Redmi Note 12: Is It Worth the Upgrade from the Redmi Note 11?
If you're planning to upgrade from the Redmi Note 11, the latest Redmi Note 12 is not alone. Over the years, Xiaomi's Redmi Note series has grown a reputation for impressive features at budget-friendly prices. And with the Redmi Note 12 just around the corner, several users must be looking ahead to see whether this upgrade will be worth it. In this post, we'll pit the Redmi Note 12 against its predecessor in a bid to help you make your mind up with the key upgrades and improvements.
Design & Display: Subtle but Significant Changes
Redmi Note 11: The Redmi Note 11 featured a sleek, premium design with a 6.43-inch AMOLED display. Its 90Hz refresh rate was impressive for the price, offering smooth scrolling and better viewing experiences.
Redmi Note 12: The Redmi Note 12 builds on this with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display and a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a smoother, more fluid experience, especially for gaming and multitasking. The larger screen and enhanced refresh rate ensure that the Note 12 delivers a more immersive viewing experience than its predecessor.
Verdict: If display quality is important to you, the Redmi Note 12 offers a more noticeable upgrade with the bigger screen and 120Hz refresh rate, thus being quite strong for those who seek an improved display experience.
Performance: Faster, But Not Overwhelmingly Different
Redmi Note 11: Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, the Redmi Note 11 was a decent performer for everyday tasks like social media browsing, light gaming, and productivity apps. However, it lacked the raw power for more demanding tasks like intensive gaming or multitasking.
Redmi Note 12: It sports the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset, fabricated on the more power-efficient 6nm architecture. While this translates to only a partial bump in performance over the Note 11, it guarantees superior power efficiency and an altogether smoother multitasking and light gaming experience. The bumped-up chipset promises better handling for heavy gamers.
Verdict: It is a solid performance upgrade, but if you are happy with the performance of the Redmi Note 11, you might not be able to tell the difference in daily use. However, if you want better efficiency and somewhat better gaming performance, then the Redmi Note 12 is a decent option.
Camera: Major Improvements for Photography Enthusiasts
Redmi Note 11: It came with a 50MP main camera that provided decent picture quality for its class but struggled in low-light conditions and lacked certain advanced features.
Redmi Note 12: The Redmi Note 12 houses an upgraded camera setup featuring a 48MP main camera, but the actual improvements come from software, enhanced low-light performance, and added features like a 16MP front-facing camera for clearer selfies. Night mode and AI enhancements mean that the image quality is improved, especially when shooting in difficult lighting.
Verdict: If you enjoy taking photos or creating content, the Redmi Note 12 offers a noticeable upgrade in low-light photography and generally improved AI camera features.
Battery Life: No Major Changes
Redmi Note 11: The Redmi Note 11 came with a 5,000mAh battery and supported 33W fast charging for ample all-day battery life with the option to quickly recharge.
Redmi Note 12: It also comes with a 5,000mAh battery, coupled with 33W fast charging, meaning battery performance and charging speed remain largely the same.
Verdict: The battery life of both devices is almost identical, and if long-lasting battery performance is important to you, then both the Redmi Note 11 and Redmi Note 12 will serve you well.
Software: Android 12 vs. Android 13
Redmi Note 11: The Redmi Note 11 came with MIUI 13 based on Android 11 out of the box, which was pretty solid software with a number of options to customize everything.
Redmi Note 12: The Redmi Note 12 arrives with MIUI 14 based on Android 13, featuring a more refined UI, better security features, and more granular privacy settings.
Verdict: The software upgrade in the Redmi Note 12 ensures you're getting a more up-to-date and feature-rich experience with the latest Android and MIUI features.
Price: Is It Worth the Extra Cost?
Among the biggest selling points for the Redmi Note series is their pocket-friendly prices, and the Redmi Note 12 continues in this direction. Though probably a bit higher than the introductory price of the Redmi Note 11, this phone is really a great value, given the refinements in build and construction, display, performance, and camera.
Verdict: For those on a budget and not fussy about sticking with the Redmi Note 11, it is still a good device. However, if you want better performance, an enhanced display, and improved photography features, the Redmi Note 12 is worth an investment.
Final Verdict: Is the Redmi Note 12 Worth the Upgrade?
If you are on the Redmi Note 11, then the Redmi Note 12 is a good upgrade if you value a better display, slightly improved performance, and an improved camera. But if your current phone can still serve you well, you might not necessarily need an upgrade.
Ultimately, the Redmi Note 12 is an excellent choice for those in need of new features at a more wallet-friendly price, while the Redmi Note 11 still is a great device that holds its value. It depends on whether the upgrades in the Redmi Note 12 fall into your needs.
What do you think? Are you making the upgrade to the Redmi Note 12? Let us know in the comments section!