Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) vs Samsung Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Samsung Galaxy A12 phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.3"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x2960
12.2
MP
MP
8mp
6GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
3300
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.5"
PLS
PLS
720x1600
48
MP
MP
8mp
4GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
5000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
34 Advantages 
6 Advantages | 18 Common items in both devices |
| Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera / Autofocus |
| HDR photo/video on both cameras / HDR photo on both cameras |
| 4G LTE-A / 4G LTE |
| Capacitive |
| +11 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Model | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Note8 N950U1 (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile), Samsung Baikal | Galaxy A12 SM-A125M/Dual-Sim (64GB + 4GB RAM) |
| Country or region available |  USA |    (Latin America), Brazil, Paraguay |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 9/1/2017, Announced: 8/23/2017 | 12/21/2020, Announced: 11/24/2020 |
| Depth | 8.6 millimeters (0.34 inches) | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 74.8 x 162.5 millimeters (2.94 x 6.4 in) | 75.8 x 164 millimeters (2.98 x 6.46 in) |
| Weight | 195 grams (6.83 ounces) | 205 grams (7.18 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | TFT PLS |
| Screen size | 6.3" inches | 6.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~82.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~82.1% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1440x2960 pixels (18.5:9) | 720x1600 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 522 PPI | 270 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | HDR10 Always-On Display | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| System version | Android 7.1.1 Nougat | Android 10 |
| Firmware update | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 11 |
| User Interface | Grace UX UI | One UI 3.1 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (MSM8998) (10nm) | 64bit: MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) (12nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.35GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) 4x 1.9GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.3GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) 4x 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 540 (670-710MHz) | PowerVR GE8320 MP2 (680MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 206130 (v8) Geekbench: 6750 (v4.4) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 108503 (v8) Geekbench: 1022 (v5.4) GFXBench: 5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| RAM memory | 6GB LPDDR4X | 4GB LPDDR4X |
| Internal storage | 64GB (53GB available) UFS 2.1 | 64GB (48GB available) eMMC 5.1 |
| External storage | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card (dedicated slot) |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 1024/150 Mbps | 150/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat16 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66, 252, 255) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) | LTE Cat4 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 26, 28, 66) TD-LTE (38, 40, 41) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (dual camera) 12.2 megapixels 12MP telephoto f/2.452mm1/3.6"1.0µmAF2x-optical-zoom | (quad camera) 48 megapixels 5MP ultrawide f/2.2123° 2MP macro f/2.4 2MP depth f/2.4 |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 8000x6000 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/2.0 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | 26mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Not supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo on both cameras |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | (dual front camera) 8 megapixels 2MP irisscanner | 8 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 3264x2448 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 2K UHD (2560x1440) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 25mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/3.6" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Loudspeaker | Mono sound (not stereo) 32-bit/384kHz | Mono sound (not stereo) |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, DivX, XviD | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| USB | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz) WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Hall effect Heart rate Iris scanner Proximity sensor SpO2 | Accelerometer Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted) Virtual ambient light sensor Virtual proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3300 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W Wired fast charging Quick Charge 2 | 15W Wired fast charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 22 hours | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Black, Blue, Gold, Orchid Gray • Samsung DeX (desktop experience) • Curved edge screen • Corning Gorilla Glass 5 back panel • Samsung Gear VR compatible • Samsung Pay | • Colors: Black, White, Blue, Red |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy A12 (SM-A125M/DS) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 1.1W/kg (head), 1.15W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |