Redmi 12 5G
Tech Writers Rating: 8.5/10 (Legacy rating)
Pros:
- Premium glass rear panel
- Excellent primary camera performance in daylight
- Impressive overall device performance
- Exceptional battery life
Cons:
- Portrait mode requires improvement
- Fast charging capability could be enhanced
- Presence of bloatware
VERDICT:
The Redmi 12 5G stands out as a champion in democratizing 5G accessibility for all smartphone users in the country. Xiaomi once again excels in its mission of making cutting-edge technology more reachable, marking a return to its core strength. In a market where affordable 5G plans abound, the scarcity of budget-friendly 5G-enabled smartphones has been a challenge hindering widespread adoption. With the Redmi 12 5G, Xiaomi addresses this gap, offering Indian smartphone users a compelling entry into the 5G era,
The Redmi 12 5G hit the shelves on August 1, 2023, with an enticing starting price of only Rs 10,999, positioning itself as the most budget-friendly 5G smartphone available. However, beyond just ushering in 5G accessibility, does the Redmi 12 5G offer more? In this comprehensive review, we delve into every aspect of the smartphone to determine what it delivers for those seeking a sub-₹12,000 device in the realm of affordable 5G options in the market. Let’s dive in.
Redmi 12 5G – Design
Starting with its design, the Redmi 12 5G boasts a sleek and premium appearance. Remarkably, Xiaomi offers a glass back with Corning Gorilla Glass protection within this budget, enhancing the smartphone’s luxurious tactile experience. Introducing a fresh design approach, the brand eschews the traditional camera module on the Redmi 12 5G. Instead, the cameras seamlessly protrude from the back panel, eliminating the need for a separate module to house the lenses.
This design choice lends a more cohesive and appealing aesthetic to the back panel, in contrast to the bulky camera modules that often cause smartphones to wobble on flat surfaces like tabletops—a feature I personally find preferable.
The Redmi 12 5G features a metal-like frame, though it’s important to note that this is actually a plastic or polycarbonate frame with a metallic finish. Xiaomi has applied a paint treatment to the frame, creating the illusion of a metallic appearance. While visually appealing, upon touch, it becomes evident that the frame lacks the solidity of actual metal.
However, Xiaomi has thoughtfully curved the edges of the smartphone, enhancing comfort during prolonged usage—a detail that may go unnoticed by many but significantly improves the overall ergonomic experience. As a user of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, I can attest to the importance of this feature, as the Redmi 12 5G’s design ensured it didn’t dig into my palms during extended use.
Moving to the front, simplicity is key. The Redmi 12 5G adopts a hole-punch design, accompanied by a relatively thick chin when viewed through today’s lens. Sporting a substantial 6.8-inch display, it claims the title of the largest display on any Redmi smartphone to date. While this size might be unwieldy for some users, it presents a significant advantage for gaming enthusiasts and avid consumers of movies and TV shows, offering an immersive experience that’s hard to beat.
Redmi 12 5G – Display
When it comes to the display, the Redmi 12 5G boasts the largest screen ever seen on a Redmi smartphone. Measuring at 6.79 inches, this IPS LCD display comes equipped with a 90Hz refresh rate and boasts an FHD+ resolution. At first glance, the display impresses with its clarity and detail, catering to the needs of various users. While it
The only aspect that didn’t quite meet expectations was the brightnes
In terms of responsiveness, the combination of a 90Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate ensures smooth scrolling through screens and menus. However, we encountered a peculiar issue where the refresh rate drops to 60Hz while using YouTube. Whether this is a flaw in the YouTube app or the device itself remains uncertain, but such instances of reduced display performance in specific applications detract from the user experience.
Overall, I am impressed with this display. It offers smooth operation, sharp visuals, and excellent color accuracy, particularly in the “Standard” color profile, which represents the display’s sRGB profile. The only aspect that left me slightly underwhelmed is the brightness level, as it affects the vibrancy of the display for many users, but it’s not a major issue. Furthermore, being the largest display on any Redmi smartphone to date, it’s sure to please users who consume a lot of content on their smartphones.
