Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S is a flagship smartphone that promises an exceptional experience at an affordable price. Boasting a vibrant AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, this device provides stunning visuals and smooth scrolling. Equipped with a powerful Mediatek Helio G96 chipset and ample RAM, it ensures seamless multitasking and speedy performance. The standout feature of the Redmi Note 12S is its impressive 108MP triple camera system, allowing you to capture breathtaking photos with ease. With a massive 5000mAh battery and fast charging capabilities, you can enjoy extended usage without worrying about running out of power. Available in multiple variants and stylish colors, the Redmi Note 12S offers great value for money.

Design and Build Quality

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S boasts a sleek and aesthetically pleasing design that exudes a premium look and feel. With its slim form factor and compact dimensions of 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm, it offers excellent portability without compromising on functionality. The device weighs 176g, making it lightweight and comfortable to hold for extended periods.

The Redmi Note 12S features a well-constructed build, utilizing high-quality materials that enhance its durability and robustness. The back panel has a smooth texture, offering a comfortable grip and preventing accidental slips. The finishing touches on the device are meticulous, ensuring a seamless fit and finish throughout.

Ergonomics play a vital role in the design of the Redmi Note 12S, as the buttons and controls are conveniently placed for easy access. The bezels are narrow, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and providing an immersive viewing experience. The frame of the device adds to its sturdiness, offering protection against accidental drops and impacts.

Overall, the design and build of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S exhibit a perfect balance of aesthetics and functionality. It combines a sleek and modern appearance with durable construction, making it an attractive choice for users seeking a stylish and reliable smartphone. Additionally, its ergonomic design ensures comfortable one-handed usability, further enhancing the user experience.

Display

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S boasts a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 84.5%. This display offers a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of around 409 ppi. The AMOLED technology ensures vibrant colors and deep blacks, enhancing the overall visual experience. Additionally, the display supports a 90Hz refresh rate, providing smoother scrolling and animations.

One notable feature of the Redmi Note 12S's display is its impressive brightness levels. With a peak brightness of 1000 nits and 700 nits in high brightness mode, the screen remains visible even under direct sunlight. This makes it suitable for outdoor usage, ensuring that content remains clear and legible in various lighting conditions.

To protect the display from scratches and accidental damage, Xiaomi has equipped the Redmi Note 12S with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass, although the specific version is not specified. This adds durability to the device, ensuring that the screen can withstand daily wear and tear.

In terms of color accuracy, the Redmi Note 12S offers a wide color gamut, allowing for more vibrant and lifelike colors. The display also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), enhancing the contrast and details in supported content.

Other features of the display include wide viewing angles, which ensure that content remains clear even when viewed from different angles. The Redmi Note 12S also includes an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and improve visibility in bright environments.

Users can also take advantage of the always-on display feature, which allows for quick access to notifications and other information without waking up the device. The display also includes a blue light filter and adaptive brightness, which adjusts the screen's brightness based on ambient lighting conditions.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S offers a high-quality display with vibrant colors, impressive brightness levels, and various features to enhance the viewing experience.

Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S offers impressive performance capabilities thanks to its powerful chipset and optimized system. Equipped with the Mediatek Helio G96 chipset, which features an octa-core CPU and Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, this smartphone delivers smooth and lag-free performance across various tasks.

In CPU benchmarks, the Redmi Note 12S showcases its processing prowess with its Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) configuration. Whether you're running demanding applications or multitasking, this device handles it with ease. App loading speeds are snappy, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Graphics scores in GPU benchmarks highlight the capable performance of the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the Redmi Note 12S's gaming capabilities, as it provides a satisfactory gaming experience with smooth frame rates and immersive visuals. The device's GPU efficiency ensures that graphics-intensive games can be played without compromising performance.

System optimization and thermal management contribute to the Redmi Note 12S's excellent performance metrics. The device efficiently manages its resources, allowing for sustained performance during extended usage. Thermal management ensures that the device remains cool even during intense gaming sessions, preventing overheating and potential performance throttling.

