Smartphones & Tablets | January 10, 2024
| Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G | |
| Screen | 6.79 inches IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, 20:9 format, Full HD+ resolution and 90 Hz refresh rate | 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and 240 touch response and 900 nits brightness (1,200 nits max.) |
| Main camera | – 50 megapixel main sensor and f/1.8 focal aperture – Secondary sensor with 2 megapixel depth lens and f/2.4 focal aperture | 48-megapixel main sensor and f/1.8 focal aperture Secondary sensor with 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and f/2.2 focal aperture and 118º angle Tertiary sensor with 2-megapixel macro lens and f/2.4 focal aperture |
| Selfie camera | 8 megapixel main sensor with f/2.0 focal aperture | 13 megapixel main sensor with f/2.4 focal aperture |
| Internal memory | 128 or 256 GB | 128 and 256 GB of type UFS 2.2 |
| Magnification | Through micro SD cards up to 1 TB | Through micro SD cards up to 1 TB |
| Processor and RAM memory | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 4, 6 and 8 GB of RAM | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 eight-core 4, 6 and 8 GB of RAM |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh with 18W fast charging | 5,000 mAh with 33W fast charging |
| Operating system | Android 13 under MIUI 14 | Android 13 on MIUI 14 |
| Connections | 4G LTE, 5G SA y NSA, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax de doble banda, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS + GLONASS, NFC | 5G SA and NSA, 4G LTE, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, USB type C, GPS, NFC for mobile payments, infrared sensor… |
| SIM | Dual SIM 5G | Dual nano SIM |
| Design | Colors: black, blue and silver IP57 water and dust protection | Manufactured in polycarbonate Colors: Onyx Gray, Forest Green, Ice Blue Fingerprint reader on the side IP53 resistance |
| Dimensions and weight | 168.6 x 76.3 x 8.17 mm and 199 grams | 165.88 x 76.21 x 7.98 millimeters and 189 grams |
| Featured Features | Side fingerprint sensor, NFC for mobile payments, 18W fast charging, facial unlock via software, IP57 water and dust protection, headphone jack… | Infrared port, 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, fingerprint sensor, face unlock via software… |
| Release date | Available | Available |
| Precio | From 250 | From 280 euros |
The prices mentioned in the article may vary over time, so, we focus on analyzing the differences as of the publication date. Additionally, specifications may vary depending on the market.
If the first thing you consider when a new phone is introduced is the price, you may have been surprised that there is so little difference between the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G and the Redmi Note 12 5G.
While both phones are part of Xiaomi’s budget-friendly offerings, they belong to different series. The “Note” series is a step ahead in terms of quality and overall proposition.
But just how different are the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G and Redmi Note 12 5G? Take a look at this comparison to see their key differences and determine which model is better suited for your needs.
Both phones have the characteristic Redmi style, but with completely different designs.
The Redmi Note 12 5G features a matte back that blends well with the chosen colors, emphasizing a camera module with three sensors. As seen in the technical specs shared above, both phones have large dimensions, but this model is lighter and slightly more compact.
Turning our attention to the display, we find a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel on the Redmi Note 12 5G, with a 120 Hz refresh rate (60 Hz/90 Hz/120 Hz), 240 Hz touch sampling rate, and a maximum brightness of up to 1200 nits. Undoubtedly, the display is one of the main attractions of this Xiaomi offering.
While it offers different configuration options to adapt to your preferences, the screen stands out for its sharpness and color quality. Outdoor visibility is not a problem, so you won’t have to find a specific viewing angle to improve screen visibility.
On the other hand, the Redmi 12 5G doesn’t fall behind in terms of design, featuring flat sides and a rear that garners extra points for its color combination, glass, and a camera module that tries to blend in.
In terms of the display, it features a 6.78-inch FHD+ IPS panel with a 90 Hz refresh rate (30 Hz/48 Hz/60 Hz/90 Hz), 240 Hz touch sampling rate, and a maximum brightness of around 550 nits. While the proposal is inferior to the previous model, you won’t have trouble enjoying multimedia content on this screen.
