In-Depth Review
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S Review
By MobGadgets Editorial Team
Updated October 08, 2026 • 12 min read
Xiaomi has been dominating the smartphone market with its impressive range of phones that offer high-end specifications at an affordable price. With the release of the Redmi Note 12S, Xiaomi has once again raised the bar for affordable smartphones. The Redmi Note 12S is the latest addition to Xiaomi's popular Redmi Note series of smartphones. It comes with a range of impressive features that make it a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone market. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the Redmi Note 12S and see how it performs in various aspects.
II. Design and Build
The Redmi Note 12S features a sleek and premium design that gives it a premium look and feel. The phone features a 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which makes it resistant to scratches and accidental drops. The phone has a plastic frame and back panel, which gives it a lightweight feel.
The Redmi Note 12S has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is conveniently located and easy to use. It also has a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer. The phone has a headphone jack, which is a rare feature in modern smartphones. The phone is available in three color options: Cosmic Black, Lunar Silver, and Aurora Blue.
III. Memory
The Redmi Note 12S comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The phone also has a dedicated microSD card slot that can expand the storage up to 512GB. The phone runs on MIUI 14, which is based on Android 12.
IV. Connectivity
The Redmi Note 12S supports 5G connectivity, which is becoming increasingly important in today's world. The phone also has Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, NFC, and an IR blaster. The phone has two SIM card slots, which is convenient for people who travel frequently.
V. Performance
The Redmi Note 12S is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G processor, which is a powerful mid-range chipset. The phone runs smoothly and handles multitasking with ease. The phone also handles heavy gaming with ease, thanks to the Adreno 642L GPU.
In benchmark tests, the Redmi Note 12S scored 798 in single-core and 2684 in multi-core tests in Geekbench 5. The phone scored 5982 in the 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme test, which is impressive for a mid-range phone.
VI. Camera
The Redmi Note 12S has a quad-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. The phone also has a 20MP front-facing camera for selfies.
The primary sensor takes sharp and detailed photos in daylight and low-light conditions. The ultra-wide sensor captures a wider field of view, which is useful for landscape photos. The macro sensor takes impressive close-up shots, while the depth sensor adds a bokeh effect to portraits.
VII. Battery Life
The Redmi Note 12S has a 5000mAh battery that provides excellent battery life. The phone easily lasts for a full day of heavy usage, thanks to its efficient processor and software optimizations. The phone also supports fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just over an hour.
VIII. Pricing
The Redmi Note 12S is priced at $299, which is an excellent price for a phone with such impressive specifications.
IX. Comparison with Other Related Phones
The Redmi Note 12S is a strong competitor in the mid-range smartphone market. It competes with phones like the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, the OnePlus Nord 2, and the Realme GT Master Edition.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, the Redmi Note 12S offers better value for money, as it has a more powerful processor and a better camera setup. The OnePlus Nord 2 is a strong competitor, but it is slightly more expensive than the Redmi Note 12S. The Realme GT Master Edition is also a strong competitor, but it is slightly more expensive and lacks 5G connectivity.
X. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable
- Powerful processor
- 5G connectivity
- Impressive camera setup
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Plastic back panel
- No wireless charging
- No official IP rating for water and dust resistance
XI. Verdict
The Redmi Note 12S is an impressive mid-range smartphone that offers excellent value for money. It has a powerful processor, an impressive camera setup, and long battery life. The phone's design and build quality may not be as premium as some other mid-range phones, but it still looks and feels good in the hand. Overall, the Redmi Note 12S is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a powerful and affordable smartphone.
II. Design and Build
The Redmi Note 12S features a sleek and premium design that gives it a premium look and feel. The phone features a 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which makes it resistant to scratches and accidental drops. The phone has a plastic frame and back panel, which gives it a lightweight feel.
The Redmi Note 12S has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is conveniently located and easy to use. It also has a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer. The phone has a headphone jack, which is a rare feature in modern smartphones. The phone is available in three color options: Cosmic Black, Lunar Silver, and Aurora Blue.
III. Memory
The Redmi Note 12S comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The phone also has a dedicated microSD card slot that can expand the storage up to 512GB. The phone runs on MIUI 14, which is based on Android 12.
IV. Connectivity
The Redmi Note 12S supports 5G connectivity, which is becoming increasingly important in today's world. The phone also has Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, NFC, and an IR blaster. The phone has two SIM card slots, which is convenient for people who travel frequently.
V. Performance
The Redmi Note 12S is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G processor, which is a powerful mid-range chipset. The phone runs smoothly and handles multitasking with ease. The phone also handles heavy gaming with ease, thanks to the Adreno 642L GPU.
In benchmark tests, the Redmi Note 12S scored 798 in single-core and 2684 in multi-core tests in Geekbench 5. The phone scored 5982 in the 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme test, which is impressive for a mid-range phone.
VI. Camera
The Redmi Note 12S has a quad-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. The phone also has a 20MP front-facing camera for selfies.
The primary sensor takes sharp and detailed photos in daylight and low-light conditions. The ultra-wide sensor captures a wider field of view, which is useful for landscape photos. The macro sensor takes impressive close-up shots, while the depth sensor adds a bokeh effect to portraits.
VII. Battery Life
The Redmi Note 12S has a 5000mAh battery that provides excellent battery life. The phone easily lasts for a full day of heavy usage, thanks to its efficient processor and software optimizations. The phone also supports fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just over an hour.
VIII. Pricing
The Redmi Note 12S is priced at $299, which is an excellent price for a phone with such impressive specifications.
IX. Comparison with Other Related Phones
The Redmi Note 12S is a strong competitor in the mid-range smartphone market. It competes with phones like the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, the OnePlus Nord 2, and the Realme GT Master Edition.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, the Redmi Note 12S offers better value for money, as it has a more powerful processor and a better camera setup. The OnePlus Nord 2 is a strong competitor, but it is slightly more expensive than the Redmi Note 12S. The Realme GT Master Edition is also a strong competitor, but it is slightly more expensive and lacks 5G connectivity.
X. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable
- Powerful processor
- 5G connectivity
- Impressive camera setup
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Plastic back panel
- No wireless charging
- No official IP rating for water and dust resistance
XI. Verdict
The Redmi Note 12S is an impressive mid-range smartphone that offers excellent value for money. It has a powerful processor, an impressive camera setup, and long battery life. The phone's design and build quality may not be as premium as some other mid-range phones, but it still looks and feels good in the hand. Overall, the Redmi Note 12S is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a powerful and affordable smartphone.
