Redmi, a globally successful brand, has recently launched its Note 12
series. The series includes the Redmi Note 12 5G, which is followed by a
4G-only version of the smartphone. The Redmi Note 12 4G has been recently
launched in India, priced at Rs 14,999, and features a new Snapdragon 685
chipset, while the other specifications are similar to the Redmi Note 12
5G.
This comparison aims to look at the differences between the two smartphones
in terms of design, specifications, and price in India.
Price and Availability
The Redmi Note 12 4G is available in India with a starting price of Rs
14,999 for the 6GB/64GB version and Rs 16,999 for the 6GB/128GB version. The
smartphone comes in three colors – Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue, and Lunar
Black.
On the other hand, the Redmi Note 12 5G is priced at Rs 17,999 for the 4GB
RAM and 128GB storage base model and Rs 19,999 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB
storage variant. The smartphone is available in three colors – Frosted
Green, Matte Black, and Mystique Blue.
Design, Display, Performance, and Camera
Design
Both smartphones share design similarities, including a plastic frame,
polycarbonate back, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front. The
Redmi Note 12 4G has a flat back, while the 5G model has a slightly curved
one that enhances grip. Although the dimensions are similar, the Redmi Note
12 4G is lighter, weighing 183.5 grams, compared to the Redmi Note 12 5G,
which weighs 188 grams.
Both smartphones have an IP53 water and dust rating, with volume rockers on
the right side, a power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner, a
3.5mm audio jack on the top, along with an IR blaster, and a main speaker
with a USB Type-C port at the bottom.
Display
Both smartphones feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution
and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display’s visibility under sunlight was
comparable to other devices in this price range, and it had a peak
brightness of over 1000 nits. The OLED panel demonstrated excellent color
accuracy and viewing angles, with a small punch-hole in the center for the
selfie camera. However, the sizeable chin was the only drawback, and we hope
it will be reduced in the next version.
Processor, RAM, and Storage
The Redmi Note 12 4G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 SoC, built
on the Snapdragon 680 chipset, and is the first smartphone in the market to
use this particular chip. The smartphone is paired with 6GB LPDDR4X RAM and
up to 128GB of UFS2.2 internal storage.
In comparison, the Redmi Note 12 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4
Gen 1 SoC, fabricated on the 6nm process. The smartphone features up to 6GB
LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS2.2 internal storage, expandable via a microSD
card. The Note 12 5G scored 366,146 points on the AnTuTu benchmark test and
635 and 1,991 points on the Geekbench single-core and multi-core tests,
respectively.
Software
The Redmi Note 12 4G and Redmi Note 12 5G are both part of the same series
and were launched within a few months of each other. Despite this, they come
with different operating system versions. The Redmi Note 12 4G comes
preloaded with the latest MIUI 14 based on Android 13, while the Redmi Note
12 5G comes with MIUI 13 based on Android 12 out of the box. However, both
devices promise to receive two future Android version updates and three
years of security updates. The Redmi Note 12 4G will receive updates up to
Android 15, while the Redmi Note 12 5G will receive updates up to Android
14.
Camera
The camera systems on the Redmi Note 12 4G and Note 12 5G differ from each
other. The Redmi Note 12 4G comes with a triple camera setup consisting of a
50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro lens. It also
has a 13MP camera on the front for taking selfies and video calls. On the
other hand, the Redmi Note 12 5G is equipped with a triple camera setup that
includes a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro
lens. Like the Redmi Note 12 4G, it also has a 13MP front-facing
camera.
Neither device supports optical image stabilization (OIS), but both have
camera apps that offer several AI filters and video modes for users to
experiment with.
Battery
The Redmi Note 12 4G and the Redmi Note 12 5G feature a large 5,000mAh
battery that can easily last for over a day. They also support 33W fast
charging, allowing the battery to be recharged in under an hour.
In summary, the Redmi Note 12 4G and Redmi Note 12 5G have some
differences, as well as some similarities. The table below provides a
detailed comparison of the two devices.
| Category | Redmi Note 12 4G | Redmi Note 12 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Price (India) | Rs 14,999 | Rs 17,999 |
| (6GB/64GB) | (4GB/128GB) | |
| Rs 16,999 | Rs 19,999 | |
| (6GB/128GB) | (6GB/128GB) | |
| Colors Available | Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue, Lunar Black | Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue |
| Design | Plastic frame, polycarbonate back, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection | Plastic frame, polycarbonate back, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection |
| Flat back | Slightly curved back | |
| Dimensions | Similar | Similar |
| Weight | 183.5 grams | 188 grams |
| Water and Dust rating | IP53 | IP53 |
| Display | 6.67-inch AMOLED panel, Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate | 6.67-inch AMOLED panel, Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC |
| RAM | 6GB LPDDR4X | Up to 6GB LPDDR4X |
| Internal Storage | Up to 128GB UFS2.2 | 128GB UFS2.2 internal storage, expandable via a microSD card |
| Operating System | MIUI 14 based on Android 13 | MIUI 13 based on Android 12 |
| Android updates | Up to Android 15 | Up to Android 14 |
| Security updates | Three years | Three years |
| Camera | Triple camera setup (50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro) | Quad camera setup (48MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth sensor, and 2MP macro) |
Conclusion:
The Redmi Note 12 4G and Redmi Note 12 5G are two versions of the same series with similar features. The main difference between the two smartphones is the processor and camera. The Redmi Note 12 4G comes with a new Snapdragon 685 chipset, while the Redmi Note 12 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC.
Additionally, the Redmi Note 12 4G has a triple-camera setup, while the Redmi Note 12 5G has a quad-camera setup. The Redmi Note 12 4G is priced lower than the Redmi Note 12 5G, making it an excellent option for those who don’t need 5G connectivity.