Review of the Redmi 12 5G: A respectable 5G phone for a reasonable cost.

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.

Review of the Redmi Watch 3 Active: Gets the basics right.

With features like a heart rate monitor, SpO2, and a sleep tracker, the Redmi Watch 3 is a respectable addition to your smartphone and costs Rs 2,999. Certain areas require development. Despite the continued growth of the Indian smart-wearable market, Xiaomi has remained relatively under the radar. This may be due to the smartphone manufacturer taking a more measured approach to smartwatches than Indian competitors Noise, boAt, Fire-Boltt, and Gizmore. However, Xiaomi is familiar with this market because its Mi Bands had a significant impact on the development of affordable wearables. The Redmi brand of smartwatches is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to reclaim its market share. However, Xiaomi recently changed its slogan.

To give one example, Xiaomi’s new Redmi Watch 3 Active offers nearly everything we need (and want) from smartwatches in the sub-Rs 3K category. It offers practical health features like a sleep tracker, stress monitor, heart-rate monitor, and SpO2. Additionally, there are some useful extra features like Theatre mode, Bluetooth calling, and SoS alert.The Redmi Watch 3 Active’s ability to give users more control over the interface and settings sets it apart from other smartwatches. For instance, the Mi Fitness app allows users to easily customise widgets. In addition, you can sync your calendar and messages, which theoretically cuts down on the amount of time you spend staring at your phone screen. The smartwatch’s most important feature is its 12-day battery life, which could be very handy for someone who detests having to charge the same thing every day.In that case, should you consider the Rs 2,999 Redmi Watch 3 Active if you’re thinking about getting a new watch? You should be aware of the following.

Redmi Watch 3 Active design and display

With its rectangular frame and softly rounded corners, the Redmi Watch 3 Active initially resembles an Apple Watch. Although the frame is primarily made of plastic, a “non-conductive vacuum metallisation” coating gives it a more expensive appearance. Considering the smartwatch has a 1.83-inch display, it also keeps the weight low. I personally don’t mind the build quality, but I hope Xiaomi experiments with new looks given how much the Watch 3 Active resembles the Watch 2 Lite from the previous year. There is waterproofing of 5ATM.By no means does this imply that the Watch 3 Active looks or feels inferior. Its premium appearance is furthered by the glossy finish left by the metallic coating on the rims. The side button also makes a satisfying click. Customers have the option of platinum grey or charcoal black. I was given the black unit for the review, and I think it looks pretty good. I also got an olive-green strap that looks better than the black band I had before. The cost of just Rs 499 is also fair.

The silicone strap’s resemblance to the Sport band from Fitbit, complete with a quick-release pin, is my favourite feature of it. Compared to the traditional metal buckle used on vintage watches and even some budget smartwatches, I much prefer this. Unless you have a silicone material allergy, the Redmi Watch 3 Active’s band is cosy and simple to use. Even when wearing the watch to bed, I didn’t feel uncomfortable while reviewing it.Outside, the Redmi Watch 3 Active’s display is bright enough, and the touch sensitivity is respectable. The transition between apps and other features scrolls fairly smoothly, though occasionally there may be some stutters. Though I’ve seen better colours on smartwatches with AMOLED displays, the colours themselves are still good. The large 1.83-inch display is surprisingly useful and enjoyable to use, though.

Additionally, the Redmi Watch 3 Active allayed my general concerns about wearing a large display on your wrist. Additionally, Xiaomi has added some considerate display features, such as the theatre mode, which turns off notifications and lowers the brightness when you’re watching a movie. Although you can extend the auto lock for up to five minutes, there is no always-on mode. Extending auto lock is a clever way to prologue the battery backup, even though I still prefer an AOD mode. During one week-long review, other features like “raise to wake” and “cover display to enable sleep mode” also operated without a hitch.Xiaomi should make the bezels smaller on their upcoming Watch model, in my opinion. The Redmi Watch 3 Active’s thick bezels don’t significantly interfere with viewing, but slimmer bezels would give them some serious bragging rights.

Redmi Watch 3 Active performance

Readers should be aware that while I used the smartwatch with an Android phone, they can also use it with an iPhone before I continue. During my review, I had no connectivity problems.In summary, the Redmi Watch 3 Active offers nearly all of the features you’d want in a smartwatch under Rs 3,000. The Redmi Watch 3 Active is very simple to use, from setup to daily use. The popular Hindi proverb “ye dil maange more” (the heart desires more) describes how I feel somewhat.

The Redmi Watch 3 Active is no exception to the rule that smartwatches generally don’t provide the most precise measurements of your health metrics. These provide helpful starting points for tracking your healthy habits. Naturally, accuracy would be the main consideration.While running at the gym, I found inaccuracies in the Redmi Watch 3 Active’s reading of my step count. When I compared the results to Fitbit Versa 4, the Redmi Watch 3 Active occasionally counted two extra steps. The bottom line is that in order to achieve your desired result, you must walk an additional mile at the end of the day.

Sadly, there isn’t an altimeter to monitor elevation or altitude changes. Tracking when someone ascends or descends hills or stairs could be very helpful.At least the Redmi Watch consistently measured the SpO2 and resting heart rate. I compared the findings to an inexpensive oximeter. A stress calculator with a range of 1 to 100 is also available. Between 30 and 40 was where I mostly experienced mild stress (which I doubt). An auto-stress tracking feature and alerts to get reminders to take deep breaths when the levels are high would have been nice. In a similar vein, while not always accurate, the sleep tracker provides a useful baseline. Users can track their various sleep stages (REM, light)

The Redmi watch is more about the experience than the hardware, as I previously stated. You can get calendars, call logs, and notifications. The pre-set timers’ and the weather app’s user interfaces are appealing to me. You can click phones with the connected smartphone by using the Redmi Watch 3 Active as a Bluetooth remote. There is also Bluetooth calling, which in my testing surprisingly performed well. The large 1.83-inch display makes it much more convenient to type numbers. Users of the app can even set their preferred contacts.

