Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has always been popular among consumers owing to the good value for money that it usually offers. For 2023, Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, and Redmi Note 12 5G. However, unlike previous years, these first three models in the series have come at a much higher price, with the base model of the entry-level Redmi Note 12 5G starting at Rs. 17,999.
Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at the middle child of the series, the Redmi Note 12 5G. The smartphone is particularly intriguing because it sports a fresh design and shares many features with the more expensive Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G (Review), making it a solid value for money.
Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is available in Glacier Blue, Stardust Purple and Onyx Black colours
The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G comes in three variants. The base configuration with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage costs Rs. 24,999, the 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage variant costs Rs. 26,999, while the top-end configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage costs Rs. 27,999. It comes in three colour options — Glacier Blue, Onyx Black, and a unique-looking Stardust Purple.
With flat edges and a polycarbonate body, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G looks robust yet stylish. The back looks like glass, but it’s actually a matte or glossy fibre material depending on the colour option you choose. It feels premium in the hand, and is neither too heavy at 187g nor too thick at 7.9mm. In fact, it’s both thinner and lighter than the more expensive Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G.
Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G (left), Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G (right)
The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G has a matte-finished frame regardless of which colour you choose, and the volume and power buttons (with in-display fingerprint sensor) are on the right. The USB Type-C charging port, SIM tray, microphone and speaker grille are all at the bottom. Xiaomi’s signature IR blaster sits at the top of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, secondary speaker grille and another microphone for noise cancellation. The Stardust Purple variant’s frame has a glittery coating that sets it apart from the other two colour options.
The classic Redmi branding is present on the back panel. The camera module on the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G doesn’t protrude much and hence doesn’t end up being too distracting. The cameras on the rear include a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor (with OIS) for the primary camera, followed by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Given the brief time that I spent with the phone, the quality of the primary camera seemed decent, with good colors and sharpness. On the front, the smartphone gets a 16-megapixel camera which seems to perform decently well for selfies, without adding much heavy processing.
The smartphone features a triple-camera setup on the back
The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G features a 6.67-inch full-HD+, 120Hz AMOLED display which is HDR10+ certified just like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G. The display is quite vibrant and the sharpness seems to be good too. Viewing content or gaming on it should definitely be a good experience. The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 5G SoC.
In my short time with the device, I didn’t notice any lag while opening multiple apps or scrolling through the UI. This SoC performed well when we tested the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, so I think it’s safe to say that gaming and general performance should be much the same on the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G.
The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery, but instead of the 120W fast charging you get on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ model, the Note 12 Pro supports 67W fast charging, which is still speedy.
Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G has a 5000mAh battery
The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is a nice-looking smartphone with decent specs and features. Its starting price of Rs. 24,999 isn’t bad, but keep in mind that for a few thousand rupees more, you can get the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G (Review) which starts at Rs. 29,999. This phone offers faster charging, a higher resolution primary camera, and bigger storage. However, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G shouldn’t be ignored as it still offers most of the features and specs of the plus model but at an affordable price.
