When you’re in search of a fantastic smartphone however don’t wish to pay premium costs, Xiaomi has loads of choices.
The corporate’s Redmi sub-brand is a superb place to start out, and 2023’s Redmi Be aware 12 collection noticed 4 new telephones come to the UK and Europe. The most cost effective of those is the 4G Redmi Be aware 12, which begins at simply £219/€249.
On this article, we’re specializing in the center two by way of worth. If in case you have round £300/€300 to spend, do you have to go for the £279/€299 Redmi Be aware 12 5G or step as much as the £339/€399 Redmi Be aware 12 Professional?
Listed below are all the important thing variations between the 2, which can enable you to resolve which is best for you. If in case you have a barely greater funds, contemplate the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional+ or one other mid-range telephone.
Variations between Redmi Be aware 12 5G and Redmi Be aware 12 Professional
Each telephones exhibit a smooth and fashionable design. The Redmi Be aware 12 5G (identified from right here on as merely ‘Redmi Be aware 12’) presents three color choices: Onyx Grey, Ice Blue, and Forest Inexperienced. Then again, the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional is available in Black, White, and Blue.
They appear very related however the precise building may be very completely different. The common Redmi Be aware 12 is made out of plastic and barely bigger and lighter, whereas the heavier and extra compact Redmi Be aware 12 Professional sports activities a glass again.
That makes it extra sturdy but additionally a smudge and fingerprint magnet. In the meantime, the matte plastic end on the Redmi Be aware 12 doesn’t have that drawback. Additionally, the underside bezel of the Redmi Be aware 12’s display screen is barely bigger than the one on the Professional mannequin.
Each telephones include an IP53 ranking, providing some resistance to mud and water splashes. Whereas they gained’t survive a full submersion, they need to face up to the rigours of each day life.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
One other distinction is that the Redmi Be aware 12 has Gorilla Glass 3 up entrance whereas on the Professional mannequin that’s upgraded to extra sturdy Gorilla Glass 5.
Nonetheless, each gadgets function a 6.67in OLED show with 120Hz refresh price, guaranteeing clean and vibrant visuals. Nonetheless, the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional takes it up a notch with its HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient help, making it the higher alternative for media consumption and gaming.
Then again, the show of the common Redmi Be aware 12 is brighter so will probably be a more sensible choice for outside utilization.
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The Redmi Be aware 12 Professional options twin stereo audio system, with the standard downward-firing grille complemented by a further one on the high of the telephone. This proves to be a superior different to relying solely on the earpiece, enhancing the telephone’s functionality to supply outstanding audio.
Regrettably, the audio high quality on the usual Redmi Be aware 12 can’t match that – it has only a single downward-firing speaker. Whereas it may well obtain a good quantity, it lacks bass and often produces a diluted sound. It’s appropriate for informal listening, however doesn’t provide a lot past that.
By way of ports, there’s USB-C, Twin-SIM, and an audio jack on the backside of each fashions so you’ll be able to at all times select between a pair of wi-fi earbuds or customary wired earphones.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The Redmi Be aware 12 is provided with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor, whereas the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional options the MediaTek Dimensity 1080. Each chipsets provide stable efficiency, however the Dimensity 1080 within the Professional mannequin offers a slight edge, particularly in graphic-intensive duties.
In our Geekbench 5 multi-core check, the Redmi Be aware 12 achieved a rating of 2006 factors, whereas the Professional mannequin outperformed it with a rating of 2221 factors.
By way of RAM and storage, the Redmi Be aware 12 comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which is expandable as much as a whopping 1TB. The Redmi Be aware 12 Professional, alternatively, presents 6GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 non-expandable storage. When you want further storage, the Be aware 12 is the clear winner.
Each gadgets have a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, plus 5G help for sooner knowledge speeds. However the Be aware 12 Professional has barely upgraded Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 help, in comparison with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 on the common Be aware 12.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Each telephones have a sizeable 5000mAh battery. Nonetheless, the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional presents sooner charging, with 67W wired charging, versus the 33W wired charging of the Redmi Be aware 12. When you’re at all times on the transfer and wish a fast battery top-up, the Professional mannequin is a more sensible choice.
