For their international launch, we were able to take control of smartphones from the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 range on Thursday, March 23. After our test of the 12 Pro Plus, we were able to see the quality of the finishes of its three little brothers: the Note 12, Note 12 5G and Note 12 Pro.
Announced since October 2022 in China, the Note 12s are finally arriving in France. Xiaomi continues to develop its entry-level and mid-range subsidiary Redmi in Europe with four new smartphones: the Redmi Note 12, Note 12 5G, Note 12 Pro and Note 12 Pro Plus. If we have already been able to test the latter in writing, the official presentation of the range allowed us to get our hands on the other three models. Race results: a few flaws, but nice finishes and nice smooth screens.
Redmi Note 12 Pro: a flagship killer feeling
In its official presentation, Xiaomi repeated the credo it wishes to follow for the models of its Redmi sub-brand: flagship features such as a 120 Hz Oled screen at entry or mid-range prices. In any case, the 12 Pro seems to fulfill this contract in terms of feeling in hand.
Presented in three colors (black, white and light blue), the smartphone has a modern design, but different from the Pro Plus: the back of the smartphone is no longer curved, but flat, surrounded by more modern flat edges. As on the other Note 12s, we find the three photo modules placed in a small rectangular block with rounded corners which, like the back, leaves a lot of visible fingerprints.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro // Source: Frandroid
The choice of materials and their good finishes give a feeling of solidity similar to more high-end smartphones. Its weight of 197 grams does not feel either.
A beautiful slab with thin edges
On the right side, there are buttons that are very pleasant to use and an unlock key that also acts as a fingerprint reader. On the front side, the large 6.67-inch screen offers fairly thin borders and a punch for the front camera which is discreet. A beautiful 120 Hz Amoled panel with saturated colors without overdoing it in Vivid and bright mode, but not enough to avoid reflections from the spots in the Redmi showroom.
The Mediatek Dimensity 1080 processor and the MIUI 14 (Android 12) interface make the smartphone fluid and responsive when browsing the menus and quickly changing applications, although it will be necessary to wait for the test before to decide definitively.
Redmi Note 12 4G and Redmi 12 5G: false twins
Beyond this mid-range with a very satisfying design, the Redmi Note range is also popular for its very well designed entry-level smartphones for this segment. This is once again the case with the Redmi Note 12 4G and 12 5G, both available in three colors: gray, light green and light blue.
Strangely, the names given to the four models in the range do not correspond at all to their design. Indeed, if the Note 12 presents a design close to the 12 Pro, with again a modern flat back and edges, the Note 12 5G is rather closer to the external design of the Note 12 Pro Plus, with a slightly curved back on edges.
Well-placed savings
Their plastic backs also have nothing to do, since the Note 12 offers a close rendering in solid plastic close to glass, while the finish of the 12 5G (100 euros more expensive) is much lower end. Their finishes are still very good for entry-level, although the clicking of their side buttons (fingerprint sensor) breaks this feeling of solidity a little.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G // Source: Frandroid
We still notice the difference on the screen part. The Note 12 and 12 5G have two beautiful panels that are as bright and at the same refresh rate of 120 Hz as the Note 12 Pro (a feat for this price range), but their corners are more rounded and their borders thicker, with close one centimeter below the screen at chin level.
Some software slowdowns
Finally, we find again a difference between 12 and 12 5G in the fluidity of their MIUI 14 interface. If we are delighted to see the latest version of the manufacturer’s interface on the entry level, remember that it is It’s Android 12. Also, the two phones aren’t equal in running it. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 of the Note 12 5G retains good responsiveness despite some frame drops by chaining the openings/closing of applications and a little lag in photo capture speed.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G // Source: Frandroid
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G // Source: Frandroid
If the Note 12 4G does not have this problem, its Snapdragon 685 chip seems to show its limits by rowing a little against more demanding applications like Google Maps. We will once again wait for the writing tests of these two models to be sure.
At what price and when will these models be available?
All three products are available for sale now, but their prices differ depending on RAM and internal memory.
- The Redmi Note 12 is sold in two variants: 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage for 200 euros, or with 128 GB of storage for 250 euros;
- The Redmi Note 12 5G is sold in a single version: 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage for 300 euros;
- Finally, the Redmi Note 12 Pro is marketed at three different prices: 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage for 400 euros, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage for 430 euros and 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage for 470 euros.