Redmi 12 5G review: Well-rounded budget smartphone.

If you want a cheap phone, you have to choose between a 4G model with the capabilities you want and a 5G model with some obvious flaws. Phone manufacturers must find savings in order to keep prices low due to the high cost of 5G chipsets. A Redmi phone, however, asserts that it provides more than you would anticipate while maintaining the highest level of mobile network speed.

This is my review of the Redmi 12 5G, which I have been using for more than a week.

Display and design

The first thing that will capture your attention is the design of the Redmi 12 5G. The phone has a sleek rear panel that simply displays the brand name, which gives it a premium impression. I like this basic design decision. It will be difficult to find a phone in this price range that is more enticing than this one. The punch-hole camera on the front, which is increasingly rare at this price point, also retains the luxury appearance.

The chin is the only indication that the phone is inexpensive, but it is a minor drawback given the price. The phone has a solid design that makes it feel like it can withstand years of harsh use in addition to having a quality appearance. Even while the screen isn't AMOLED, it is a high-quality 6.79-inch LCD with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate and an FHD+ resolution, so there are no complaints there.

Performance

The Redmi 12 5G is the first device to enter the Indian market with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor. With the naming of this processor, Qualcomm has completely excelled itself. The 4 Gen 2 chip, as its name suggests, performs at exactly half the speed of the flagship-level 8 Gen 2. Given how incredibly strong the flagship chip is, transferring half of its performance to a phone that costs only a small portion of a flagship phone is an accomplishment.

The phone easily completes daily duties and even performs gaming without any issues. On Smooth+Ultra, you can play BGMI like a pro, but it's terrible that there isn't an Extreme frame rate option. Even the challenging CarX Street, one of my fave mobile racing games, runs smoothly on CODM and is playable. The 5,000mAh battery provides all-day usage.

The MIUI operating system on the phone is my biggest pet peeve. Despite having a strong CPU, the phone runs a lighter version of MIUI that lacks blur effects and has fewer animations. The background of the control console is a flat, uninspiring grey. The skin is well-optimized for the device, but despite this, it appears to be in serious need of updates because it lacks some capabilities when compared to its competitors. For instance, customising icons is not a built-in feature. Additionally, Xiaomi continues to handle the China and global versions of MIUI differently and uses out-of-date components on the latter while the former has significantly more capabilities. But hey, this year does at least support MIUI Messaging and Dialer.

Camera

A 2MP depth sensor helps the 50MP primary camera on the Redmi 12 5G. I managed to get some really beautiful photos in daytime situations that I wouldn't hesitate to put on my social media. For a low-cost device, the hues were natural and accurate, and the dynamic range was amazing. However, nighttime circumstances suffer, making it clear that this is a low-cost device. However, if you keep your hands steady enough, you can eventually take usable pictures, like the one I took of the Noida skyline below.

Must you purchase the Redmi 12 5G?

Overall, the Redmi 12 5G is an exceptional phone for its price range; in fact, it's one of the most affordable 5G options in India. It boasts an elegant design, a seamless operation, and excellent camera quality. The software experience was the one thing I did not like, but it is a matter of taste. The Redmi 12 5G should be your first choice if you're on a low budget and seeking for a 5G phone.