Samsung Galaxy A12 used and refurbished

The Galaxy A12 is a big everyday phone with a 5000 mAh battery and a 6.5-inch screen, unveiled by Samsung at the end of 2020. It has four rear cameras, a fingerprint reader in the side button and NFC, so you can pay with it in shops. The screen resolution is modest, but the battery lets you forget about the charger for the whole day.

At SWOPiFY you'll find used and refurbished Samsung Galaxy A12 phones in 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB versions, in black, blue and white, both dual SIM and single SIM. SWOPiFY partners check every unit first, and if something needs fixing, the phone goes to the repair shop before it goes on sale.

What can the Galaxy A12 do?

The 6.5-inch PLS screen has HD+ resolution (720 × 1600 pixels), and the front camera sits in a small notch at the top. Films, maps and photos are comfortable to watch because the picture is big, though small text looks less sharp. Sound comes from a single speaker. The 3.5 mm headphone jack is there, and so is FM radio.

The body has a glass front and a plastic back and frame. There's no water-resistance rating. The fingerprint reader is built into the side power button, so you unlock the phone with the same movement that wakes it. In the version sold in Poland, NFC works with contactless payments.

Processor, cameras and battery

Inside is the MediaTek Helio P35, and European versions usually come with 3 or 4 GB of RAM. That's enough for messaging apps, social media, navigation and videos, but with several apps open at once the phone slows down, and more demanding games have to run on low settings. The main camera is 48 MP. Next to it are a 5 MP ultra-wide, a 2 MP macro camera for close-ups and a 2 MP depth sensor for portraits. Selfies are taken with an 8 MP camera.

The 5000 mAh battery is its biggest strength. With typical use it easily lasts a day, and longer if you go easy on it. Charging over USB-C runs at 15 W, so fully charging such a large cell takes a while. There's no wireless charging.

What should you check before buying?

The Galaxy A12 uses slower eMMC storage, which you feel when installing apps and opening the gallery. The microSD card has its own slot, so in the dual SIM version you don't have to give up your second number. An HD+ screen at 6.5 inches isn't the sharpest, but it does save battery.

The phone no longer gets updates. It stopped at Android 12 with One UI 4.1, and the last patch package for the Polish version arrived in October 2024. Since then new security vulnerabilities haven't been fixed, and banks may in future stop supporting their apps on such an old system. The Galaxy A12 still works well as a phone for a child, for an older person who values a big battery, or as a backup phone for navigation and calls. The Galaxy A12 Nacho with the Exynos 850 processor looks almost the same but did get Android 13.

You can filter Galaxy A12 units by:

• storage – 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB;
• RAM – depending on the version, usually 3 GB or 4 GB;
• colour;
• price range;
• condition.

Only choose the 32 GB version if the phone is meant for calls and messaging. If you take photos with the 48 MP camera or install plenty of apps, get 64 GB or 128 GB – it makes a big difference in everyday comfort.

How does the technical check work?

Before a Galaxy A12 goes on sale as refurbished, it goes through a 44-point checklist, including:

• screen – touch, brightness, dead pixels and the condition of the glass;
• battery – health of the 5000 mAh cell and physical condition;
• four rear cameras and the front selfie camera;
• fingerprint reader in the power button;
• connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC;
• SIM and microSD card slots;
• USB-C port, 3.5 mm jack, speaker and microphone.

Can you trust a refurbished Galaxy A12?

A refurbished Samsung Galaxy A12 from SWOPiFY is a used phone that has been checked by SWOPiFY partners and, where it needed a repair, serviced too. We don't claim it's new and never suggest that it is.

Every unit comes with a warranty. The condition description is based on four grades – Premium, Excellent, Good or Fair – which tell you what the body looks like and how healthy the battery is. So you can make an informed choice between paying extra for looks or taking a cheaper phone with visible signs of use.

Got an old smartphone you no longer use?

Hand it in through the trade-in programme and its valuation reduces what you pay for your next phone. No adverts and no arranging to meet buyers – and a device you no longer use goes back into circulation.

Browse the available Galaxy A12 units and choose the storage, colour and SIM version that suit you.