Redmi Note 12 5G Review: A Well-Balanced Phone!

TechLekh Verdict

The Redmi Note 12 5G provides good value for money, with a good camera setup, a vibrant display, a dependable battery, and fast charging support.

While it shares similarities with its 4G counterpart, the Redmi Note 12 5G excels in performance, addressing concerns of the Redmi Note 12 4G.

But just for the performance upgrade from the 4G to 5G model, there is a price difference of Rs. 5,000, which I find a bit large. Nevertheless, the Redmi Note 12 5G is one of the best phones you can buy under Rs. 30,000 in Nepal.

However, if you prefer the smooth experience of Realme UI, the Realme 10 also offers a compelling alternative. Alternatively, for those seeking superior camera quality and software support, the Samsung Galaxy A24 could be a better choice.

The Redmi Note 12 5G is a lower-midrange smartphone from Xiaomi. It was officially launched in June 2023 in Nepal. This launch followed the introduction of the Redmi Note 12 4G and the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, making the Note 12 5G the third phone in Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 12 series to debut in the country.

Essentially, the Redmi Note 12 5G is quite similar to its 4G counterpart, the Redmi Note 12 4G, with the primary distinction being an improvement in the performance area. However, this upgrade also comes with a price increase.

There are two variants of the Note 12 5G in Nepal. The more affordable option features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and is priced at Rs. 29,999. On the other hand, the higher-tier variant offers 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and is available for Rs. 31,999.

I have the base 6GB variant. And I am here to share my experience with the phone. In this Redmi Note 12 5G review, I will be outlining the differences between it and the 4G variant and sharing how the phone is and if it is a good purchase.

Redmi Note 12 5G Review

Great Performance

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm)
• Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
• Adreno 619
• 6GB RAM 128GB storage

Starting with the main difference from the 4G variant: the performance. The Redmi Note 12 4G variant has the Snapdragon 685 chipset, which has decent performance but nothing spectacular.

The Redmi Note 12 5G uses the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset. It is a new processor from Qualcomm, and it offers better performance than the Snapdragon 685.

That being said, both phones perform well when doing normal activities such as social media scrolling and other light tasks.

However, once you get into gaming, you will realize the performance upgrade the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 brings.

I have it in a 6GB RAM variant, and while playing PUBG Mobile, I was able to set the Frame Rate to Ultra even with Balanced Graphics. In contrast, the 4G variant is limited to High Frame Rate.

When playing PUBG Mobile at Smooth Graphics and Ultra Frame Rate, I consistently achieved an average playback of 40 fps. The gaming experience remained smooth, with no noticeable frame drops.

In Call of Duty, both Graphics and Frame Rate settings can be cranked up to Very High. Additionally, by setting Graphics to High, you can achieve the Max Frame Rate. Regardless of the settings, I enjoyed a seamless gameplay experience with an average of 60 fps.

Similarly, the phone sustained an average gameplay framerate of 43 fps on Genshin Impact using the default low settings. While there were occasional frame drops and stutters in Genshin Impact, the overall gameplay proved enjoyable.

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Decent Main Camera

• Rear Camera: 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
• 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4″, 1.12µm
• 2MP, f/2.4, (macro)
• Video: 1080p@30fps

The Redmi Note 12 5G comprises a 48MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro camera.

Normal Photos

The main camera captures good pictures. They are similar to photos taken from its 4G counterpart, but something I noticed is that the Note 12 5G outputs green colors that are more saturated. And the contrast is also inconsistent, sometimes high and sometimes low.

The detail is decent, but when zooming in, I found the photos to be soft. I felt it lacked the necessary detail.

I found the photos from the Note 12 4G sharper. Also, the 5G photos are a bit warmer. Nevertheless, the overall photos are good.

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Portrait Mode

Subject separation in portrait mode is impressive, and the skin tone is good, resulting in an overall pleasing photo. But again, I noticed a slight softness in the images. When comparing photos taken with the Note 12 5G to those from its 4G counterpart, I found the 4G photos to be sharper.

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Ultrawide Photos

I found the ultrawide photos taken with both the 4G and 5G models to be quite similar. They both deliver decent results with a good white balance. As expected, the ultrawide shots show less detail and noticeable noise. Nevertheless, they remain usable.

