The Redmi Note 12 series has taken up much attention among smartphone enthusiasts owing to its combination of affordability with advanced features. In addition, one of the most talked-about aspects is the camera system. But does the Redmi Note 12 live up to the hype when it comes to photography? In this detailed analysis, we will break down the camera's features, take a closer look at real-world performance, and compare it to competitors while providing sample photos to help you decide.
Camera Specifications: What's Under the Hood?
The Redmi Note 12 sports a versatile camera arrangement designed to cover a wide gamut of photography needs. The detailed list goes like this:
- Primary Camera: 50MP f/1.8, Wide-Angle sensor that will boast sharp, high-resolution images with PDAF, or Phase Detection Autofocus.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 8MP f/2.2, 120° FoV sensor is good to go for landscapes and group shots.
- Macro Camera: A 2MP f/2.4 sensor for close-up shots.
- Selfie Camera: A 13MP front-facing camera with an f/2.5 aperture.
The hardware looks great for a mid-range phone, but what matters most is real-world performance.
Real-World Performance: Photo and Video Quality
Daylight Photography
In well-lit conditions, the 50MP main sensor truly shines. Images are crisp, with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range. Landscapes and urban sceneries hold a great amount of detail, and it's perfect for casual and social media photography.
Pros:
- Highly detailed and clear.
- Colors are natural.
Cons:
- Slight oversaturation in some scenes, especially greenery.
Sample Shot: A daylight shot of a park had lush greens and well-defined textures in leaves and buildings.
Low-Light Performance
The Redmi Note 12 doesn't exactly set the world on fire in low-light shots. Though Night Mode does its job of lifting the exposure and cleaning up noise, there's often a loss of fine detail and mushy shadows. If low-light photography is your top priority, alternatives like the Realme 11x or Samsung Galaxy M14 fare much better in similar budgets.
Pros:
- Night Mode boosts brightness.
- Generally decent exposure.
Cons:
- Loss of some fine details.
- Noticeable noise in darker areas.
Sample Shot: A street at night with average lighting; the bright parts were clear, while shadowed regions lacked definition.
Ultra-Wide Lens
The ultra-wide-angle lens is adequate but unremarkable. Images tend to be considerably softer toward the edges, and color consistency is not as good as on the main camera. It works best in bright conditions.
Sample Shot: A cityscape shot with the ultra-wide showed decent coverage but wasn't nearly as sharp as the main sensor.
Macro Lens
The 2MP macro lens is a bit of a wash. It's nice to have shots that can get that up close, but at an already-low resolution. Save for those super-keen on macro photography, this lens will almost come off as an afterthought.
Shot Taken: A flower in the close-up showed great-looking colors, but the grainy details were lost within.
Front Camera
The 13 MP front-facing camera takes vivid images in bright light. Lower-resolution selfies show a lack in detail and noise.
Shot Taken: An outdoor selfie showed the skin tones highly effectively and defined facial features.
Camcorder Recording
The Redmi Note 12 can shoot videos at 1080p resolution at 30fps. While the output is smooth enough in bright lighting conditions, the absence of OIS can easily make handheld shots shaky.
Comparison to Competitors
Vs. Realme 11x
Realme 11x has the same hardware for cameras, but pulls ahead in low-light shooting because of its better optimized software. In turn, the Redmi Note 12 does much better regarding color accuracy and daylight shots.
Vs. Samsung Galaxy M14
Samsung’s device offers better consistency across its camera sensors, particularly the ultra-wide lens. However, Redmi’s primary sensor captures more detailed photos in daylight.
Verdict: Does It Live Up to the Hype?
The Redmi Note 12 is an unusually good camera phone for the price, especially in daylight photography. It stumbles only a bit in low light and with its auxiliary lenses, and it's surely one of the strongest middle-class fighters. If your main point is to shoot vivid and detailed photos under good lighting conditions, it won't disappoint you at all.
For those seeking more well-rounded performance, competitors like the Realme 11x or Samsung Galaxy M14 may be worth considering. But the camera system of the Redmi Note 12 is still a good option and lives up to much of the hype surrounding it.
Final Rating: 8/10
What are your thoughts on the camera of the Redmi Note 12? Let us know in the comments!