Moving on to performance, this was the aspect I was most eager to explore. The Redmi 12 5G marks the debut of Qualcomm’s latest budget chipset, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, in India. Naturally, I was keen to assess the performance of the Redmi 12 5G given its utilization of this new entry-level chip. Paired with up to 8GB of RAM, expandable to 16GB using Xiaomi’s virtual RAM expansion technology, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip holds promise for enhanced performance.
With the introduction of the newer chip, we witness a noticeable uptick in performance metrics compared to the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, which was previously featured in the Redmi 12 5G’s higher-end counterpart, the Redmi Note 12 5G. Benchmark tests reveal a significant 20-25 percent increase in performance figures with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, compared to its predecessor (as last observed in the Redmi Note 12 5G). For instance, the Redmi 12 5G achieved a score of 452,431 points, representing a 24 percent improvement over the Redmi Note 12 5G’s score of 363,836 points.
On Geek bench, the performance leap is notably significant. In the single-core test, the Redmi 12 5G powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 exhibits a remarkable over 51 percent increase in performance, boasting a score of 923 points. Similarly, in multi-core tests, it demonstrates an 18 percent improvement, achieving a score of 2183 points.
However, in the subsequent CPU-based benchmark, PC Mark Work 3.0, the results take an unexpected turn. The Redmi 12 5G showcases a decline in performance compared to the Redmi Note 12 5G, which utilizes the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chip. This discrepancy is surprising.
The GPU performance of the Redmi 12 5G fell short of expectations. Scoring only 665 in the 3DMark Wild Life test and lagging behind in frame rates compared to some competing devices in the GFXBench test, it may disappoint gaming enthusiasts. However, it marks an improvement as it successfully completed all GPU benchmarks, a first for a Redmi smartphone.
Despite the benchmark results, actual gaming experience on the Redmi 12 5G remains satisfactory. I didn’t encounter any noticeable performance issues or frame drops while playing games, and the smartphone maintained a reasonable temperature even during extended gaming sessions. This indicates commendable optimization, despite the underwhelming benchmark numbers.
Redmi 12 5G – Battery
Regarding the battery, the Redmi 12 5G stands out once more. With its 5,000mAh battery unit, it easily provides up to two days of usage for casual or light users, making it ideal for those who typically charge their phones at home or in the office. In my testing, the Redmi 12 5G delivered impressive performance.
Even after playing Call of Duty Mobile on the highest settings for 15 minutes or streaming an HD video on YouTube for 30 minutes continuously, the battery depletion was minimal, with only a 3 percent decrease in each scenario. Additionally, using GPS navigation for a straight hour resulted in a 9 percent decrease in battery life. However, it’s worth noting that the Redmi 12 5G experienced some minor heating while navigating using GPS.
However, the charging speed is relatively slow compared to today’s standards. The Redmi 12 5G supports 18W fast charging, yet it took nearly two hours (1 hour 56 minutes or 116 minutes) to charge from 0 to 100 percent. Therefore, if you aim to charge it in one session, you’ll need to exercise some patience.
Moving on to the camera setup, the Redmi 12 5G features a dual rear camera configuration consisting of a primary 50-megapixel shooter and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The performance of the primary shooter is quite commendable. While the images may not be the sharpest, they exhibit excellent dynamic range and detail.
In portrait mode, the Redmi 12 5G occasionally faces challenges with edge detection, displaying an overly aggressive approach. However, the depth sensor compensates for this by delivering a pleasing depth-of-field effect in images, which is a positive aspect. In low-light conditions, the camera may struggle to capture sharp images, but the results are generally acceptable and usable.
Verdict on the Redmi 12 5G
Overall, after extensive testing and usage, the Redmi 12 5G proves to be worth its price. Starting at under ₹11,000, it offers exceptional value for money. With a premium design, a large display, a powerful and efficient chip, and long-lasting battery life, it ticks many boxes. While its slow charging and occasional camera shortcomings are minor drawbacks, they are overshadowed by its affordability.
The smartphone aims to democratize 5G accessibility for all smartphone users in the country, and it accomplishes this with style and finesse. Xiaomi excels in its mission of making new technology accessible to the masses, reaffirming its reputation. Therefore, if you’re in the market for an entry-level 5G smartphone, the Redmi 12 5G emerges as the top choice within a ₹12,000 budget.
