The Samsung Galaxy A12 is a favourite amongst young people in Nigeria, as it is a low-budget phone and possesses all the sought-after qualities in a smartphone. For as low as N87,000 to N150,000, a Nigerian can buy a brand-new or fairly used Samsung A12 in Lagos, Abuja, Onitsha, Enugu, and Port Harcourt.
This offers better value for money than an iPhone of the same price range, which would likely be an older iPhone model or a Nigerian used iPhone. Another selling point of Android phones like the Samsung A12 is the open nature and interoperability of the Android system compared to the closed system of iOS.
Android phones are more interoperable with various apps and tools than the iOS system, which restricts functionality to its ecosystem. The Samsung A12 is one of the cheapest Samsung phones, with very basic features that make up for its price. This article explores the Samsung A12 in depth, highlighting its unique features and performance metrics, informing users whether it is still worth buying in 2026.
Samsung Galaxy A12
The Samsung Galaxy A12 is an entry-level smartphone designed to offer users the Samsung experience at a budget price point. This review from Infoeast highlights its impressive battery life and solid build, while noting some performance trade-offs common in this price bracket.
Design and Display
- Body Type: The phone features a solid plastic body with a textured diagonal stripe pattern on the back for extra grip. Despite being plastic, the phone’s build feels solid and doesn’t look fragile like an egg. The textured diagonal stripe adds to its grip, making it easy to handle.
- Display: It has a 6.5-inch PLS LCD with a 720p resolution. Because of the large size and lower resolution, the pixel density is relatively low (264 ppi), which can lead to some graininess in text and content.
- Audio: It includes a single bottom-firing speaker that is quieter than competitors’, but it retains the 3.5mm headphone jack and FM radio support.
Performance and Software
- Hardware: Powered by the MediaTek Helio P35 chipset, the phone struggles in CPU benchmarks compared to rivals like the Poco M3. Heavy users may encounter occasional hiccups and a subpar gaming experience. However, regular use is just generally fine.
- Software: It runs One UI 2.5 over Android 10. It lacks some flagship features, such as an Always-On Display or Edge panels, due to the screen technology.
- Security: Features a side-mounted fingerprint reader integrated into the power button.
Battery Life
- Longevity: The standout feature is the 5,000 mAh battery, which achieved an outstanding endurance rating of 123 hours in tests.
- Charging: It supports 15W charging, though it is relatively slow, taking 30 minutes to reach just 20% from empty.
Camera System
- Video: Recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps with no electronic stabilization
- Main Camera: The 48MP main sensor takes sharp 12MP photos with good detail and true-to-life colors in daylight.
- Additional Lenses: Includes a 5MP ultra-wide, a 2MP macro, and a depth sensor. The ultra-wide is useful but can be noisy and lacks distortion correction.
How Much is the Samsung Galaxy A12
As of press time, January 2026, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is trading for N85,000 to N150,000. This is for a foreign-used or brand-new version anywhere in Nigeria.
Where to Buy in Nigeria
Acquiring a Samsung Galaxy A12 in Nigeria is relatively easy if you know where to look. The Samsung Galaxy A12 is no longer a new model, so it is not readily available in most Luxury brand shops. However, the phone can be found in Smartphone mass markets serving various income levels and also serving as a hub for the recycling of used or foreign-used phones. In Nigeria, they include
| Location | Market | Price |
| Abuja | Banex plaza, Heart Plaza Maraba | N85,000 to N150,000 |
| Lagos | Computer Village | N85,000 to N150,000 |
| Anambra, Onitsha | Emeka Offor Plaza | N85,000 to N150,000 |
