The Redmi Note 12 5G Review - All You Need to Know about the Latest Budget Smartphone
Overview of the Redmi Note 12 5G
The 5G SuperNote
Xiaomi's latest product, the Redmi Note 12 5G, is a well-known smartphone brand. It has the most recent 5G technology and a 6.67-inch AMOLED display. It's powered by a Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor and has up to 6GB+128GB 4GB+128GB of storage.
In addition, the gadget has an AI triple camera arrangement, an AI quad back camera setup, and a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging capabilities.
The Redmi Note 12 5G provides excellent performance at a low price, making it an excellent alternative for cost-conscious individuals searching for a capable gadget.
Design and display of the Redmi Note 12 5g
The Redmi Note 12 appears to have deviated from the customary design language associated with the Notes (or at least their camera modules). Whereas the Redmi Note 11 has an all-black camera module crammed with lenses, this one has a far more simple camera module. The glossy camera island sits atop the matte back panel, which reminds me of Realme's handsets.
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I received the eye-catching 'Mystique Blue' color for evaluation. The less shiny coating helps with smudges but does not totally erase them. The phone isn't heavy and is rather thin. There are no squared-off edges, which aids with grip. However, users are recommended to use the phone with the cover because the plastic shell rapidly picks up scratches - no Gorilla Glass here.
This year's Redmi Note 12 features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, which is a significant increase over previous year's 6.43-inch display. With good color accuracy and reasonable sunlight readability, the quality is nearly indistinguishable from Xiaomi's mid-range products. Most people will like the default color scheme, but if it feels too dreary, you may change to the "Saturated" option under the display settings. Widevine L1 is supported, allowing you to experience full HD material as it was intended. The frame rate is set at 60Hz by default, however it may be increased to 120Hz for buttery smooth scrolling.
Redmi Note 12 Performance and Software Evaluation
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 CPU powers the Redmi Note 12. It breezes through routine activities. MIUI used to be badly optimized on low-cost smartphones, but that appears to have changed. Throttling was non-existent during a 20-minute stress test, and I expect the SD 4 Gen 1 to be able to maintain its clock rates for much longer. There is also no warmth during prolonged gaming sessions, but this is difficult to evaluate objectively given Delhi's cold circumstances. Just don't expect the best visuals in games As the 4 Gen 1 is a low-cost processor. On PUBG New State, the visuals kept getting pushed to "Lite" when I switched to 60 FPS.
The sonic characteristic of the speakers is flattish, which is typical for the price point. They're nothing extraordinary, but they do the job and are quite loud. When I connected the Note 12 to my Nothing Ear 1, I observed that the maximum volume was significantly lower than usual, thus this is something that needs to be addressed.
The MIUI experience on the Redmi Note 12 is inconsistent. While performance seems smooth, this is most likely due to the phone running a lesser version of the software skin with fewer fancy animations and lower blur effects. I couldn't figure out how to change the Control Centre's awful grey backdrop. There's also no Android 13, which is a letdown.
But at least the bloatware situation is commendable. While there is some garbage, it can all be removed. Add to it the fact that you can even remove some system programs and replace them with Google's. I only wish Xiaomi had included blur effects and app start animations in MIUI 13 to make it even more pleasurable to use.
Review of the Redmi Note 12: Connectivity and Battery
Jio and Airtel were the two SIM cards I used in the Redmi Note 12, and both supported 5G. Yes, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 supports 5G. Websites load swiftly, and download speeds are astounding. In most sections of the city, I could easily receive over 200mbps, and the speed test meter even reached 500mbps once, albeit briefly. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1's inbuilt 5G modem is battery efficient, as the difference in battery use while switching between 4G and 5G is small.
However, measuring the impact of 5G on the battery is difficult because the energy drain is so high even without it. Even though I'm a heavy phone user, most phones still last me a whole day. Despite its 5000 mAh battery, the Redmi Note 12 died a little sooner. However, the problem began when I inserted my SIM card, indicating that two 5G networks are just too much for phones to manage. Regardless, Xiaomi frequently releases optimization-related updates, so if this is a common problem, it will be solved shortly.