With the Redmi Be aware 12, you’ll be able to confidently undergo a whole day with out ever needing to fret about discovering the closest energy outlet. On lighter days, notably whenever you’re at residence, it may well even go as much as 48 hours earlier than requiring a recharge.
However the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional, it additionally holds up for a full day of reasonable utilization and may prolong to 2 days for those who use your telephone solely sometimes.
They could not compete with one of the best battery life telephones, however you gained’t end up always anxious about them working out of energy.
It’s value noting that neither of those telephones helps wi-fi charging, however that’s not stunning at this worth.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Digicam capabilities are at all times a key consideration when selecting a smartphone.
The Redmi Be aware 12 encompasses a 48Mp predominant digital camera, 8Mp ultrawide, 2Mp macro and 13Mp front-facing digital camera. Compared, the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional boasts a 50Mp predominant digital camera, 8Mp ultrawide, 2Mp macro and 16Mp front-facing digital camera.
On the Professional, you additionally get the good thing about optical picture stabilization (OIS) on the primary rear lens. The pictures each telephones can seize are related, however the Professional has the slight edge.
Beneath you’ll find pictures taken with the Redmi Be aware 12 (first) and the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional (second):
Value & availability
UK and Europe prospects can purchase solely a single variant of the Redmi Be aware 12 for £279/€299 immediately from Xiaomi. This model options 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The worldwide model of the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional is on the market in a single model solely too. This mannequin serves because the entry-level possibility, offering 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
You should purchase it at a worth of simply £339/€399. The telephone could be obtained immediately from Xiaomi within the UK and Europe.
There are not any community suppliers providing each of those telephones on contract, however you might have the choice to pair it with a wonderful SIM-only offers, as there are quite a few enticing choices obtainable within the UK.
Verdict
In relation to selecting between the Xiaomi Redmi Be aware 12 5G and Redmi Be aware 12 Professional, your choice needs to be based mostly in your particular wants and priorities.
When you’re in search of a extra budget-friendly possibility with expandable storage and are content material with barely much less digital camera and charging capabilities, the Redmi Be aware 12 5G is a wonderful alternative.
Then again, for those who’re prepared to take a position a bit extra for a superior show, higher digital camera options, sooner charging, and improved wi-fi connectivity, the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional is the system for you.
However each telephones provide lots for his or her respective costs, and with OS updates till 2026 and safety updates till 2028, ought to final a superb few years.
Specs
Xiaomi Redmi Be aware 12:
- Android 13 w/ MIUI 14
- 6.67in Full HD+ (1080×2400) OLED show, 120Hz refresh price
- Facet-mounted fingerprint sensor
- Gorilla Glass 3 (entrance solely)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1
- 4GB RAM
- 128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable as much as 1TB)
- 48Mp, f/1.8 predominant digital camera
- 8Mp, f/2.2 118Ëš ultrawide digital camera
- 2Mp, f/2.4 macro digital camera
- 13Mp, f/2.45 front-facing digital camera
- Single speaker
- 3.5mm audio jack
- Twin-SIM
- 5G
- Wi-Fi 5
- Bluetooth 5.1
- IP53
- USB-C
- 5000mAh battery
- 33W wired charging
- 165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm
- 188g
- Onyx Grey, Ice Blue and Forest Inexperienced color choices
Xiaomi Redmi Be aware 12 Professional:
- Android 13 w/ MIUI 14
- 6.67in OLED 120Hz curved show, 20:9, HDR10+, Dolby Imaginative and prescient
- Facet-mounted fingerprint sensor
- Gorilla Glass 5 (entrance solely)
- MediaTek Dimensity 1080
- 6GB RAM
- 128GB UFS 2.2 non-expandable storage
- 50Mp, f/1.9 predominant digital camera with OIS
- 8Mp, f/2.2 120Ëš ultrawide digital camera
- 2Mp, f/2.4 macro digital camera
- 16Mp, f/2.5 front-facing digital camera
- Twin stereo audio system
- Twin-SIM
- 5G
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth 5.2
- IP53
- USB-C
- 5000mAh battery
- 67W wired charging
- 163 x 76 x 8mm
- 187g
- Black, White or Blue color choices