Budget phone users have an affordable opportunity to experience 5G in all its glory with the Redmi 12 5G. The phone debuts the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor as well, and it appears to have a lot of potential. But does it perform just as well?Since introducing its first smartphone in the number series in 2014, Redmi has advanced significantly. By providing customers looking for a cheap phone with exciting features, the brand has carved out a niche for itself in the market. And for smartphone users looking to upgrade without emptying their wallets, the recently released Redmi 12 5G opens up a whole new world.
The Redmi 12 5G, as its name suggests, has 5G connectivity, giving users the opportunity to enjoy 5G at an affordable price. The phone debuts the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor as well, and it appears to have a lot of potential.But does the Redmi 12 5G live up to the hype when it comes to performance on a daily basis? I’ve had the phone for almost a week now, so I haven’t had a chance to criticise the performance yet.Continue reading to find out how the Redmi 12 5G performs in typical use and whether you should buy it.
Redmi 12 5G: Design and display
Redmi went all out for the design of the Redmi 12 5G, which features a gorgeous glass back panel that is extremely uncommon in this price range. Moonstone Silver is the colour I was given to review, but there are also two other colour choices: Jade Black and Pastel Blue.Regarding the Moonstone Silver colour, it has a stunning back panel that, when viewed closely, emits rainbow tones. I like how the crystal finish isn’t overly flashy but still noticeable and has the potential to captivate many users. In other words, the phone has the ideal amount of gloss, making it look both attractive and elegant.
Although smudges do develop on the back panel, they are not visible in this colour. The infinite camera deco, which can be found on the top left, simply signifies that the company has chosen a more minimalist appearance over the boxed, elevated camera module.There is an LED flash, a secondary camera, and a primary camera. The sensors’ surrounding rims, which have a metallic finish, greatly improve the appearance of the phone as a whole. The Redmi 5G branding, which perfectly matches the Moonstone Silver colour, is located at the bottom.I also had a chance to take a quick look at the phone’s other two colour options. If you like pastel colours in general and want a phone that makes you feel calm and collected, I think Pastel Blue really stands out and ought to be your choice.
The power button on the side also functions as a fingerprint reader. Despite the phone having a large display area, I adore the placement of the button because it is incredibly accessible. The phone can be used for extended periods of time because the flat display’s rounded edges. The phone might fall out of your hands, though, because of how rounded the edges are. Therefore, I advise using the phone with the back cover that Xiaomi includes in the box for a better grip.A 3.5mm headphone jack on top and a Type-C charging port with speakers are features that are welcome additions to any low-cost smartphone.
The front of the device features a 6.79-inch FHD+ display with a punch-hole notch for a stylish appearance and a larger viewing area. The phone’s chin has thick bezels, which some people may not like, despite the fact that the bezels are quite thin on the other three sides.The phone appears to operate smoothly and quickly thanks to the display’s 90Hz adaptive refresh rate. On my phone, I scrolled through a variety of news articles, and the reading experience was excellent. There were no issues with the OTT programmes and films that I also watched. However, the screen will easily develop smudges, so it is preferable to purchase a screen-guard as soon as you get your hands on the phone.
Redmi 12 5G: Performance and battery
I thought the phone’s performance was its best feature. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor makes its debut in this phone, and you can feel it working as soon as you turn it on. You can easily switch between different apps, and the apps respond quickly and smoothly. There are also no lags. I was able to seamlessly switch between 22 open apps while having a large number of them open at once.The phone comes pre-installed with MIUI 14, which is based on Android 13, and the interface as a whole is quite impressive. The 5G connectivity is also faultless, and I had no problems while using it. And oh, many are happy to see the MIUI dialer return.
If your usage is moderate, the battery should easily last for a day and a half. It can easily last up to two days with moderate use. I brought the phone to work with me in the morning, and I only needed to charge it the following day.After 45 minutes of gaming, the battery’s percentage fell from 92% to 78%. So I would advise keeping the charger close by if you intend to play video games for a long time.It takes time for the battery to charge as well. The phone’s charge went from 0% to 100% in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Redmi 12 5G: Gaming and entertainment experience
Depending on the games you play, this might be a fantastic option if you enjoy playing on your phone. The phone didn’t get hot while playing simple games like Candy Crush and Subway Surfers, which made for a great experience. However, when I played physically taxing games like BGMI and COD Mobile, it did get quite warm. But given the price range, that is reasonable. However, when I played BGMI and COD Mobile on the default settings, there were no lags.I was pleased with the experience as I streamed a variety of shows on the device, including Mom, How I Met Your Mother, The Good Doctor, and others. The sound was only coming from one side of the phone because it only has a single speaker set, which is quite noticeable. However, the sound quality was quite good, and while it didn’t completely fill the space even when played at its highest volume, it wasn’t bad either.
Redmi 12 5G: Camera
Many people care about the camera, which could make or break their decision on a phone. In general, the Redmi 12 5G’s camera is passable and capable of taking some excellent pictures when the lighting is ideal. The 50-megapixel primary camera has a 2-megapixel secondary camera. The phone also features a front-facing 8-megapixel camera.I used my phone to take a variety of pictures in both indoor and outdoor settings under various lighting conditions. I took a lot of selfies in the sun because they were my favourite. According to the price range, the portrait shots were respectable, but I wish the edge detection was a little bit better.
It was disappointing when the edges of some portrait photographs were distorted. The front camera portrait selfies experienced the same thing.The 50-megapixel photo mode appeared to be identical to the standard photo mode at first glance. Deeper inspection, however, revealed some differentiation in terms of colour tone.When I enlarge an image, I can see some noise in the photos, which is something I noticed in all of the images. Additionally, if you zoom in while clicking the image, you will start to hear some noise.The nighttime indoor shots with the lights on in the room were merely average, but the nighttime outdoor shots with the streetlights on could have been better.
Redmi 12 5G: Should you buy?
Should you, then, purchase the Redmi 12 5G? This is a good choice if you have a limited budget and need a phone with 5G connectivity, slick overall performance, and respectable cameras.The Moonshine Silver colour is excellent at concealing those smudges that form at the glass back panel, while the Pastel Blue colour would appeal to people who want something different.