Review of the Redmi Note 12: Cameras
The Redmi Note 12 comes with a 48MP primary rear camera, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. Given the phone's pricing, it's difficult to have great expectations, and the cameras do the job - nothing more, nothing less. Daylight images offer a good degree of detail and can even be zoomed in without any detail loss.
Indoor photos, on the other hand, are barely enough. You must also maintain your hand steady or your shots will be wobbly. I really enjoyed the color accuracy - Xiaomi appears to have gone with natural colors this time, rather than blowing them up for effect. Although there is no 60FPS support, video recording is adequate.
It was unexpected to see the ultrawide camera. Given the 8MP resolution, I didn't anticipate much, but the result was more than enough. The same cannot be true for the macro lens; you'd be better off cropping into primary sensor images. If I had to summarize the cameras in a single line, I'd say it has decent daytime performance but poor night-time performance.
Verdict on the Redmi Note 12
Good performance, 5G connection, and a clear display are all features of the Redmi Note 12. There is also 33W rapid charging, which will power the device in little more than an hour. The only letdown was the camera, which was mediocre. Even more so now that the beginning price has risen. In comparison, the Redmi Note 11 was priced at Rs 13,499 in 2021. I'm not adding the cashback and exchange benefits that the firm is giving, which will help many people save money. Redmi claims that if all deals are combined, the effective price will be Rs 15,499. Still, there's no doubting that this is a more costly Redmi Note, which might pose a problem.
Redmi Note 12 5G Specifications
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon® 4 Gen 1
CPU: 2X Cortex-A78 @ 2.0GHz ; 6X Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
GPU : Adreno™ 619
Memory
RAM: 4GB | 6GB LPDDR4X
Internal Memory: 128GB UFS 2.2
Micro SD card Slot (expandable 1TB)
Network & Connectivity
GSM: B2, B3, B5, B8
WCDMA: B1, B5, B8
4G: LTE TDD B40, B41
4G: LTE FDD B1, B3, B5, B8
5G: SA n1/n3/n5/n8/n28/n40/n78
5G: NSA n1/n3/n40/n78
Dual SIM (Supports dual 5G SIM standby)
Hybrid SIM card slot
WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac，2.4G/5G
Bluetooth 5.1
Display
6.67" FHD+ Super AMOLED
Max Refresh Rate: 120Hz
Technology: 1200nits brightness, SGS eye care, Sunlight Mode,
Reading Mode, Contrast ratio: 4500000:1
DCI P3: 100% (typical)
Design & Build
165.88mm x 76.21mm x 7.98mm
188g
Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
Splash and Dust Resistant- IP53
Battery & Charger
5000mAh (typ) Li Polymer
33W Max charging support
33W Fast Charger in-box
USB OTG Support
Rear Camera
Front Camera
13MP
F/2.45
1080P recording 30fps
720P recording 30fps
Photography features: Portrait | HDR | Time burst| AI beauty mode | AI Watermark | Movie Frame | Palm Shutter | Voice shutter
Video features: Short Video | Kaleidoscope | Movie frame | Time-lapse
Audio
3.5mm Headphone Jack
Dual microphones for noise cancellation
Smart PA and High-Res Audio
Navigation
GPS/AGPS, Glonass
Sensors
Ambient Light Sensor
Proximity Sensor
E Compass
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Side Mounted Fingerprint Scanner
Thermal cooling
Dual graphite sheet
Operating System
MIUI 13, Android 12
2 Android OS updates and 4-year security updates
Others
IR Blaster
Package Contents
Redmi Note 12 5G
Adapter
USB Type-C Cable
SIM Eject Tool
Quick Start Guide & Warranty Card
Protective Case
Reviewed by ATDSgroup
on
January 13, 2023
Rating: