The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G: A Worthy Upgrade or a Pricy Gamble?
Xiaomi’s latest mid-range offering, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, is attempting to reclaim its crown in the increasingly competitive smartphone market. This successor to the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G boasts segment-first hardware, including a 200-megapixel primary camera and record-breaking fast charging. However, these premium features come with a hefty price, placing the Note 12 Pro+ 5G in close competition with flagship models like the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge. Is the Note 12 Pro+ 5G worth the investment, or is it just another mid-range phone with a high price tag? Let’s dive into a detailed review to find out.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G: Price in India
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G comes in two configurations:
- 8GB RAM + 256GB storage: ₹29,999
- 12GB RAM + 256GB storage: ₹32,999
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G: Design and Display
The Note 12 Pro+ 5G continues the trend of premium design with its glass body. The curved rear panel smoothly transitions to a flat plastic frame, offering a comfortable grip. Despite weighing around 208g, the phone feels well-balanced in hand. The phone also features an IP53 rating for basic water resistance.
We reviewed the Arctic White color, which stands out as the most visually appealing option. The shiny texture gives the phone a sophisticated look. Despite the glossy finish, the white color effectively masks fingerprints and smudges compared to the Obsidian Black and Iceberg Blue variants. However, the protruding camera module causes the phone to wobble slightly on flat surfaces.
The 6.67-inch AMOLED display offers a full-HD+ resolution and supports over a billion colors, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors for a compelling multimedia experience. It also features Dolby Vision HDR, WideVine L1, and HDR10 content support, bringing out the best in popular apps like Netflix.
While the Realme 10 Pro+ 5G boasts a slightly more immersive viewing experience with its curved-edge display and minimal bezels, the Note 12 Pro+ 5G’s flat display is a matter of personal preference. The dynamic refresh rate that adjusts between 30Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz optimizes screen performance based on content.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G: Specifications and Software
The Note 12 Pro+ 5G packs a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC with an integrated Mali G68 GPU. Powering the device is a 4980mAh battery supporting 120W fast charging, further enhanced by 10 5G bands in India, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and other connectivity features. Security is handled by a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and AI face recognition.
Software-wise, the Note 12 Pro+ 5G runs on Android 12-based MIUI 13 out-of-the-box. While the absence of the latest MIUI 14 based on Android 13 is disappointing, Xiaomi has confirmed the phone will receive both Android 13 and Android 14 updates along with four years of security support.
MIUI 13 remains a feature-rich interface, offering extensive customization options. It includes popular features like Floating Windows and a customizable Always-on Display (AoD). It also focuses on system-level enhancements, such as optimized file storage systems, processor priority optimization, and more. Other features include Android 12’s Privacy Dashboard, permission manager, and support for new widgets.
While MIUI 13 promised better RAM management, it mostly delivers on that promise. Most background apps stay in memory, with the exception of some memory-intensive apps occasionally reloading. The phone does come with some bloatware apps, but you can uninstall the unnecessary ones.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G: Performance and Battery Life
The Note 12 Pro+ 5G’s MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC provides a considerable upgrade over its predecessor’s Snapdragon 695 SoC. While the phone’s performance aligns closely with the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge, it’s not a slouch by any means, delivering smooth performance for everyday tasks.
The phone effortlessly handles multitasking, fast app loading times, and demanding games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 Legends. While you can play Call of Duty: Mobile with Max framerate and Low graphics, compromising to Very High frame rate allows you to experience the game with Very High graphics, offering a more visually pleasing experience without sacrificing smoothness.
Surprisingly, the Note 12 Pro+ 5G doesn’t overheat during extensive gaming sessions. This could be attributed to the phone’s vapor cooling chamber and the cooler weather in India during the testing period. The phone did warm up while running the AnTuTu benchmark test, scoring 4,38,678 points, a slightly lower score compared to the Realme 10 Pro+ 5G’s 5,04,626 points with the same SoC.
