Redmi 12 5G: Once again, Redmi is ruling the budget smartphone segment in India with its strategy of providing maximum bang for the buck. And the Redmi 12 5G is an example of how it’s well executed.
It was released as one of the cheap 5G phones on the markets so that it can cater to both entry level and budget minded customers who are looking for a next-gen device without giving up on the looks, features or utility of a midrange device.
In terms of design and everyday use, the Redmi 12 5G ticks a lot of the right boxes — with caveats aplenty of course, but this is a more sophisticated package than the price tag might suggest.
Premium on a Budget Design Sensibility
The Redmi 12 5G’s first impression will raise eyebrows, because this isn’t a cheap-looking phone. In fact, the glass back with its crystal finish, the flat edges and the symmetrical camera rings all lend it a nice, modern look typically reserved for more expensive models.
It comes in Moonstone Silver, Jade Black, and Pastel Blue — all colors that look neat, clean and modern.
At 200 grams or so, it’s a tad heavy, but it wears its weight nicely. The phone is also IP53 rated, so it can withstand a few splashes or a bit of dust – pretty useful for Indian usage.
Display: Large and Capable
It has a larger 6.79-inch FHD+ LCD panel that supports a 90Hz refresh rate and a crisp resolution. OK, it’s not AMOLED, but it’s remarkably bright for an LCD and the fast refresh rate means scrolling and navigating the OS feels smooth.
Everything looks pleasing on this big canvas, be it YouTube or anything streaming on OTT, and the punch-hole camera isn’t in-your-face.
For the cost, this display is punching above it weight — particularly for those who enjoy reading or media on larger screens.
Performance and 5G Despite our unit’s mediocre battery life, I generally have no complaints while using the 8 Kryo 585 cores (one high-performance core at 2.84 GHz, three performance cores at 2.42 GHz and four efficiency cores at 1.8 GHz) and Adreno 650 in the OnePlus 8.
The Redmi 12 5G comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor that is based on 4nm process. It’s the first budget phone in India to have this chip and it brings good energy efficiency and performance.
Tasks such as browsing the web, using social media, occasional gaming and multitasking are all managed with ease on a day-to-day basis.
The phone should be pretty snappy in day-to-day use, with 6-8GB of RAM available (virtual RAM capable) and up to 128GB of storage.
The real standout here is the inclusion of 5G support – it is fully support dual SIM 5G, so it’s also future-proofed against the event when 5G finally arrives in your home town.
Camera Setup: Working Solution and General Ideas
The Redmi 12 5G features a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor.
In daylight the shots are actually fairly good for the price, with good dynamic range and natural colors. Portrait mode is reliable enough, though edge detection can prove hit-and-miss.
Performance dips in low-light conditions, with a little noise and detail loss, but Night Mode helps (to an extent).
The 8MP front camera is perfectly fine for selfies and video calls — not incredibly sharp by any means, but totally passable.
This is not a phone for aficionado photographers, but for point-and-shoot users and for posts to social media, it does the job.
Battery Life and Charging
The phone gets its power from a 5000mAh battery, providing decent battery life on the Redmi 12 5G. You can easily make it through a full day on a single charge — even more with light usage.
No matter what I cannot kill the battery quickly by streaming, casual gaming or calling on it.
It’s compatible with 18W fast charging, and even though that’s not super fast by today’s standards, it’s not bad at this price level.
There’s a 22.5W charger in the box – which is a nice touch since most manufacturers have of late started to leave chargers out.
Software Experience
Based on Android 13 and MIUI 14 There’s a fresh and leaner skin over Android: MIUI 14 and is a big step up on earlier releases. And there is a little bloatware, but much of that can be uninstalled.
Xiaomi has committed to give you 2 years of Android updates and 3 years of security patches, which is good going for this segment.
Pros:
Glass back, unique Premium Design, IP53 rating
Big 6.79-inch screen and 90Hz refresh rate
Efficient performance With Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, experience efficient performance
Double 5G support — future-proofed
Decent battery, that comes with a quick charger
Expandable storage + 3.5mm headphone jack
The UI also seems more smoother than MIUI 13
Cons:
LCD display instead of AMOLED
So-so low-light camera quality
18W charging is a little stagnant in 2025
No ultrawide or macro lens
Slightly bulky in hand
Redmi 12 5G Final Verdict
The Redmi 12 5G is a solid all-rounder that offers 5G connectivity, good build quality and reliable performance to the budget category.
It may not have the best camera or the fastest charging in the world, but what the OnePlus Nord N10 5G delivers at this price makes it a very smart buy for students, first-time smartphone owners or anyone that simply wants a reliable daily driver with future-ready connectivity. At under ₹12,000, it’s difficult to go wrong with this one.