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Xiaomi Redmi 12 and Redmi 12 Pro test: we have mixed feelings
At the event in Athens, Xiaomi presented as many as 4 new Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 models:
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G
In the editorial office for a few days we received as many as two newcomers from the latest family of phones, namely the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 (4G version) and the slightly more attractive Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro. After the POCO phones, this is the second wave of budget phones, which are usually more photographically oriented. The Redmi Note 11 series was, in our opinion, a more clumsy upgrade, and we would argue that the Redmi Note 10 family of phones holds the primacy for the best ratio between price and performance.
During the short test, we wanted to make sure whether the Redmi Note 12 phones deserve your attention.
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 |
| Dynamic AMOLED screen | Dynamic AMOLED screen |
| 📱 120-Hz refresh | 📱 Good battery |
| 📱 Good battery | 📱 120 Hz refresh |
| 📱 Fast 67-W charging | 📵 Average performance |
| 📱 Usable main camera | 📵 Camera performance suitable for the price |
| 📵 Average performance | |
| 📵 Avoid macro and ultra-wide cameras |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 price?
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 (4G) 4GB/128GB: €249 (flash sale €199) in grey, green and blue
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G 6GB/128GB: 399 € (flash sale 329 €) in black, white and blue
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12: the design remains largely unchanged
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 and Redmi Note 12 Pro will be hard to tell apart at first glance. Both have flat bezels with slightly rounded edges – a design that we are used to in recent times with budget phones that want to imitate iPhones. Both will use 6.67-inch AMOLED (Pro version) and OLED (classic version) screens with a fairly pronounced chin area. The black and the frames are relatively thin, which improves the feeling that we have almost the entire surface of the screen at our disposal. In the middle is the front 16 MP (13 MP on Note 12) camera without a depth sensor for more secure unlocking with facial recognition.
The design element by which we can take the phone apart is located on the back. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro uses a more premium glass, but it does not have any anti-glare or anti-fingerprint coating. If you intend to use the phone without the (supplied) case, the black glass background will lose its shine very quickly and the appearance will not be the same despite the glass. what premium.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 has a glass matte background that prevents reflections and smudges. The prototype that we tested in the editorial office was in a wonderful blue color – a color and material configuration that we would definitely prefer to see on the Pro version (we just don't like the uncoated glass).
The frame of the cameras in both cases is not excessive pronounced, which is also a reflection of the selection of image sensors or their sizes. Like we like that they painted the camera frame in the same color as the rest of the phone, and the same goes for the bezels.
They also differ in the placement of physical buttons and slots. The standard Redmi Note 12 has two speaker slots and a USB-C connector at the bottom. On the right are the classic volume and power buttons (with a fingerprint sensor). The slot for SIM and SD card is located on the left side, and the #141 headphone jack is located on the top. We expected an IR blaster, which is usually a common feature of Chinese phones, but we didn't get it this time.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 has a stereo speaker setup, as well as a headphone jack, but lacks support for expanding the space with an SD card. Both phones are rated with the IP53 water resistance standard.
OLED technology brightens up what's happening on the screen
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 |
| 120 Hz 6.67-inch OLED screen | 120 Hz 6.67-inch OLED screen |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos | Maximum brightness 1200 nits |
| 1080 x 2400 resolution | 1080 x 2400 resolution |
| Aspect ratio 20 : 9 | Aspect ratio 20 : 9 |
| Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
There is no shortage of action on the screen. There is a lot of space (6.67 inches), which means that for small hands, one-handed use will be difficult, if not impossible. Both phones boast OLED colors, good contrasts and an excellent color range. They refresh at a commendable 120 Hz, which means you can expect smooth animations and transitions between menus. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro even has the ability of dynamic refresh, which means that it automatically adjusts the speed between 60 and 120 Hz. This option is missing from the classic version of the #141.
The professional model can boast support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and a maximum brightness of 900 nits, but it often loses the battle in a duel with fairly strong daylight. Similar things happened to us with the classic version of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, which is supposed to have a maximum brightness of 1200 nits, but the two screens were almost identical when used in sunlight.
Like its predecessor, Redmi Note 12 Pro is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, while the classic version is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The latter, in particular, is a protection that has been known for years, but we for the advertised price, we are satisfied with the fact that we get any kind of protection.
The performance disappointed us
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 |
| Mediatek Dimensity 1080 | Snapdragon 685 |
| 8 GB of RAM | 8 GB of RAM |
| 128 GB UFS 2.2 | 128 GB UFS 2.2 |
| Support for 5G network | Access to 4G network only |
Performance is an area where we did not expect much for the price, but still more. as we got, especially in the case of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12.
The Snapdragon 685 processor found in the Redmi Note 12 is just a tad beefed up compared to its predecessor's 680 and, in our opinion, doesn't deserve its own dedicated tag. In everyday tasks, it is saved by the 120 Hz refresh rate, which ensures that poor performance is not noticeable. But when we start with more tasks, jams appear very quickly.
