| First Release | Released 2023, April |
| Name | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12s |
| Available Colors | Onyx Black, Ice Blue, Pearl Green |
| Category | Smartphone |
| Price |
Body
| Style | – |
| Material | Glass Front |
| Body Weight | 188g (6.63 oz) |
| Dimensions | 165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.53 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) |
| Water Resistance | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
Connectivity
| Network Type | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Network Sim | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| GPRS | Yes |
| EDGE | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| USB | Yes |
| OTG | Yes |
| USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0 |
Platform
| Operating System | Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G96 (12 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| RAM | 6GB, 8GB |
| Processor | Octa-core |
Display
| Display Type | IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 90Hz |
| Display Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Display Multitouch | Yes |
| Display Density | 409 ppi |
Camera
| Front Camera | 12 MP |
| Rear Camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97″, 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0″, 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Camera Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
Memory
| ROM | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Ram | 6GB, 8GB |
| MicroSD Slot | microSDXC |
Sound
| Audio | Yes |
| 3.5mm Jack | Yes |
| Features | – |
Battery
| Battery Type | Non-removable Li-Po |
| Capacity | 5000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | 33W Wired |
Features & Security
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, compass Virtual proximity sensing |
| Messaging | Yes |
| Fingerprint | Fingerprint (side-mounted) |
| Face Unlock | Yes |
| Radio | No |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12s Review: Striking a Balance between Performance and Affordability.
Introduction
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has long been a favorite among budget-conscious consumers, offering impressive features and performance at affordable prices. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12s is the latest addition to this popular lineup, boasting various upgrades and improvements over its predecessor. In this comprehensive review, we will explore the design, display, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, software, user interface, and connectivity of the Redmi Note 12s to determine whether it continues the series’ tradition of providing excellent value for money.
Design and Build Quality
The Redmi Note 12s sports a sleek and modern design, featuring a plastic back with a glossy finish that mimics glass. The rear panel is available in various attractive colors, catering to different consumer preferences. The device feels sturdy and well-built, but the glossy surface can be a fingerprint magnet. Despite this, the ergonomically curved edges ensure a comfortable grip, allowing users to operate the phone with ease.
Display
The smartphone boasts a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels). The panel offers good color reproduction, decent brightness levels, and adequate viewing angles, providing a satisfactory visual experience for daily use and multimedia consumption. While an AMOLED display would have been preferable, the IPS LCD panel remains suitable for its price range.
Performance
Under the hood, the Redmi Note 12s is powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 chipset, which is a capable mid-range processor. It is paired with a Mali-G57 GPU, offering smooth graphics performance for casual gaming and everyday tasks. The device comes in two RAM configurations: 6GB and 8GB, providing sufficient memory for multitasking and moderate usage.
While the Helio G88 is not the most powerful chipset available, it handles day-to-day tasks with ease. However, when it comes to graphically intensive games, users may experience occasional stutters and reduced frame rates. Despite this, the Redmi Note 12s is a reliable performer for most everyday tasks.
Camera
The Redmi Note 12s features a quad-camera setup on the rear: a 108MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro sensor. The primary camera captures vibrant and well-detailed images in daylight conditions, while the ultra-wide lens expands the frame, ideal for capturing landscapes and group shots. However, in low-light scenarios, the camera performance suffers, producing images with noticeable noise and reduced sharpness.
On the front, the device houses a 12MP selfie camera, delivering decent results for social media posts and video calls. The AI beauty mode helps enhance selfies, but some users may find it too aggressive in smoothing skin textures.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 12s is equipped with a generous 5,000mAh battery, ensuring extended usage throughout the day. The power-efficient Helio G96 chipset and software optimizations contribute to the device’s impressive battery life. Additionally, the phone supports 33W charging, enabling a quick top-up when needed.
Software
The smartphone runs on MIUI 14, Xiaomi’s custom user interface based on Android 13. MIUI 14 introduces various visual and functional improvements, enhancing the user experience. The interface is smooth and intuitive, offering a wide range of customization options to personalize the device according to users’ preferences. However, like other MIUI devices, the Redmi Note 12s comes with pre-installed apps and occasional advertisements, which might be a drawback for some users.
Connectivity
In terms of connectivity, the Redmi Note 12s is a dual-SIM smartphone with support for 4G LTE. While it lacks 5G connectivity, it offers reliable and stable data and voice call connections over 4G networks. The device also includes Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer.
Software and Security Features
Xiaomi has incorporated several software features to enhance the overall user experience on the Redmi Note 12s. The device comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is fast and accurate, providing secure biometric authentication. Additionally, face unlock is available as an alternative, though it may not be as secure as the fingerprint sensor.
The software features include an AI-powered performance booster, Game Turbo, which optimizes gaming performance by prioritizing resources and reducing distractions during gameplay. This helps improve the overall gaming experience on the device.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12s is a well-rounded budget smartphone that strikes a balance between performance and affordability. Its sleek design, decent display, reliable performance, and capable camera setup make it a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers. The inclusion of a large battery ensures extended usage, and the fast charging support provides added convenience.
While the device lacks 5G connectivity and does not deliver flagship-level gaming performance, it offers a reliable experience for everyday tasks and casual gaming. The MIUI 14 interface is smooth and feature-rich, albeit with the presence of pre-installed apps and occasional advertisements.
Overall, the Redmi Note 12s continues the tradition of the Redmi Note series, providing excellent value for money and catering to the needs of the budget smartphone market. For consumers seeking a solid performer without breaking the bank, the Redmi Note 12s is certainly worth considering.