not noticeable in everyday use. The Exynos 850 in combination with 3 GB of RAM provides a solid system performance in the entry-level segment. Application loading times are quite pronounced due to the slow eMMC storage, and brief lags are a daily occurrence, even in simple applications. When running complex apps or background processes, the One UI on the Galaxy A12 Exynos sometimes needs to take a break.
It often takes several seconds to open the keyboard, and scrolling is very choppy on websites with a lot of image content. We would strongly advise all prospective buyers of the Nacho to choose the version with 4 GB of RAM, in spite of the general performance deficits that are likely to remain.
| GFXBench 3.0 | |
| on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (14 - 29, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=184, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (15 - 16, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 363, n=184, last 2 years) | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (8.2 - 20, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=184, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (9.4 - 9.4, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 279, n=184, last 2 years) | |
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (119981 - 133391, n=4) | |
| AImark - Score v2.x (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (4354 - 4487, n=4) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1043 - 139804, n=50, last 2 years) | |
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=172, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (18.4 - 23, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 (Chrome 88) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (27.1 - 32.5, n=4) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 (Chrome 88) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=157, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (15 - 16.7, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 (Chrome 88) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (39 - 304, n=122, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (35 - 39, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 (Chrome 88) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=210, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (4875 - 5904, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 (Chrome 88) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 (Chrome 88) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos 850 (8327 - 9397, n=6) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=172, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Motorola Moto E40 | Xiaomi Redmi 10 | Oppo A16s | Average 64 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 35% | 9% | 69% | 14% | 18% | 621% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 302.3 | 269.7 -11% | 265 -12% | 321.3 6% | 289.2 -4% | 273 ? -10% | 1505 ? 398% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 74.5 | 211.6 184% | 156.3 110% | 178 139% | 168.4 126% | 176.8 ? 137% | 1112 ? 1393% |
| Random Read 4KB | 77.8 | 65.4 -16% | 56 -28% | 100.7 29% | 45.32 -42% | 59.1 ? -24% | 247 ? 217% |
| Random Write 4KB | 47.21 | 39.1 -17% | 30.7 -35% | 95.8 103% | 35.23 -25% | 31.7 ? -33% | 271 ? 474% |
Games - Samsung smartphone with 50 fps
The relatively weak Mali-G52 MP1, which only supports one cluster, still allows running demanding games from the Android Play Store - at least in the lowest graphics settings. Using the app from GameBench, we take a closer look at a few games to better assess the 3D performance of the Galaxy A12 Exynos.
Modern games, such as PUBG Mobile, are barely playable at medium details (HD). The shooter is reproduced at an average of 28 fps, but strong frame rate drops (up to 18 fps) spoil the gaming experience. The game runs much better in the lowest graphics mode at almost 40 fps.
Games with lower graphics power requirements run better as well. The arena shooter Armajet reaches a maximum of 50 fps in our measurements. However, reproduction fluctuates considerably, so that an average of about 40 fps is achieved.
Emissions - The A12 Exynos remains constant
Temperature
According to our measurements, the maximum temperature on the case's back is just under 39°C (~102 °F). This is noticeable, but absolutely harmless in everyday use. We use the GFXBench and 3DMark tests to see whether the system throttles when it is under load for a long time, and if so, to what extent.
The Galaxy A12 Exynos remains very constant in both benchmarks. The Samsung phone completes the 3DMark Wild Life stress tests with almost 100% of its maximum performance.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 37.5 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.7 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.8 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Xiaomi Redmi 10 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
Speaker
The built-in mono speaker in the Galaxy A12 Exynos is sufficiently loud at over 86 dB. Neither highs nor mids are reproduced linearly, but this price range doesn't offer much better sound anyway. Nevertheless, there are also competitors with stereo speakers in the entry-level segment like the Redmi 10, for example, which sounds much better than the mono sound in the Galaxy phone.
