Xiaomi has announced the latest update to its budget - focused Redmi line , the Redmi Note 12 series , contain of the Redmi Note 12 5 G , 12 Pro 5 G and 12 Pro Plus 5G.
While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is a tempting budget - concentre smartphone , what ’s the difference between the two more more or less premium discrepancy ? The two facial expression near - identical with the same worldwide design , same colour options , same exhibit and even the same processor , but there are central differences between the two that could push you towards one or the other .
permit ’s reveal down the key divergence between theXiaomi Redmi Note 12 Proand theXiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus .
Price
The price is one of the biggest cardinal differences between the two smartphones . The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5 G comes in at £ 339/€399 , while the Plus edition is more expensive at £ 449/€499
Design & screen
You might contend to find a difference not only between the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5 gigabyte and its Pro Plus chance variable but the phones ’ predecessors too . That ’s to say that the earpiece not only look near - identical to each other , but last year’sNote 11 ProandPro Plus handsetstoo .
In fact , one of the only differences is the curvature . While the Pro model is completely savorless on the rear , the Pro Plus has a flimsy curvature to the bum that help it sit more well in the hand .
That being said , both the Redmi Note 12 Pro and Pro Plus both look fairly nice , especially at the budget goal of the market where things can set about to look and feel really cheap really quick .
Both sport the same combination of a plastic frame and a plastic rear , none of which is a surprise at the price gunpoint . Some may scoff at the use of plastic , and while I do agree that it does n’t finger as premium as glass - backed alternatives , the trade - off in durability is welcome . you could be confident in the knowledge that the rear panel wo n’t shatter when you drip it – it should n’t , anyway .
Both also offer the same level of security , sporting Corning ’s gamy - end ( but not most recent)Gorilla Glass 5 display protectionandIP53dust and splash resistance . They wo n’t survive a dunk in the water , then , but you should be fine using them in the pelting .
The similarities do n’t end there either ; both are uncommitted in the same Midnight Black , Polar White and Sky Blue colour options , and both frisk the same 6.67 - inchAMOLED displaytoo .
It ’s gracious to see AMOLED at such a flashy price point , especially a panel that can go as high as 120Hz . The high refresh charge per unit will no doubt make things sense unruffled and more responsive , a summation when pair with a distinctly mid - range chipset . Both also sportDolby VisionandDolby Atmossupport , so you really are n’t losing out on much in the presentation section if you opt for the cheap Pro model .
The only notable departure between the two are the weight and dimension . Despite the similarities on offer , the Note 12 Pro is both lightheaded and thinner than its Pro Plus variant , mensurate in at 187 GiB and 7.9 mm compared to 211 gigabyte and 8.9 mm .
Cameras
The two phones may be very exchangeable in terms of design and silver screen technical school , but things get to differ when it comes to the camera department .
The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5 one thousand mutation a 50MP wide camera with evenhandedly adequate specs including OIS , a fairly wide f/1.88 aperture and 2um pixel size when using the built - inpixel binning technical school .
It may seem like a downgrade on paper compare to last yr ’s 108MP common snapping turtle in the Note 11 Pro , but the IMX766 sensor used in the newer model is said to perform better . It was the tv camera of alternative among flagship like theOnePlus 10Tin 2022 , so there ’s surely promise there .
That ’s pair with an 8MP ultra - wide and a 2MP macro photographic camera , the latter of which will likely be dissatisfactory like with just about every other 2MP fixed - focal point macro electron lens on budget and mid - range selection .
While that ’s practiced enough , the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus quetch thing up a nick with the inclusion of an promote 200MP main detector , complete with OIS , a wider f/1.65 aperture and 2.24um pixel size of it when using the build - in 16 - in-1 pixel binning technical school . It also uses ALD ( atomic layer deposit ) technical school that Xiaomi says allows for better image carrying out in complex lighting circumstance .
Do n’t expect the same variety of results as you ’ll get from the top - endSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultraas there ’s more to camera performance than a megapixel count , but it does look reasonably capable – specially at such a cheap terms point .
Like the Pro mannikin , the Pro Plus is flanked by an 8MP ultra - wide and a 2MP macro lens , with both models lark about a 16MP front - facing photographic camera .
Performance
When it comes to operation , both smartphones should be clean equally play off with the inclusion of the same MediaTek Dimensity 1080 , though the Pro Plus model could eke out slightly proficient benchmark piles with 8 GB as standard , compared to the 6- or 8 GB from the Note 12 depending on the storage strain you go for .
That said , the 6 Land of Enchantment chipset is n’t just the modish and capital , even by MediaTek ’s standards . The chipset first arrive out in late 2022 , and while operation is likely to be hunky-dory , it may sputter against new , more efficient cow dung like Samsung ’s 5 nm Exynos 1380 found within its£449 Samsung Galaxy A54 .
In fact , it ’s the same chipset found in Samsung ’s somewhat depressed - specced£349 Galaxy A34 – though considering the cheap price of Xiaomi ’s options , that ’s not really a sorry affair .
That ’s geminate with either 128 GB or 256 GB of entrepot from the Note 12 , while the Plus model come with 256 GB as standard . Both also benefit fromdual 5G , Wi - Fi 6 , NFC , an IR blaster and even a 3.5 mm headphone jack .
Software is a little more disappointing , transport with the olderAndroid 12 in place onAndroid 13found on many mid - rangers , and to make matters worse , it uses Xiaomi ’s MIUI 14 peel . It ’s a skin that ’s more marmite - like than most others , with some features that are painfully iOS - similar , admit the split apprisal shade and nimble mastery .
Both models skylark the same 5,000mAh battery that should comfortably offer all - sidereal day usage , especially when only powering an FHD+ display , but cathexis time differ between the two – and rather dramatically , at that .
You see , while the two are generally similarly specced , charging is another key domain where the top - goal Federal Reserve note 12 Pro Plus has the edge .
The Redmi Note 12 Pro boasts impressive 67W tight institutionalise tech that Xiaomi exact can get enough juice for a full Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ’s usage in just 15 minutes , though that ’s not afullcharge . I ’d imagine it ’d take skinny to an time of day for a full bang , but I ’ll have to put that to the mental test in the coming twenty-four hour period .
The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus , on the other paw , boasts the same rapid 120W HyperCharge tech as the flagship Xiaomi 13 Pro . Having used theXiaomi 13 Prorecently , I can attest to the impressive charge meter of that smartphone , and it should be no different here .
Xiaomi claims a full accusation in just 19 arcminute , and that sounds about decent give my experience , though I ’ll verify it with benchmark in the coming days .
Early thoughts
Both the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5 G and 12 Pro Plus 5 one thousand are tempting budget - focused phones with flock of similarities , not only in term of cosmopolitan figure but video display , processor and battery liveliness , with the Note 12 Pro Plus only sport a better tv camera and quicker charging than the Pro model .
That said , if you ’re focused on mobile picture taking and do it the idea of a full charge in 19 minutes , you may well take account the feature article of the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G. If , however , you just need a upright all - libertine that ’ll have you do the basics like text , crop the web and play introductory game , you may save yourself a snatch of hard cash and opt for the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G.