Benchmark tests and scores further confirm the Redmi Note 12S's impressive performance. Synthetic benchmarks evaluate the device's overall performance and provide insights into its capabilities. Gaming benchmarks specifically assess the device's gaming performance, giving gamers an idea of its gaming prowess.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S delivers a smooth and lag-free performance with its powerful chipset, efficient GPU, and optimized system. Whether you're gaming, multitasking, or using demanding applications, this device offers a smooth user experience with its impressive performance metrics and system optimization.

Software and User Interface

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S runs on the Android 13 operating system, with the MIUI 14 user interface layered on top. This combination provides users with a smooth and intuitive user experience. The MIUI 14 interface offers a clean and user-friendly design, making it easy for users to navigate and customize their device. It comes with a range of pre-installed apps that enhance the functionality of the phone, including popular apps like Google Chrome, YouTube, and Gmail.

One aspect that users appreciate about the software on the Redmi Note 12S is its minimal bloatware. Unlike some other smartphones that come with a plethora of unnecessary pre-installed apps, the Redmi Note 12S keeps things streamlined and clutter-free. This allows users to have more control over the apps they want on their device, without feeling overwhelmed by unnecessary software.

The MIUI 14 interface also offers a high level of customization, allowing users to personalize their device to suit their preferences. From changing the theme and icon styles to customizing the layout and notification settings, users have the freedom to make their Redmi Note 12S truly their own.

In terms of performance, the Redmi Note 12S is powered by the Mediatek Helio G96 chipset, which ensures smooth multitasking and efficient operation of apps and games. The device also boasts a generous amount of RAM, with options for 6GB or 8GB, providing ample memory for seamless performance.

Overall, the software on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S offers a user-friendly interface, minimal bloatware, and customization options, making it a desirable choice for those seeking a smooth and personalized smartphone experience.

Camera

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S boasts an impressive camera setup that allows users to capture stunning images and videos. With its triple camera system, including a high-resolution 108 MP main camera, users can expect excellent image quality and detail in their photos. The wide aperture of f/1.9 allows for better light capture, resulting in improved low-light sensitivity and the ability to capture clear and detailed images even in challenging lighting conditions. The camera also features a 2 MP macro lens that enables users to take close-up shots with great precision and focus.

In terms of image quality, the Redmi Note 12S produces vibrant and natural colors, thanks to its AI scene recognition technology. This feature automatically detects the scene being captured and adjusts the camera settings accordingly to enhance the image quality. The camera also excels in daylight photography, delivering sharpness, dynamic range, and excellent detail in outdoor shots. Additionally, the device's image stabilization ensures that photos and videos remain steady, reducing blurriness caused by hand movements.

When it comes to low-light performance and night photography, the Redmi Note 12S impresses with its advanced night mode and noise reduction capabilities. The device's large sensor size allows it to capture more light, resulting in brighter and clearer photos even in dimly lit environments. Users can also record high-quality videos with the device, including 4K video with video stabilization for smooth and steady footage. The camera also supports features such as slow-motion video and time-lapse, providing users with creative options for capturing memorable moments. Whether it's capturing stunning landscapes, detailed close-ups, or recording high-quality videos, the camera of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S offers a versatile and impressive photography experience.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S is equipped with a powerful Li-Po 5000 mAh non-removable battery, which offers impressive battery life. It provides ample capacity to support the device's demanding features and ensures extended usage without frequent recharging. The device also supports fast charging technology, allowing users to quickly replenish the battery when needed. With its 33W wired charging capability, the Redmi Note 12S ensures efficient charging and minimizes the downtime. Additionally, the device incorporates battery optimization features and power efficiency measures to enhance overall battery performance. Users can expect a good screen-on time and standby time, thanks to the battery's capacity and the device's optimization efforts. The battery management system, along with the optimization features, helps in reducing unnecessary battery drain and maximizing battery backup. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S provides a reliable battery performance with its capacity, fast charging capability, and optimization features, ensuring a satisfactory battery experience for users.

