Gionee M12


Two versions of the Gionee M12 launched in Nigeria this week. Both are Android 10-running entry level phones, the only difference between being the chipset. One comes with the MediaTek Helio P22, the other gets the Helio A25 (same silicon but with lower clocks). Two memory configurations are available for them - 4/64 GB and 6/128 GB. You also get a microSD slot is available if you need more room for data.

The M12 has a 6.55” IPS LCD with 720 x 1,600 px resolution. There’s no strengthened glass to protect it, but there is a punch hole for the 16 MP selfie camera. The back houses four cameras, starting with the 48MP main camera (f/1.79), which is limited to 1080p at 30fps video recording by the chipset. It’s joined by a 5MP ultrawide angle camera (115°), plus two 2MP assistant cameras (whose function isn’t entirely clear).

The Gionee M12 is a dual SIM phone with LTE connectivity (150 Mbps down, 50 Mbps up). Additional connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and an FM radio receiver. The phone’s 5,100 mAh battery is recharged over USB-C at 10W. There’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack, of course (it’s needed as an antenna for the radio). A fingerprint reader is mounted on the back for secure unlocking.

You can find the Gionee M12 in Nigeria online at Jumia and offline at a number of partner stores. The Helio P22 version starts at NGN 75,000 for the 4/64 GB version while the A25 model has an MSRP of NGN 69,400.