Which is the better buy?

In the universe of budget smartphones, Samsung’s Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A14 5G consistently crop up as some of the most compelling options. Of the two, the Galaxy A14 5G is the newest release, having launched in January 2023. It brings several upgrades, including 5G connectivity, more recent software, and a nicer display. It also has a low MSRP — though that may not matter as much because the A12 is two years old and can be found regularly discounted. Let’s review the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs Galaxy A12 to see which is the better buy at its given price point.

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A12 are two of the most popular A-series smartphones from Samsung. The A-series in Samsung’s Galaxy lineup is reserved for more value-oriented mobile devices.

Of the two in this comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy A14 5G is the newer and more advanced device with 5G connectivity support and better hardware specifications. The Galaxy A12, on the other hand, is an older device that frequently goes on sale.

When it comes to the cameras, both perform exceedingly well — especially given they can both be had for under $200.

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G has either the JN1 sensor or the SK-Hynix hi-5022. When paired with the default Samsung camera app, you can take some high-quality images depending on how much light there is in the surrounding area. Color accuracy can be inconsistent, though, and low-light performance is lacking.

The Samsung Galaxy A12 offers solid value for the money in terms of cameras. It has a 48MP main sensor, which can capture photos with a wide dynamic range in good lighting conditions. As far as budget devices go, the A12 might have one of the best cameras you can find on an entry-level device. It doesn’t go head-to-head with more expensive flagships, but it gets the job done. It also features an ultrawide sensor, unlike the A14 5G — though it doesn’t provide as high-quality images.

Regarding battery capacity and charging technologies, the A14 5G and A12 are virtually identical. Both come with non-removable 5,000mAh batteries, which charge at a maximum rate of 15W. This isn’t very fast for that large battery capacity, so you will need to be patient. At the same time, the massive battery size paired with the efficiency of the display technology and processor means you can get up to two days’ worth of light to moderate use. Neither device has wireless charging, either.

There are several different price points for the Galaxy A14 5G and A12. That said, the best deal you can get is to purchase the cheapest version, then add a microSD card for more storage. Both the A14 5G and A12 have expandable memory up to 1TB via microSD. If you wish to buy a more expensive version of the base model, you would be paying for the extra RAM more than anything. With the MediaTek processors in both, you would see minimal performance differences, though.

Since its inception, the Samsung Galaxy A-series has represented fantastic value. For $179.99 or less, you can get a device that checks all of the baseline boxes for a smartphone with the A12. That said, for just $20 more, you get much more value from the A14 5G: the device we deem to be the better buy.

For the money, the A14 can provide a much more well-rounded and smooth user experience. Three things make the A14 5G stand out as the wiser purchase: a speedier processor (MediaTek Dimensity 700 or Exynos 1330), a faster and more pixel-dense display (90Hz, 1080 x 2408), and the more recent operating system software (Android 13). As the device was introduced recently, it falls into the category of devices that Samsung has stated will get at least two Android OS upgrades and four years of security patches. Considering the collective package of hardware upgrades and this promise, the A14 5G will simply have a longer life than the A12. This longevity, in itself, is worth that small monetary premium.