Synthetic tests also show that the performance has remained at the level of a few years ago. For comparison, the Mediatek 1080, which is also far from it does not belong to powerful processors, it exceeds the performance level of the Snapdragon processor by quite a few times.
If you intend to use the phone for recreational gaming, you will be disappointed except for really basic games. With the Pro version, we have enough power available to play more demanding games at a low resolution. There is quite a bit of damping in both cases. We also lost up to 20 % capacity when playing Genshin Impact for a long time.
The 128GB internal drive configuration is becoming insufficient in 2023. In the case of the Redmi Note 12 Pro, which supports 4K recording, a serious photographer can fill up the default drive very quickly. The Note 12 has the option of expanding the space with an SD card, which solves the problem. We don't have that privilege with the Note 12 Pro. The UFS 2.2 drive technology is expected to be built in, which we discussed in previous tests. We really want manufacturers to make the transition to UFS 3.0 even in the budget class. It is a relatively cheap way to extend the life of your phone. Undemanding users will not notice the limitation of the older drive technology, at least not at the beginning. However, after a year or two of regular use, in combination with an average #141 processor, the #141 may begin to show delays.
The 8 GB capacity of the system memory is commendable, which will not be used up even by the most demanding user, and the processor, which is not built for power users, will take care of this.
Synthetic tests of Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro
Synthetic tests of Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G
The 5000 mAh capacity of both the classic and the Pro version is sufficient for most of the #141; than one day of average use. The charging speed is rated at 67W for the Redmi Note 12 Pro and 33W for the Note 12.
Only the main camera is usable
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G |
| 50 MP (f/1.9) OIS main camera | 50MP (f/1.8) |
| 8 MP (f/2.2; 120°) ultrawide camera | 8 MP (f/2.2; 120°) ultrawide camera |
| 2 MP (f/2.4) macro camera | 2 MP (f/2.4) macro camera |
| 16 MP (f/2.5) HDR | 13 MP (f/2.5) HDR |
Our opinion about low-resolution macro and ultra-wide cameras remains the same as in the past, or has only become stronger. They are available as a photography option, but lack the sophistication to produce decent photos. In perfect light, we would still argue that at times they manage to take partially useful photos, but on the condition that the image is not zoomed in even a tiny bit.
If you would like to take a close-up photo, you should make an effort with the main camera, which in the Redmi Note 12 Pro, thanks to the more advanced IMX766 switch with optical image stabilization and a better processor, is generally at a higher level than on the Redmi Note 12.
The contrast is at a higher level, the night pictures even have some color range, and in good daylight, the photos captured by the main camera are larger. as useful for posting on social networks.
The ultra-wide camera also delivers a notch or two worse photos, with very pale colors and a lot of noise at the edges.
Taking pictures at zoom is a sad event. Up to approximately 3x magnification, the Note 12 Pro can still deliver satisfactory photos with post-processing. At higher magnifications, the photos will be removed immediately after capture.
Redmi Note 12 Pro can record in 4K (30 fps) resolution, Note 12 is limited to 1080p, which is also the maximum resolution of the front camera.
In short, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 delivers the photos we expected for a price of just under €250. The Redmi Note 12 Pro, which costs almost twice as much, delivers much better shots, but still not at the level of its direct competition, such as the Samsung Galaxy A53 or even its cousin the POCO X5 Pro.
It was incomprehensible to us that the Note 12 Pro, i.e. the more expensive version, has Android 12 installed, while the generally cheaper Note 12 has Android 13. During the test, we did not have the option of upgrading to Android 13 If this changes after the official release on the European market, we will update the article.
Redmi Note 12 Pro image gallery
Redmi Note 12 Image Gallery
Final opinion
We have to admit that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 and Note 12 Pro did not really impress us. The OLED screen, which refreshes at 120 Hz, stands out in the €200 range of phones, but still not enough to recommend it without hesitation to anyone. It also lacks support for the 5G network found in the special Note 12 5G model. This division into 4G and 5G versions is not the most thought-through for us in 2023.
The same applies to the Note 12 Pro, which actually has no outstanding features that would distinguish it from the competition. The screen is good, the main camera is decent, charging is fast, but the same features are found elsewhere.
In the range of 200-300 euros, I would rather recommend the #141; or POCO M5 or the Galaxy A23, or we recommend that you jump into the #141; higher class (up to €400), where in addition to the Note 12 Pro, you can choose from the aforementioned The POCO X5 Pro, which also manages to play games, the Galaxy A53 (and possibly the upcoming A54), the Google Pixel 6a, and quite a few other contenders.
For us, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro and Note 12 are just a refresh of last year's models. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ works as a much more attractive option, mainly due to the 200 MP camera and 120 W charging. The only thing that bothers us is the high price (around €500) and the same processor as the Note 12 Pro.
