Samsung Galaxy M15 5G vs Moto G34 5G vs Redmi 12 5G vs Realme 12x 5G: Battle of the Budget 5G Phones

The Realme 12x 5G was unveiled earlier this month in India's budget 5G smartphone segment. It has one of the most impressive specs sheets of any smartphone in its range.

But how does the Realme 12x 5G fare against its closest competitors, which include the Samsung Galaxy M15 5G, Moto G34 5G, and Redmi 12 5G. Let's find out in our in-depth specs comparison.

Samsung Galaxy M15 5G vs Moto G34 5G vs Redmi 12 5G vs Realme 12x 5G

Design, Build, Display

The Realme 12x 5G features the most eye-catching design of the lot with its large camera island on the back. The other three handsets opt for a more minimalist look, although the Galaxy M15 5G features larger bezels and a dated notch.

In terms of their build, all four phones use plastic frames, although the material used in their back panels vary. Realme and Samsung opt for plastic rear panels, while the Redmi 12 5G has a glass back. Motorola, on the other hand, gives users the option to choose between plastic and vegan leather.

On paper, the Moto G34 5G has the weakest displays on the list with its HD+ resolution as opposed to a Full HD+ resolution on its competitors. Both the Redmi 12 5G and Realme 12x 5G use Full HD+ LCD screens, although the latter can achieve a much higher peak brightness.

Lastly, the Galaxy M15 5G features a vibrant AMOLED display, which is a rarity in this segment. Moreover, it also boasts a 90Hz refresh rate and a Full HD+ resolution. Finally, both the Moto G34 5G and Realme 12x 5G boasts a 120Hz refresh rate.

Performance, Battery

While Realme and Samsung use the 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, the Moto G34 uses the older Snapdragon 695 chip and the Redmi 12 5G opts for a 4nm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC. In terms of performance, there's not a lot that separates all three chips, although the SD 4 Gen 2 SoC is the best of the lot.

The base variant of all four phones comes with 4GB of RAM. However, the base model of the Moto G34 5G is cheaper than its competitors, making it the best in terms of price-to-performance. It is worth noting that all four phones come with 128GB of storage by default.

In terms of battery capacity, there can be only one winner here and that's the Galaxy M15 5G, which offers a nearly 25% larger battery than its competitor. However, the downside is that the Galaxy M15 5G doesn't include an adapter in the box. On the other hand, the Realme 12x 5G has a major advantage in the charging department.

Software, Cameras

For software, all four phones run Android 14. Even the Redmi 12 5G, which was released with Android 13 has now received the latest version of the operating system. If you are looking for a bloat-free experience, we'd recommend the Moto G34 5G, while the Redmi 12 5G's HyperOS is highly customizable.

On the flip side, the Galaxy M15 5G undoubtedly offers the best software support in the segment, with Samsung promising a whopping four OS upgrades, putting it on par with flagships. However, the hardware on the M15 5G will likely show its legs ahead of that four-year window.

We haven't tested all the phones on our list, so going by specifications alone, the 50 MP primary camera with the f/1.8 aperture is standard across the board. Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy M15 5G is the only phone on this list with an ultrawide camera, although it is a low-resolution one.

The Moto G34 5G and Galaxy M15 both have macro units, while the Realme 12x 5G opts for a 2 MP Black and White sensor and the Redmi 12 5G features a secondary depth sensor. Up front, the Galaxy M15 5G does offer a slight edge over the competition with a high-resolution selfie camera.

Going by specs and experience with give this round to Samsung, although we tested the Redmi 12 5G and its cameras were quite reliable. All four smartphones on our list support 1080p video recording at 30fps on both the front and rear cameras.

Samsung Galaxy M15 5G vs Moto G34 5G vs Redmi 12 5G vs Realme 12x 5G

If we had to pick one from the four phones on our list, it would have to be the Samsung Galaxy M15 5G. Not only does Samsung offer flagship-grade software support for longevity, but it also brings an AMOLED display and a massive battery.

The MediaTek chip isn't too far off the mark from its two Snapdragon counterparts and lastly, the Galaxy M15 offers a versatile set of cameras. The one downside here is the lack of an adapter in the box, which will force you to buy one to get the full benefit of the 25W charging.

If you desire a phone with the fastest charging in the segment, then the Realme 12x 5G is worth considering as it is almost double that of its competitors. The Realme 12x 5G is also the only phone on the list with a 120Hz Full HD+ display. It also comes with dual-stereo speakers.

The Moto G34 5G offers the cleanest software experience, akin to stock Android. While it does have a formidable chipset for the price, its 120Hz display has a lower resolution than its competitors. It also has stereo speakers and the highest resolution selfie camera of the lot. The Moto G34 5G is the only phone on the list that offers the option of a vegan leather back panel.

Lastly, the Redmi 12 5G is easily the best-looking phone on this list. Moreover, it also has the best chipset in the segment and has a versatile main camera. With glass protection on the front and back, it is also the toughest smartphone on this list.