Redmi Watch 3 Active power source
The Redmi Watch 3 Active’s battery life is arguably my favourite feature. The backup per charge is much better because there is no AOD. Since I received the watch almost nine days ago, to be completely honest, I haven’t even tried to charge it. The wake time was held constant at 2 minutes to achieve this. The backup per charge will decrease if five minutes are chosen.With the included magnetic charger, Xiaomi claims a 12-day battery life and a two-hour charging time.

Redmi Watch 3 Active verdict

The Redmi Watch 3 Active gets the fundamentals right overall, so users shouldn’t have many serious issues with the smartwatch. However, Xiaomi is up against fierce competition from domestic rivals, and for good reason. While the price of Rs 2,999 may not seem excessive in comparison to Apple Watches or Samsung Galaxy Watches, there are companies like Noise and boAt that sell smartwatches with comparable features for considerably less money.But rather than the features or the price, the Redmi Watch 3 Active is more about the overall experience. The smartwatch can sometimes give the impression of being a dependable extension of your smartphone. Large display, battery life, and an intuitive app experience are some of the Redmi Watch 3 Active’s advantages over competitors in the market.Lack of an always-on display, a generic design, and sporadic auto-trackers are some of its flaws. However, Xiaomi has a solid history of paying attention to its customers and supporters. The future will only become clear with time.

Launch of the Redmi 12 4G and 5G in India: Top specifications, essential features, cost in India, and everything else

The Redmi 12 4G and 5G models were recently released by Redmi in India. Here are the phone’s top features, specifications, prices, and other important information. The Redmi 12 4G and Redmi 12 5G, Redmi’s most recent offerings in the low-cost smartphone market, have just been released, and users appear to be very enthusiastic about them. India is the first country where the Redmi 12 5G has been released globally, whereas the Redmi 12 4G had already been launched internationally. The phone offers 5G connectivity to users of budget smartphones, and this has received favourable reviews.While the Redmi 12 4G’s effective price in India, with bank offers included, starts at Rs 8,999, the effective price for the 5G model is Rs 10,999. Here are the key features of both phones, along with information on price and availability and everything else you need to know.

Redmi 12 4G, Redmi 12 5G: India price and availability

Both a 4GB RAM and 128 GB storage and a 6GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant of the Redmi 12 4G are available. When combined with bank incentives, the 4GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant will cost Rs 8,999, and the 6GB RAM and 128 GB variant will be available for Rs 10,499 (net effective price).Regarding the Redmi 12 5G, which debuted in India, there are three storage options available: 4GB + 128GB, 6GB + 128GB, and 8GB + 256GB.

The 4GB RAM and 128GB storage variant’s effective price is Rs. 10,999, while the 6GB + 128GB variant’s effective price is Rs. 12,4999. With the bank offer of Rs 1,000, the 8GB + 256 GB variant will cost Rs 14,999.In terms of availability, the phones will start to be sold on August 4 at 12:00 p.m. Both Amazon and the Redmi 12 5G’s official website will sell the product. The Redmi 12 4G will be available for purchase on Flipkart and the brand’s official website.There are three colour choices for both phones: Pastel Blue, Moonshine Silver, and Jade Black.

Redmi 12 4G: Top specs

Design: The Redmi 12 4G has a glass back panel, giving it a high-end appearance and feel. The camera setup is on top, and the silver metallic rims around the camera lenses give it a refined appearance. It has a 198.5 gramme weight.

Display: The device has a 6.79-inch FHD+ screen with a refresh rate of 90Hz. The display has three sides with thin bezels and a punch-hole notch design. The phone’s chin bezel is slightly thicker.

Camera: A 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera are all included in the smartphone. The 8-megapixel selfie camera.

Processor and software: The Redmi 12 comes with the MIUI dialler, which has been eagerly anticipated by Redmi fans, and is powered by MIUI 14 (based on Android 13). The MediaTek Helio G88 processor powers it.

Battery: The 5,000mAh battery in the Redmi 12 supports 18W fast charging.

Redmi 12 5G: Top specs

Design: The Redmi 12 5G has a glass back panel that gives it a high-end appearance and feel. The top left corner features an infinite camera decoration with silver metallic rims around the camera lenses. The phone is 198.5 grammes in weight.

Display: The phone has a 6.79-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, just like the Redmi 12 4G. The display has three sides with thin bezels and a punch-hole notch design.

Camera: The phone has a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel depth camera, and an LED flash. The front camera has an 8-megapixel resolution.

Processor and software: The Redmi 12 5G ships with MIUI 14 (based on Android 13) and MIUI dialer. The phone introduces the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor to India and promises a buttery smooth performance.

Battery: Redmi 12 comes with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W charging through a type C USB port.

Redmi 12 4G and Redmi 12 5G key features

In this price range, the Redmi 12 4G and 5G introduce the crystal back design, which is uncommon. It’s difficult to believe that either of the phone’s variants is on a budget because both have a premium feel to them. This time, Redmi has chosen an infinite camera deco over the standard camera module found in both phones, giving them a more streamlined appearance.India’s first Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 powered phone, the Redmi 12 5G, promises users a better user experience and performance. In addition, the phone gives budget phone users access to 5G’s power. Additionally, it has storage that can be expanded by up to 1 TB. Speaking of the phone’s camera, it has seven vintage film filters and is AI-powered, making it appealing to fans of smartphone photography.