In the ever-evolving landscape of budget smartphones, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has consistently stood out as a beacon of value.
The latest iteration, the Redmi Note 12, continues this tradition while introducing some notable improvements. Let’s dive deep into what makes this device tick and whether it lives up to the hype.
Design and Build: Familiar Yet Refined
The Redmi Note 12 doesn’t stray far from its predecessor’s design language, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The device sports a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that belies its budget status. With dimensions of 165.7 x 76 x 7.9 mm and weighing in at a reasonable 183.5 grams, it strikes a good balance between screen real estate and pocketability.
The phone’s frame is constructed from plastic, which might disappoint some, but it’s par for the course in this price range.
The back panel, also plastic, comes in a variety of colors including Onyx Gray, Mint Green, and Ice Blue. While it may not have the premium feel of glass, it’s less prone to fingerprints and more durable against accidental drops.
One notable improvement is the IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance. While it’s not fully waterproof, it provides some peace of mind against light rain or accidental spills.
Display: A Visual Treat
The Redmi Note 12 boasts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, a significant upgrade from its predecessor’s IPS LCD.
This panel offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast ratios, making it a joy for media consumption. The 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution results in a crisp 395 ppi density, ensuring text and images appear sharp.
But the real star of the show is the 120Hz refresh rate. This high refresh rate makes scrolling and animations buttery smooth, providing a premium feel that was once reserved for flagship devices.
The display also boasts a peak brightness of 1200 nits, making it easily readable even under direct sunlight.
Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the display should hold up well against everyday wear and tear. However, investing in a screen protector might still be a good idea for those prone to accidents.
Performance: Punching Above Its Weight
Under the hood, the Redmi Note 12 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chipset. This octa-core processor, built on a 6nm process, offers a good balance between performance and power efficiency.
With four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.8 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.9 GHz, it handles everyday tasks with ease.
The Adreno 610 GPU, while not a powerhouse, is capable of running most casual games smoothly. However, hardcore gamers might notice some frame drops in more demanding titles at higher settings.
RAM options range from 4GB to 8GB, with the latter providing a noticeably smoother multitasking experience.
Storage options include 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB variants, all using UFS 2.2 technology for faster read and write speeds.
The inclusion of a dedicated microSD slot is a welcome feature, allowing users to expand storage without sacrificing dual SIM functionality.
Camera System: Versatile but with Room for Improvement
The Redmi Note 12 features a triple camera setup on the rear:
- 50 MP main sensor (f/1.8 aperture)
- 8 MP ultra-wide lens (120° field of view)
- 2 MP macro camera
The main 50 MP sensor performs admirably in well-lit conditions, capturing detailed images with good color reproduction.
The pixel-binning technology allows for better low-light performance, though it still struggles in very dark environments.
The ultra-wide lens is a useful addition for landscape shots or group photos, but the quality noticeably drops compared to the main sensor.
The 2 MP macro lens feels more like a spec-sheet filler than a truly useful addition. While it can capture close-up shots, the results are often underwhelming due to the low resolution.
On the front, a 13 MP selfie camera does a decent job for social media posts and video calls. It struggles a bit in low light, but the inclusion of HDR helps in balancing tricky lighting situations.
Video capabilities are limited to 1080p at 30fps for both front and rear cameras. While the quality is acceptable for casual use, the lack of 4K recording and higher frame rates might disappoint more serious content creators.
Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Endurance
The Redmi Note 12 comes equipped with a sizable 5000 mAh battery, which easily provides a full day of moderate to heavy use. Many users report getting through two days on a single charge with lighter usage patterns.
Charging is handled by a 33W fast charger included in the box. While not the fastest in the market, it’s a significant improvement over many budget offerings. Xiaomi claims it can charge the device from 0 to 50% in just 22 minutes, which holds true in real-world testing.
The lack of wireless charging is unsurprising at this price point, but the inclusion of reverse wired charging allows the Redmi Note 12 to act as a power bank for other devices in a pinch.
Software: MIUI 14 with Android 13
Out of the box, the Redmi Note 12 runs MIUI 14 based on Android 13. MIUI has come a long way in terms of optimization and features, offering a highly customizable experience. However, it’s worth noting that MIUI can be polarizing – some users love its feature-rich nature, while others find it bloated.
Xiaomi has promised at least one major Android update and two years of security patches for the Redmi Note 12. While this is acceptable for a budget device, it falls short of the longer support periods offered by some competitors.
Connectivity and Extra Features
The Redmi Note 12 covers all the basics in terms of connectivity. It supports dual SIM 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC (in select regions). The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome feature for those who prefer wired audio.
An IR blaster is also present, allowing the phone to control various household appliances – a unique feature that’s become somewhat of a Xiaomi trademark.
The side-mounted fingerprint sensor doubles as the power button and is both fast and reliable. Face unlock is also available, though it’s less secure than the fingerprint method.
Value Proposition and Market Position
Priced competitively in the budget to mid-range segment, the Redmi Note 12 offers exceptional value for money. It goes head-to-head with devices like the Realme 9 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A23, and its own sibling, the POCO X5.
Where the Redmi Note 12 shines is in its display quality and overall balance of features. The AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate is still relatively rare at this price point, giving it a significant edge over many competitors.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Solid battery life with fast charging
- Decent main camera performance
- Good overall performance for the price
- IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance
Cons:
- Plastic build might feel less premium
- Macro camera feels unnecessary
- MIUI can be overwhelming for some users
- Limited long-term software support
- No 5G support (in the 4G variant)
Redmi Note 12 : A Solid Choice for Budget-Conscious Buyers
The Redmi Note 12 continues Xiaomi’s tradition of offering impressive value in the budget smartphone segment. Its standout feature is undoubtedly the high-quality AMOLED display, which provides a visual experience typically reserved for more expensive devices.
While it’s not without its compromises – the plastic build, limited software support, and some camera limitations – these are largely forgivable given its price point.
For users who prioritize a great display, solid battery life, and competent everyday performance without breaking the bank, the Redmi Note 12 is an excellent choice.
However, those looking for 5G capabilities, premium build materials, or extensive software support might want to look elsewhere or consider stepping up to a higher-tier device.
In the end, the Redmi Note 12 exemplifies what Xiaomi does best – delivering a feature-packed smartphone that punches above its weight in terms of value.
It’s a testament to how far budget smartphones have come and sets a high bar for what consumers can expect in this price range.