The Nacho's 3.5 mm audio jack, on the other hand, makes a good impression. Sound output is clean and loud. SBC, AAC, aptX, and LDAC are available for those who want to play music wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.0. However, some codecs, such as aptX HD or aptX Adaptive, are missing here.
Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 28.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 56% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 37% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 73% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 21% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Xiaomi Redmi 10 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 33% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 24% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 68% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 48% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life - Galaxy A12 Exynos with 5,000 mAh
Energy consumption
The Galaxy smartphone has a 5,000 mAh battery, which can be fully recharged in about 2 hours with the included 15-watt power adapter. The Nacho's power consumption is largely normal. However, idle consumption could still use some optimization.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.1 Watt |
| Idle |  1.4 / 1.9 / 2.1 Watt |
| Load |
3.8 / 5.6 Watt |
    
| |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi 10 5000 mAh | Oppo A16s 5000 mAh | Average Samsung Exynos 850 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -4% | 10% | 27% | 2% | -2% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1.4 | 1.1 21% | 0.53 62% | 0.44 69% | 1.2 ? 14% | 0.897 ? 36% |
| Idle Average * | 1.9 | 1.6 16% | 2.01 -6% | 1.67 12% | 1.733 ? 9% | 1.452 ? 24% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.1 | 2.6 -24% | 2.02 4% | 1.68 20% | 2.28 ? -9% | 1.629 ? 22% |
| Load Average * | 3.8 | 4.5 -18% | 4.11 -8% | 2.91 23% | 3.83 ? -1% | 5.55 ? -46% |
| Load Maximum * | 5.6 | 6.4 -14% | 5.76 -3% | 4.95 12% | 5.73 ? -2% | 8.31 ? -48% |
* ... smaller is better
Energy consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
The solid energy management is also reflected in the battery runtimes. The Galaxy A12 Exynos neither stands out positively nor negatively in the entry-level category here. Our battery tests with an adjusted panel brightness of 150 cd/m² reveal good runtimes of 18 hours when playing video content continuously with Wi-Fi disabled, and 14:30 hours when browsing the web over Wi-Fi. However, the Galaxy A12 performs much better when it comes the our Wi-Fi test in particular.
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto E40 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi 10 5000 mAh | Oppo A16s 5000 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 21% | 13% | -5% | 20% | |
| Reader / Idle | 2094 | 3743 79% | 2356 13% | ||
| H.264 | 1078 | 887 -18% | 1002 -7% | ||
| WiFi v1.3 | 879 | 1288 47% | 995 13% | 858 -2% | 1053 20% |
| Load | 455 | 336 -26% | 341 -25% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos
Is the Galaxy A12 Exynos the better Galaxy A12? Probably not. Although the in-house Exynos 850 is more powerful than the MT6765 Helio P35 in its sibling model, the SoC upgrade is limited. However, the extra graphics performance could definitely be worthwhile for price-conscious gamers.
Compared with the "normal" Galaxy A12, however, the Nacho reveals shorter battery runtimes and a slightly inferior display. Shortcomings, such as the slow Wi-Fi or the poor performance, are common to both Galaxy smartphones.
Samsung offers a variety of low-priced Galaxy A phones. Among these, the Galaxy A12 Exynos isn't really worth recommending.
We can't identify any significant progress between the Galaxy A12 Exynos and the Galaxy A12. To some extent, the opposite is rather the case, because we remember the A12 to have a higher-quality feel.
In relation to the Redmi 10, both Galaxy phones have a hard time scoring points with a good price-performance ratio. However, Samsung's internal competition might also make it difficult for potential Galaxy fans to choose the A12 Exynos. For instance, Samsung offers a much better AMOLED panel and fewer shortcomings in the 4G version of the Galaxy A22 for about the same price as the Nacho.
Price and availability
At the time of writing, you can find the Galaxy A12 Nacho with 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM on Amazon for around $190.
Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F
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12/18/2021 v7
Marcus Herbrich
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