We daresay, Redmi comes with another banger!
The eagerly awaited Redmi 12 has finally made its way to the Philippines! Could this latest addition to the entry-level smartphone category disrupt the Philippine smartphone market?
Before we push through the review itself, let’s get down to its basic specs:
Now that we are done with the specs section, let’s unbox the Redmi 12.
Unboxing
The Redmi 12 arrives in a minimalist white packaging adorned with the subtle yet attention-grabbing Redmi logo on its front. On the rear side of the box, you’ll discover a comprehensive listing of the phone’s specifications and functionalities. Upon unboxing, you’ll uncover the phone itself, a charger, a USB cable, a SIM card ejector tool, and accompanying documentation.
This packaging design strikes a harmonious balance between simplicity and sophistication. The white hue exudes cleanliness and purity, while the unobtrusive Redmi emblem adds a touch of charm. Meanwhile, the informative panel facilitates swift comprehension of the phone’s capabilities.
In essence, this design exudes a sense of simplicity that is profoundly effective. It serves as an ideal introduction to highlight the phone’s impressive features, leaving a lasting positive impression on the user.
Design
The Redmi 12 boasts an exquisite glass back adorned with a distinctive gradient pattern. Crafted from top-tier glass material, it not only exudes elegance but also offers remarkable resistance to scratches and cracks. This fusion of durability and aesthetic appeal is bound to captivate onlookers.
Adding to its allure, the back of the phone hosts a vertically arranged triple-camera system. Anchored by a formidable 50MP sensor, it is complemented by an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro camera. To illuminate your photography endeavors, the camera ensemble comes equipped with a LED flash.
In sum, the Redmi 12’s design is a testament to its contemporary and chic aesthetics. It stands as a superb choice for individuals seeking a smartphone with a truly distinctive and attention-grabbing appearance.
Display
The Redmi 12 has a 6.79-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2460 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate.
The display is one of the best features of the Redmi 12. It offers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and decent viewing angles. The 90Hz refresh rate makes the display smooth and fluid, which is great for gaming and scrolling through social media.
The Redmi 12’s display is one of the best in its class. It is bright, clear, and vibrant, and it is sure to please even the most demanding users.
Camera
The Redmi 12 has a triple-camera system on the back, consisting of a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera.
The main camera takes good photos in good lighting conditions, with plenty of detail and accurate colors. The ultrawide camera is also good, but it can struggle in low light conditions. The macro camera is only good for close-up shots, and it doesn’t offer much detail.
The Redmi 12 also has a 13MP front-facing camera, which takes good selfies in good lighting conditions. However, it can struggle in low light conditions.
Video recording
The Redmi 12 can record video in 1080p at 30fps or 720p at 60fps. It does not support 4K video recording. The video quality is good in good lighting conditions, but it can be a bit grainy in low light conditions. The video stabilization is also not very good, so videos can be shaky if you are not holding the phone steady.
Performance
The Redmi 12 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G88 processor, which is a mid-range processor – its AnTuTu score is around 276,000 which is fairly decent for a 4G processor). It is paired with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage(our review unit is the 8+256GB variant). The phone runs on MIUI 13, which is based on Android 12.
The Redmi 12’s performance is good for everyday tasks such as browsing the web, checking emails, and using social media. It can also handle light gaming and multitasking without any issues. However, it may struggle with more demanding tasks such as video editing or gaming at high settings.
Gaming
The Redmi 12 exhibits commendable gaming capabilities, handling titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty at low to medium settings capably. However, it may encounter difficulties when pushed to the high settings, leading to potential frame drops and lag issues.
In contrast, when it comes to Mobile Legends, a less resource-intensive MOBA game, the Redmi 12 truly shines. It effortlessly runs the game at high settings, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience devoid of any frustrating performance hiccups.
While the Redmi 12 is a solid choice for gaming enthusiasts, it falls short of being the ultimate gaming powerhouse. Those who prioritize serious gaming experiences might want to explore smartphones equipped with more robust processors and GPUs for optimal performance.
Battery
The Redmi 12 has a 5000mAh battery, which is one of the largest batteries in a smartphone. The battery supports 18W fast charging, which can fully charge the phone in just over 2 hours.
The Redmi 12’s battery life is excellent. It can easily last for a full day on a single charge, even with moderate use. You can even get two days of battery life if you are a light user.
User Interface
The user interface (UI) of the Redmi 12 is based on MIUI 13, which is a custom Android skin developed by Xiaomi. It is a lightweight and customizable UI that offers a number of features and customization options.
The home screen of the Redmi 12 is made up of a grid of app icons and widgets. The icons are arranged in a 5×5 grid, and you can customize the size and layout of the grid. You can also add widgets to the home screen, such as weather, clock, and news widgets.
The notification shade is located at the top of the screen. It displays notifications from apps, and you can swipe down to expand it. The notification shade also includes quick settings, which allow you to quickly access common settings, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and brightness.
The settings menu is where you can configure the various settings of your Redmi 12. It is divided into a number of categories, such as General, Display, Sound, and Battery.
The Redmi 12 also offers a number of gestures that you can use to interact with the UI. For example, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go home, or swipe left or right to switch between apps.
The UI is a well-designed and user-friendly interface. It offers a number of features and customization options, and it is easy to learn and use.
What we like
- Large 90Hz IPS LCD punch-hole display
- Premium design
- Decent camera setup and image taking quality
- Large battery capacity
What we don’t like
- Poor video recording quality
- 18W charging, which is slow in today’s standards
Final Remarks
