So, the Redmi Note 12 5G is priced at RM1,099, while the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is priced at RM1,599. That is almost a 50% increase in between! Ouch, that’s quite a high spend for an upgrade, right? Well, Xiaomi has come up with a very clever solution in this Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, sliding right into a sweet spot between the two.
So, is this the ultimate budget smartphone, giving you the best value for your money? Let’s dive into this Redmi Note 12 series comparison!
Redmi Note 12 Series
Now, you’d think Xiaomi would stop at three new phone launches of the Redmi Note 12 series, right? Well, you’re wrong, because they’re like a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat, and voila, there is this Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, joining their fun lineup.
Now, there are also new announcements like the Redmi Note 12S and the Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G bringing a total release to SIX models! So yeah, you have plenty of options to choose from, but we’ll put those aside for this review since it’s the most budget offering and less relevant for the context of this review.
However, if you are curious, I have made a rundown on all three previously launched Redmi 12 series phones in my previous review, you can check it out here: https://youtu.be/tNx0b2H9_uc
Similarities
First, let’s talk about the similarities between all three of the Redmi Note 12 5G series, the upgrades you get when you step up from the Note 12 5G to the Note 12 Pro 5G, and what you may potentially lose out if you do not choose the flagship Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G so you can make the best purchase decision.
As for the similarities, these “three musketeers” share the same screen size of 6.67” that runs at 120Hz refresh rate.
Secondly, the batteries are all 5,000mAh, then there is a headphone jack in all of them (hats off to you, Xiaomi), and they also have IP53 certification along with NFC.
Finally, the fingerprint button is located on the side button over here, and that’s pretty much it. The rest is where the lines are blurry, and that is why I am here to help you in your purchase decision.
Note 12 5G vs. Note 12 Pro 5G
Now, when you first jump from the Redmi Note 12 5G to the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, firstly, you get an upgraded Flow AMOLED screen that has a higher contrast ratio, which should translate to an upgrade in your viewing experience.
The glass in front has been upgraded from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 5, so there’s better shock resistance if you have butter fingers like me.
On the camera’s side, you get a 50MP camera instead of a 48MP camera, and the front camera also gets a megapixel bump from 13MP to 16MP with OIS.
So if you are a vlogger at heart or would like to have better stability in your selfie shots, then the OIS is definitely better to help you with a less shaky image and also better overall footage.
Other extra goodies include a higher charging rate at 67W vs 33W. This may mean nothing to you until you get to find out that it takes only 15 minutes to get to 50% full and 45 minutes to fully charge up to 100%, and it’s a 5,000mAh battery cell! That’s craziness right there!
Then there is better cooling with the LiquidCool technology in this Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G instead of graphite, and the dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support for a more satisfying multimedia experience.
Then there is the underrated but very beneficial X-axis linear vibration motor for some sweet rumble action if you are a gamer or typing enthusiast! Is there such a hobby? A person who just loves to type? Anyways, you get what I mean!
However, the bigger upgrade would be the jump from a Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 to a Mediatek Dimensity 1080, which is a much more powerful processor all around.
Now I know some of you might wonder: “Huh? A Mediatek processor is better than a Snapdragon chipset?” Well, welcome to 2023, my friends!
Note 12 Pro 5G vs. Note 12 Pro+
Ok, sounds good so far, right? But what do you lose out if you compare it with the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ then? Well, before that, here is what you should NOT lose out on, which are the helpful videos like this in my YouTube channel, so do subscribe to Adam Lobo TV if you haven’t done so; thank you very much in advance!
Now, comparing the Pro 5G to the Pro+ 5G, you’re missing out on two major things: the whopping 200MP camera and the lightning-fast 120W charging.
There are also some minor differences, like the metal camera module and the sleeker curved glass on the Pro+. Nice upgrades, for sure, but are they absolute must-haves? Debatable, right?
This could be based on a personal preference but I do feel like I prefer the more flatter edges on the Pro 5G as it surely feels really good in the hands compared to the Pro+ 5G.
So overall what do you really get out of this? Now, think about it as you’re shopping for a car, the base model gets you from A to B, while the top-of-the-line model gets all the bells and whistles, like a beefy engine and maybe even a button that makes a pizza appear! …Not really but you get the point. Because most people will go for that sweet middle ground where you get all the essentials and a few extras without breaking the bank and that’s exactly where the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G really shines.
Conclusion
So does the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G brings the most bang for the buck? Well, it depends on the price right, which comes in a price of… RM1,299 (~USD286)! So yes, to me, is definitely worth it to fork out that couple of extra money for this.
As you can see from the list of upgrades mentioned, there are way more upgrades when you upgrade from the Redmi Note 12 5G to the Pro 5G compared to the minimal upgrades between the 12 Pro 5G to the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G.
