Samsung Galaxy M12 used and refurbished

The Galaxy M12 is a budget Samsung from 2021 with a big 6.5-inch screen and a 90 Hz refresh rate, rarely seen in this price range at the time. Scrolling through Facebook or your contacts list looks smoother on it than on a regular 60 Hz screen. The phone is chunky – it weighs 212 grams – but in return it fits a 5000 mAh battery.

At SWOPiFY you'll find used and refurbished Samsung Galaxy M12 phones in 32 GB and 64 GB versions, in black, blue and green. SWOPiFY partners check every unit before it appears in our listings, and those that need repairs are sent to a repair service first.

What can the Galaxy M12 do?

The PLS LCD screen has HD+ resolution (720 × 1600 pixels). Colours are accurate and brightness is fine indoors and on a cloudy day, but in full sun the content is harder to read. For films, the 3.5 mm headphone jack comes in handy, as the single speaker isn't particularly loud.

The back and frame are plastic, and the front is covered with glass. Samsung built the fingerprint reader into the power button on the right-hand side, so you unlock the phone with the same movement you use to switch it on. The European version has NFC, so you can pay contactlessly with it in shops.

Processor, cameras and battery

Inside you'll find the Exynos 850 and 3 or 4 GB of RAM, depending on the unit. That's enough for messaging apps, email, maps and internet radio, but apps open with a noticeable delay, and in games you have to drop to low graphics settings. There are four cameras on the back: a 48 MP main, plus a 5 MP ultra-wide and two 2 MP helpers – a macro and a depth sensor. In daylight the main camera gives decent photos, after dark only average ones. On the front there's an 8 MP camera.

The 5000 mAh battery charges over USB-C at 15 W. With moderate use it comfortably lasts a full day; there's no wireless charging.

What should you check before buying?

The screen is smooth, but only HD+, and the internal storage is slow eMMC. In the 32 GB version, space quickly starts running out after a few app updates. The microSD card goes into its own slot, next to the two SIM cards.

It started out on Android 11, and its last system is Android 13 with One UI 5, which the Galaxy M12 received at the end of 2022. In March 2025 Samsung ended support for it – the final update was the February 2025 security patch. Without ongoing patches, the risk of system vulnerabilities grows, and banking apps and NFC payments may stop working over time. For a child, an older relative or as a second phone for in-car navigation, it still does the job. The Galaxy M13 has a sharper Full HD+ screen and also got Android 14.

You can filter Galaxy M12 listings by:

• storage – 32 GB or 64 GB;
• RAM – 3 GB or 4 GB, depending on the version;
• colour;
• price range;
• condition.

If you can, go for the 64 GB version. You'll feel the extra room for photos and apps from day one, and you can keep the microSD card for music and films.

What does the technical check involve?

Before a Galaxy M12 is listed as refurbished, it goes through a 44-point checklist, including:

• screen – touch function, brightness, pixels and cracks;
• battery – level of wear and physical condition;
• the four rear cameras and the front camera;
• the fingerprint reader in the power button;
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC;
• SIM and microSD card detection;
• speaker, microphones, headphone jack and USB-C port.

Can you trust a refurbished Galaxy M12?

A refurbished Samsung Galaxy M12 from SWOPiFY is a used phone, checked by SWOPiFY partners and, if it had a fault, repaired. We don't claim it's new, and we don't suggest that anywhere.

Every purchase is covered by a warranty. Its cosmetic condition and battery health are described by one of the grades: Premium, Excellent, Good or Fair. So even before you order, you know how many marks from the previous owner you'll see on the casing.

Got an old smartphone you no longer use?

Pass it on to our trade-in programme – we'll deduct its value from your purchase price. No posting ads and no waiting for a buyer.

Browse the available Galaxy M12 phones and choose the storage and colour that are right for you.