Connectivity and Networking

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S offers a wide range of connectivity options, making it a versatile device for staying connected. It supports various network compatibilities, including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring reliable and fast data speeds. With its 5G capability, users can experience even faster internet speeds and seamless connectivity in areas with 5G coverage.

For wireless connectivity, the Redmi Note 12S features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, allowing users to connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. This ensures a stable and efficient internet connection, whether at home or in public places. Bluetooth 5.2 is also supported, enabling users to connect their devices wirelessly and transfer data quickly and securely.

In terms of physical connectivity, the Redmi Note 12S comes with a USB Type-C 2.0 port, making it convenient for charging and data transfer. It also supports NFC, which allows for contactless payments and easy pairing with compatible devices. Furthermore, the device features dual SIM functionality, allowing users to use two SIM cards simultaneously for added convenience.

When it comes to navigation, the Redmi Note 12S is equipped with GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS positioning systems. This ensures accurate and reliable navigation, whether driving or exploring new places. Additionally, users can create a mobile hotspot with the device, sharing their internet connection with other devices.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S provides a comprehensive range of connectivity options, including 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, USB-C, and dual SIM support. This ensures seamless connectivity and flexibility for users in various situations.

Additional Features

• Standout Features: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S comes with several standout features that make it a compelling choice. The device boasts a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, offering smooth and vibrant visuals. It also has a high brightness of 700 nits (HBM) and 1000 nits (peak), ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The phone is powered by the Mediatek Helio G96 chipset, providing efficient performance for multitasking and gaming.


• Additional Sensors: In addition to the standard set of sensors, the Redmi Note 12S is equipped with advanced sensors such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enhance the user experience by enabling features like screen rotation, motion-based gestures, and accurate location tracking.


• IP Rating: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12s has an IP53 rating which offers Protection from limited dust ingress and protection from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical.
  . The first number in an IP rating refers to protection against dust, and the second number refers to protection against liquid.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S is a mid-range smartphone that offers impressive features and specifications at an affordable price point. When comparing it to related devices in the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy A52 and the Realme 8 Pro, the Redmi Note 12S stands out in terms of its value for money.

In terms of display, the Redmi Note 12S boasts a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. This puts it on par with the Samsung Galaxy A52, which also features an AMOLED display, but at a higher price point. The Realme 8 Pro, on the other hand, falls short with its Super AMOLED display but lacks the higher refresh rate.

Performance-wise, the Redmi Note 12S is powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 chipset, which offers smooth multitasking and gaming capabilities. When compared to the Samsung Galaxy A52's Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G and the Realme 8 Pro's Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, the Redmi Note 12S holds its own and provides a competitive performance.

In terms of camera capabilities, the Redmi Note 12S impresses with its triple camera setup, featuring a 108MP main sensor. This puts it ahead of both the Samsung Galaxy A52 and the Realme 8 Pro, which offer lower megapixel counts for their main cameras. However, it is important to note that megapixels alone do not determine camera quality, and real-world performance may vary.

One of the key advantages of the Redmi Note 12S is its pricing strategy. With a starting price of around €195.90 / $198.00, it offers great value for money compared to its competitors. The Samsung Galaxy A52 and the Realme 8 Pro are priced higher, making the Redmi Note 12S an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S stands out in terms of its competitive pricing, impressive display, and solid performance. While it may not have the brand recognition of Samsung or Realme, it offers similar or even better features at a more affordable price point. This positions it as a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone market and gives it a competitive advantage over its rivals.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S offers a compelling package with its impressive features and affordable price. The device comes with a vibrant AMOLED display, smooth performance powered by the Mediatek Helio G96 chipset, and a versatile camera setup. Its long-lasting battery and fast charging capabilities ensure a hassle-free user experience. Furthermore, the inclusion of NFC and stereo speakers adds to the overall value. However, potential buyers should note that the device lacks 5G connectivity and the software experience may vary depending on personal preferences. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S is an excellent choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable smartphone with great performance and features.