Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G

INTRODUCTION

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is Xiaomi’s latest smartphone in India. The Note 12 series is a direct successor of the Redmi Note 11 PRO+ 5G. Xiaomi has now launched the Redmi Note 12 Pro+5G with segment-first hardware.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G’s 200-megapixel primary camera is the main feature. This phone also has the fastest charging system. The combination of premium and best hardware resulted in a more pricing phone.

DESIGN

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G still offers a premium feel in hand thanks to its glass body. Its rear panel curves towards the flat plastic frame, so it is comfortable to hold for extended periods, even though the phone weighs 208g. The phone doesn’t feel heavy. For essential protection against water splashes, the device has an IP53 rating.

The phone looks premium and striking with its shiny texture. Despite the glossy paint, the white color hides fingerprints and smudges better than the Obsidian Blue and Iceberg Blue. The only thing I didn’t like was how the phone wobbled on flat surfaces due to the protruding module for the camera.

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G still has a 3.5mm audio jack on the top. Next is a Big cutout to connect to the secondary speaker, microphone, and IR emitter. Dual-speaker technology is available on the phone, with the earpiece as an additional outlet. Although the combined audio output is quite loud, there is some distortion when you increase the volume. I prefer to use the speakers at 70 per cent volume for a balanced book and quality.

DISPLAY

The Redmi Note 12 PRO+ 5G features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display that offers a rich multimedia experience. The phone’s brightness is good indoors and outdoors. This screen supports over a billion colors and offers full HD+ resolution. While watching content, you can enjoy vivid colors and deep blacks. Netflix supports Dolby Vision HDR and WideVine L1 range.

Redmi Note12 Pro+ 5G is an excellent multimedia device. The curved-edge display and minimal bezels offer an immersive viewing experience. It’s all about personal preference. The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G will deliver if you prefer a flat display. The screen refreshes dynamically at 30Hz, 60Hz, or 90Hz, depending on what’s on-screen.

CHIPSET & SOFTWARE

Redmi Note 12Pro+ 5G has a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC and an integrated Mali G68 GPU. It has a 4980mAh battery that can charge 120W. The phone supports 10 Indian 5G bands, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and other features. It also has AI face recognition and a side-mounted fingerprint reader.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+5G software runs on Android 12 and MIUI 13 customized skin. Xiaomi has not yet revealed any details regarding the release date but confirmed that the phone would receive Android 13 and Android 14 and four years of security support.

MIUI 13 is still feature-rich and provides a lot of customisation options. The popular Floating Windows feature and a customizable Always-on Display (AoD) are available. MIUI 13 focuses primarily on system-level enhancements such as optimized file storage, priority optimization, and other improvements. 

When it launched last year, MIUI 13 promised better RAM management. It has kept that promise for most of its life. Most background apps were still in memory on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+5G, except for some large ones that did reload occasionally. You can uninstall bloatware and other apps.

PERFORMANCE

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G has a new SoC than its predecessor, the Snapdragon 695 SoC. Although it may seem incremental, the specs and pricing make it a successor to Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge. It does not mean the Note 12 Pro+5 G’s performance unit can’t handle routine tasks.

The Redmi Note 12 PRO+ 5G is excellent for multitasking, app loading, and playing games. For a visually appealing and smoother experience, the former match supports Max’s framerate with low graphics. If you are willing to compromise, you can play with the Very High’ frame rate.

Is the Redmi Note12 Pro+ 5G too hot when playing long hours of games? It does not. It could be the cold weather in northern India during this time of year or the vapour cooling chamber of the phone.

REDMI NOTE 12 PRO+ CAMERA

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G’s camera setup is the main feature. The phone features a 200-megapixel Samsung HPX primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. The Note 12 Pro+ 5 G’s front camera sensor is 16 megapixels for selfies.

The primary camera takes detailed images with an excellent dynamic range and vibrant colors. The shutter of the phone’s 1/1.4 inch sensor is responsive and snaps photos quickly, despite its size. 

The primary camera’s night performance is impressive, as it can expose shadows without adding too much noise. However, the aggressive noise reduction algorithm makes Night mode images appear slightly soft. Highlights are also under control. What I loved most was that the night sky looked like the scene, not bluish. This mode’s overall processing was also too sharp.

Ultra-wide cameras have a 120-degree view. It provides a broader picture but still distortion around the edges. The color temperature of the ultra-wide photos is slightly different. Also, almost all ultra-wide images taken with the Note 12 PRO+ 5G had a light pink tint.

There is a significant delay when switching between the primary or ultra-wide camera. Although the macro sensor takes decent photos, I recommend using it in well-lit environments, as photos can be much more noise at low light. Unfortunately, the front camera can’t capture the correct skin tone. Although selfies were more detailed than usual and had a less smoothening effect on the skin, my skin sometimes looked too red.

VIDEO

The Note 12 Pro+5 G’s rear camera also records 4K videos at 30fps, with great details and full dynamic range. The front camera can record 1080p@60fps videos per second. The dynamic range performance of all cameras is average, even though they expose the subject well.

The Note 12 PRO+ 5G has several camera features to complement the hardware. MIUI also offers AI SkyScaping, which is a forgotten feature. It allows you to change the color of the sky but not the entire photo.

REDMI NOTE 12 PRO+ BATTERY

The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus has a 4980mAh battery. The battery should last a full day for users who use the Note 12 Pro+ 5G moderately to very heavily. As I did, you will likely need a charger if you play video games and record them simultaneously. The phone charges in about 25 minutes, and BoostCharge is enabled.

Although the charging time was slightly longer than claimed at 19 minutes, it gave me a good experience. The phone charges entirely in 30 minutes and offers all-day battery life.

REDMI NOTE 12 PRO+ 5G PRICE IN INDIA

The Note 12 Pro+5G has two storage options. The base model has 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. It is known for Rs. 29,999. Xiaomi sent us a variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. The price is Rs. 32,999.

OUR OPINION

The Note 12 Pro Plus 5G received many improvements over its predecessors. It is up to you to choose which phone it succeeds. This phone scores high for its excellent build quality, outstanding display, top-notch camera performance, and fast charging. It packs a powerful performance unit and has a decent battery life.

It doesn’t have Android 13 as an option, even in 2023. It is the most disappointing part. The phone should get the Android 13 update soon, so we hope it does.