Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R Smartphone Review – The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R smartphone was launched in June 2023 globally. It’s another entry to the mirage of smartphones that are already in the Redmi Note 12 series. In fact, the Redmi Note 12 series has a total of 10 smartphones. They say they bring technologies that are usually found in high-end phones, such as high refresh rate display, 5G connectivity, decent camera, and more, to the people who can’t afford flagship smartphones.
But you need a capable chipset to drive such technologies. On top of that, the smartphone needs to be in the right price budget to appeal to new consumers. Smartphones in the mid-range price mark are super competitive and the Redmi Note 12R will not only compete with other Redmi Note 12 series but smartphones from other brands as well. So, let’s begin with a detailed review of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R smartphone and see if this smartphone is worth purchasing.
Table of Contents
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R Smartphone Review
Highlights
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R features a 6.79 inches IPS LCD display with 90Hz refresh rate support.
- The smartphone is powered by the 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset that can reach up to a 2×2.2GHz clocking speed.
- The smartphone comes pre-loaded with the latest Android 13 OS with an MIUI 14 user interface for better customization.
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R features a new 50MP dual rear camera system along with a 5MP selfie camera.
- The smartphone has a Li-Po 5000mAh long-lasting battery with 18W wired fast charging technology.
Design and Display
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R is a downgrade version of the Redmi Note 12R Pro smartphone that features a clean and aesthetical design that is a pleasure to look at. The back panel is completely clean except for the Redmi 5G logo at the bottom left. The back panel is made of glass and features a matte finish. So, it won’t hold any fingerprints while using smartphones. However, the side frame is made out of plastic, so it won’t be as rigid as a metallic structure.
But make no mistake, it’s rigid enough and there’s no bending or cracking when under pressure. It’s built like a solid brick and is quite slim at 8.2mm. On the front, you get a 6.79-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ resolution support. The display is adaptive and can dynamically switch up to a 90Hz refresh rate for a smooth user experience. The display can also get 550 nits of peak brightness under direct sunlight. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R is also protected by IP54 dust and splash resistance.
There is no mention of any glass protection for the display, so getting a screen protector is advised if you decide to purchase the Redmi Note 12R. The smartphone is available for purchase in three colors, Blue, Silver, and Black. All in all, you get a balanced display section while the front has thin bezels that look quite appealing.
Memory and Internal
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R comes with the newly released 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset. This is a brand-new chipset that is meant to be the new powerhouse in the mid-range sector. The CPU can reach up to a 2×2.2GHz clocking speed so it has plenty of power to run your everyday apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or anything else.
The GPU in the device is the Adreno 613 GPU that can run heavy games such as PUBG mobile and CODm at decent graphics and smoother framerates. You can even run games like Genshin Impact, which is usually very hard on the GPU. The chipset also includes a 5G modem, so the Redmi Note 12R is 5G-ready and capable of providing near Gigabit speed levels. For RAM and storage, the phone can be purchased with up to 4GB to 8GB of RAM and 128GB to 256GB of internal storage.
Aside from this, the base variant arrives with 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, while you also get a hybrid SD card slot to expand storage limits. When it comes to the software side of things, the smartphone is running on the latest Android 13 OS with an MIUI 14 user interface for better customization support. Not to forget, you may receive some bloatware with this smartphone.
Camera
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R sports a dual rear camera system with a 50MP sensor as the main camera and a secondary 2MP macro camera. Besides that, there’s an LED flash that can be used in low-light situations. Redmi has optimized the camera performance, so the sensor is now capable of taking some great shots. The 50MP sensor takes some really great pictures with a high dynamic range, good detail levels, and saturated colors.
This superb performance doesn’t diminish during the night like most other smartphone cameras in this price range. In fact, the camera is optimized to capture more light than usual and the night mode algorithm further boosts the camera performance. Even in portrait mode, the camera excels and clicks portraits with the perfect level of background blur that looks natural, and the subject’s edges are maintained correctly.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R lacks an ultra-wide and telephoto sensor, but you can’t really expect those in this price range now. However, Redmi did include a 2MP macro sensor that you can use to take close-up pictures of the tiny details.
The selfie camera features a 5MP sensor and it can capture decent selfies that won’t break the record but are not bad either. As for video recording, the phone can only shoot at a maximum of 1080p at 30FPS from both the rear and the selfie cameras. The overall camera experience with the device is average, while there is no stabilization support on the phone.
Battery and Others
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R smartphone has a high-capacity Li-Po 5000mAh battery that can cover for at least 1 – 2 days with light usage. But, if you are a heavy user or a gamer, then don’t expect more than a day. Also, if you use 5G a lot, then the battery will not last that long. Thankfully, the smartphone has support for 18W wired fast charging, which will quickly recharge the battery and you will be back to playing games in no time.
The smartphone also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which caters to your security needs. It is fast, accurate, and very responsive. Apart from that, the phone also has dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Infrared Sensor, GPS, and a USB Type-C port for charging. The Redmi Note 12R smartphone is available starting at $190 (Rs 15,990 in India) approx.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R Pros and Cons
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R Specifications Detail
Down below you can see the full specifications of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R smartphone.
| Specifications | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Announced | June 2023 |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM |
| Dimensions | 6.64 x 3.00 x 0.32 inches |
| Weight | 199 g |
| Size | 6.79 inches |
| Display | IPS LCD 90Hz ~550 PPI density |
| Protection/Others | IP53 (dust and splash resistant) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels |
| OS | Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Chipset | 4nm – Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 |
| CPU | Octa-core 2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 6×1.8 Cortex-A55 |
| GPU | Adreno 613 |
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| RAM | 4GB, 6GB, 8GB |
| Internal | 128GB, 256GB UFS 2.2 |
| Camera | 50 MP (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) LED flash, HDR Max – 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie | 5 MP (wide) Max – 1080p@30fps |
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Infrared port | Yes |
| Radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C |
| Sensors | Side-mounted fingerprint, accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh 18W wired, PD |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver |
| Expected Price | $190 (Rs 15,990 in India) approx. |
Conclusion
Judging by the specs and the specs it provides, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R seems like an amazing smartphone that seems to have all the right features that users will look for in the mid-range section. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R does so at a price range that was not possible before. Features like adaptive refresh rate and 5G are not something that is usually found in this price range.
That’s exactly what Redmi promised and that’s exactly what they delivered. A great smartphone with unique features on a budget that you can’t find anywhere else. However, if you are not a fan of Redmi, then there are other alternatives that you can look at. With that said, here are alternatives that you can check the Poco M6 Pro 5G which comes with almost the same specs and price range. However, the final decision is up to you and your requirements.