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Front Camera

For selfies, the Redmi Note 12 5G comes with a 13MP front-facing camera. The phone takes good selfies. The skin tone in the selfies appears pleasing, while the overall colors look good.

The beauty mode is turned on by default, so the face may come out soft. But the detail, in general, is good, and the dynamic range is wide.

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Video

The Redmi Note 12 5G is limited to shooting video at a maximum resolution of 1080p and 30fps, lacking the option for 60fps or 4K recording, which is disappointing.

The video quality is rather mediocre, lacking in detail and sharpness. Videos also display noticeable shakiness, with every step I take.

The ultrawide video fares no better; it suffers from even less detail. However, due to its ultrawide nature, the footage is somewhat more stable.

Great Design

• 165.88 x 76.21 x 7.98 mm
• 188 g
• Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
• IP53 splash and dust resistant

At first glance, the designs of the Redmi Note 12 4G and 5G variants appear similar, but they differ in subtle ways. The 4G variant has flat sides with sharp corners, while the 5G variant features curved edges.

The camera modules share a resemblance, but there are distinctions; the macro camera and LED flash positions are swapped, and the flash has a different shape.

Both models sport a frosted glass finish and a plastic frame. On the right side, you’ll find the power and volume buttons and the fingerprint sensor on the power button works as intended.

Overall, I find the design appealing and have no complaints about it.

The bottom side houses a primary microphone, USB-C port, and a mono speaker. Meanwhile, the top side includes the usual 3.5mm headphone jack, IR blaster, and a secondary microphone.

Likewise, the left side houses the SIM card tray, but the 5G model uses a hybrid SIM card slot, whereas the 4G model has a dedicated SIM card slot. This means you can’t use two SIM cards and a microSD card simultaneously, as you can with the 4G model.

As for audio, stereo speakers would have been preferable, but the phone comes with a single speaker. It is average and delivers decent loudness.

AMOLED Display

• 6.7-inch AMOLED
• FHD+ display (1080 x 2400)
• 120Hz refresh rate
• 450 nits (typ), 700 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)

The 6.67-inch AMOLED display has a Full HD+ resolution and delivers vibrant colors. Watching movies on this display is enjoyable.

The display is also smooth with support of a 120Hz refresh rate. However, it lacks dynamic adjustment, offering only the options of 60Hz or 120Hz. As is common in phones, certain apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Camera app remain fixed at 60Hz, regardless of what refresh rate you have set.

In terms of brightness, the Note 12 5G’s display performs well, remaining visible even in outdoor settings. Xiaomi claims a typical brightness of up to 450 nits, with the potential to reach 700 nits in high brightness mode. Additionally, it can achieve a peak brightness of 1200 nits, although this high level of brightness is only utilized for a small portion of the screen.

Moreover, the phone is certified with Widevine DRM Level 1 (L1), enabling you to enjoy HD streaming on popular platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Great Battery Life

• 5000mAh battery
• 33W fast charging support

The Redmi Note 12 5G comes with a 5000mAh battery. It provides an impressive battery life that easily lasts throughout the day.

The phone also charges quickly, thanks to 33W fast charging support. It takes just about half an hour to reach over 50% charge, and for a full charge, it requires approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.

MIUI 14

• Android 12
• MIUI 14

In terms of software, the Redmi Note 12 5G boots on MIUI 14 but is based on the older Android 12. However, I have already received the OS upgrade, and it is currently operating on Android 13.

Typically, Xiaomi offers only two major OS upgrades for its budget phones. So, it’s likely that the Redmi Note 12 5G will receive only one additional Android upgrade, which is unsatisfactory. If this turns out to be true, it would be a significant drawback for the Redmi Note 12 5G.

For the experience, you will get all the customization features that you expect from a MIUI. You can enlarge a folder on the home screen, and you also have the XXL size folder option. The phone comes with a ton of bloatware, but you can uninstall most of them.

Unfortunately, the vibration motor in the Redmi Note 12 is subpar. It’s an ordinary motor and doesn’t provide the precise haptic feedback typically associated with more premium devices.

So this is my Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G review. What do you think of the Redmi Note 12 5G? Let me know in the comments!