In Geekbench, the Note 12 Pro+ 5G achieved scores of 749 and 2165 points in the single-core and multi-core tests, respectively, which again were slightly lower than the Realme 10 Pro+ 5G’s scores.
The Note 12 Pro+ 5G provides all-day battery life for most users with medium to heavy usage. If you engage in heavy-duty activities like gaming and video recording, you might need to reach for a charger before the day ends. However, fast charging is a breeze, with the phone charging from 0 to 100 percent in about 25 minutes with BoostCharge enabled (which needs to be enabled in Battery Settings). While slightly longer than the claimed time of 19 minutes, a full day of battery life followed by a 30-minute charge is undeniably appealing. In our HD video loop test, the phone’s battery lasted for 15 hours and 23 minutes, falling short of the Realme 10 Pro+ 5G’s 19 hours and 43 minutes.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G: Cameras
The most noteworthy feature of the Note 12 Pro+ 5G is its robust camera setup. It boasts a 200-megapixel Samsung HPX primary camera sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. While the popular 5-megapixel tele-macro camera sensor, found in phones like the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, has been replaced with the 2-megapixel macro sensor due to supply chain issues, Xiaomi assures that this sensor remains capable. The phone also features a 16-megapixel front camera sensor.
The primary camera delivers detailed images with a wide dynamic range and vibrant colors. Despite the large 1/1.4-inch sensor, the shutter response is quick, capturing images with minimal delay. While there’s a slight hint of chromatic aberration in some shots with the sun or harsh light in the background, the overall quality is impressive.
The main camera performs equally well at night, effectively exposing shadows without introducing excessive noise. Images captured in Night mode appear slightly soft, which could be due to the aggressive noise reduction algorithm. Highlights remain well-controlled, and the night sky appears accurate, avoiding the bluish tint often seen in night shots. However, Xiaomi needs to refine the Portrait mode blur effect, which seems excessively aggressive and appears unnaturally fake. The overall processing in this mode feels too sharp.
The ultra-wide shooter captures a wider perspective with a 120-degree field of view. While effective, it suffers from noticeable distortion around the edges, despite software improvements. The color temperature is slightly different, with ultra-wide photos appearing slightly warmer. Additionally, most ultra-wide photos exhibited a subtle pink cast.
There is a noticeable delay when switching between the main and ultra-wide cameras. The macro sensor captures decent pictures in well-lit conditions, but struggles with significant noise under low-light scenarios. The front camera is somewhat unpredictable in capturing accurate skin tones. While selfies offer good detail with minimal smoothing effects, there were instances when skin tones appeared overly red.
The Note 12 Pro+ 5G’s rear camera can record 4K videos at 30fps, producing detailed footage with good dynamic range. However, the front camera’s video resolution is limited to 1080p 60fps. While all cameras manage to properly expose the subject, dynamic range performance is average.
Adding to the hardware capabilities is a suite of useful camera features, including Vlog Mode, Ultra HD mode for capturing 50-megapixel and 200-megapixel images, Long exposure, Pro mode, and AI SkyScaping. The latter feature is an often-overlooked AI tool that allows you to apply multiple filters to change the sky’s color without affecting the overall color scheme of the photo.
Verdict
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G presents a significant upgrade over its predecessors, offering a compelling combination of features and performance. The phone shines with its superior build quality, outstanding display, top-notch camera performance, and remarkably fast charging capabilities. It also delivers decent battery life and packs a capable performance unit.
However, the most disappointing aspect is the absence of Android 13 out-of-the-box, even in 2023. Hopefully, the Android 13 update will be released soon.
While the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G was a less compelling recommendation within its segment, the Note 12 Pro+ 5G redeems itself by offering a well-rounded package. Despite being the most expensive Redmi Note in the series’ history, it checks almost all the boxes when considering its features and performance. Ultimately, the decision boils down to whether the premium features and price justify the purchase.