In this category, we encounter one of the main differences between the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G and the Redmi Note 12 5G. While both models have processors designed to enhance the budget-friendly 5G mobile experience, there is a clear advantage in the first model.
The Redmi 12 5G integrates a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor with 8 cores, clocked at up to 2.2 GHz, paired with 4, 6, or 8 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of internal storage.
This processor provides a performance advantage to this model compared to the Redmi Note 12 5G, which has a Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor with eight cores clocked at up to 2.0 GHz. Of course, the successor incorporates better technology that allows budget-friendly 5G phones to offer improved performance to users, beyond just enhancing raw performance.
However, this doesn’t mean that the Redmi Note 12 5G’s performance is poor. In fact, this configuration, along with options for 4, 6, or 8 GB of RAM, and 128 or 256 GB of internal storage, works quite well. You’ll experience good performance even with demanding tasks, and you won’t have to deal with the dreaded lags.
One detail you might miss in this model is stereo sound, but it still offers quality audio. Like the Redmi 12 5G, it has the advantage of a headphone jack for users who prefer this option and want to avoid Bluetooth.
Other aspects shared by the Redmi 12 5G and the Redmi Note 12 5G include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and IP53 dust and water resistance. Both phones offer 5G capabilities. However, there are some configuration aspects that the Redmi 12 5G excels in, such as having Bluetooth 5.1, while the Redmi Note 12 5G features Bluetooth 5.3.
Both the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G and Redmi Note 12 5G have a 5000 mAh battery but with different fast charging technologies.
With either of these two models, you can comfortably get through the day and still have around 30% to 40% of charge left for the next day.
Of course, this will depend on how you use your phone, the type of content you consume most, or your device’s settings. But assuming moderate use as a reference point, you should have more than enough power to last a full day.
In terms of fast charging, the Redmi Note 12 5G offers 33W fast charging, which is not exceptional but is a significant improvement over the 18W fast charging of the Redmi 12 5G. With the Redmi Note 12 5G, you can charge up to 50% in around half an hour.
The Redmi 12 5G features a dual-camera setup on the rear, including a 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture.
This model foregoes the wide-angle lens that the previous version had, relying solely on the main sensor. For the front camera, there’s an 8-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture.
On the other hand, the Redmi Note 12 5G features a triple-camera setup with a 48-megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture and a 118° field of view, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. The front camera is a 13-megapixel sensor with f/2.45 aperture.
While the Redmi Note 12 5G’s camera setup isn’t groundbreaking, it works well, and you can capture good photos if you know how to use its sensors and camera features, even in low-light conditions. While the depth sensor may not make a significant difference, the combination of the main sensor and the wide-angle lens achieves its goal.
Certainly, we already knew that the Redmi Note 12 5G would excel in most categories, but now you have a clear understanding of the main differences compared to the new Xiaomi 12 5G.
The Redmi Note 12 5G features an excellent display, balanced hardware, and a large battery. While it doesn’t stand out in the camera department, it will allow you to take good photos if you know how to use its sensors and camera functions.
Having just a single speaker doesn’t seem to match the rest of this phone’s configuration, as stereo sound is usually expected for a more complete package. Nevertheless, it’s a balanced phone with many virtues.
On the other hand, the Redmi 12 5G offers a good proposition, considering that Xiaomi has managed to balance its features so that users won’t miss two of its main aspects: the display and the battery.
It’s clear that this is not a phone to consider if you’re interested in photography, but that wasn’t the aim of this budget-friendly 5G phone, which offers a few premium features.
Of course, we shouldn’t forget that it has a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, providing a performance advantage over the predecessor found in the Redmi Note 12 5G.
Regarding the price, since it changes constantly, the Redmi Note 12 5G is usually priced at around 270 euros. However, as it’s often among the favorites for deals and discounts, you can find it for as low as 200 euros in its base RAM and internal storage configuration.
As for the Redmi 12 5G, its price is typically around 250 euros, though with some launch offers, you might get it for much less, achieving significant savings.
