Xiaomi launched three mid-range smartphones in the popular Redmi Note category to kick off 2023 with a bang. The latest series of smartphones, dubbed ‘SuperNote,’ includes three models. Redmi Note 12 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, as well as Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G are the models. The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, which I used for over a month, is at the top of the list. The smartphone costs less than Rs 30,000, based on the discounts and offers. Is the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G worth this much? This article contains the answer to this question, as well as many others.
Specifications Table
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 MT6877V |
| No of cores | 8 (octa core) |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR4X |
| Height-Width | 6.41in-2.99in |
| Weight | 208.4 grams |
| Colours | Arctic White, Obsidian Black, Iceberg Blue |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Display Type | AMOLED, Dolby Vision, HDR 10 + |
| Colour Reproduction | 16M Colours |
| TouchScreen | Yes, Capacitive, Multi-Touch |
| Rear camera setup | Triple |
| Rear Camera | 200MP(Primary), 8MP(Secondary), 2MP(Tertiary) |
| Front camera | 16 MP Resolution |
| Flash | LED Rear flash |
| Video Resolution | 3840 x 2160 @ 30 fps |
| Camera Features | Auto FlashAuto FocusFace detectionTouch to focus |
| Battery Type and capacity | Li-Polymer, 4980 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, Hyper, 120W |
| Internal memory type | 256 GB, UFS 2.2 |
| Operating System | Android v12 |
| Custom UI | MIUI |
| SIM Configuration | Dual SIM |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.2 |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes, Side |
| Face Unlock | Yes |
| Other Sensor | Light SensorProximity SensorAccelerometerCompassGyroscope |
Design
The design of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is premium, and the glass back makes the device smudge-proof to a large extent. The curved back panel ensures that the phone, which is thick and a little heavy, feels comfortable even when held for extended periods of time. Then again, who doesn’t? The protruding design will immediately catch your attention. While the entire rectangular camera setup protrudes, two of the three cameras protrude even more. In our unboxing and first impression copy, we discussed other aspects of the smartphone’s design.
Display
The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus has a 6.67-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a top refresh rate of 120 Hz. It is shielded by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The bezels are thin and barely visible, even at the chin. The selfie camera has a small punch-hole cutout at the top. Dolby Atmos and Vision Support enhance the viewing experience on the smartphone, which can display 1.07 billion colours. I watched a few videos and movies on OTT platforms and had a pleasant experience.
Audio
The device has a dual speaker setup that supports Dolby Atmos, and the audio quality is good, enhancing your overall content consumption experience. I tried a few video games on this device, including Free Fire Max, Dead Target, and Demon Hunter, and the experience was excellent in terms of graphics, display, and audio.
The Mediatek Dimensity 1080 SoC – a 6 nm processor with a clock speed of up to 2.6GHz – powers the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G. The phone performed admirably in day-to-day operations. Due to the big vapour chamber I did not notice any overheating.
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G comes with an Android 12 operating system-based MIUI 13 interface. Xiaomi should have provided Android 13 but hasn’t discussed the reasoning behind this oversight. Furthermore, the device includes some bloatware, some of which can be removed but not other default Xiaomi apps.
5G is one of the operational capabilities of the Note 12 Pro+, and Xiaomi claims that the device supports up to ten bands. These include the popular n28 and n78 sub-6GHz channels, but not the higher bandwidth mmWave n258 band. Apart from that, standard 4G smartphone operability is excellent when using Jio’s network infrastructure.
Camera
Now, let’s talk about the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G’s most prominent feature: the camera. The primary camera on this smartphone is a 200-megapixel Samsung HPX with OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation). It also has a 2-megapixel macro sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera. It has a 16-megapixel front camera sensor for selfies. The main camera performs admirably in both daylight and low-light conditions. The images are sharp, but they could have been sharper.
Capturing details and sharpness with every shot remained the camera’s strong suit, along with a fondness for experimenting with the dynamic range. When the sensor was directly pointed at the blue morning sky, I did notice a slightly cooler colour temperature. Close-up images and indoor shooting conditions eliminate this issue, but it is still something to consider. The exposure levels are maintained to varying degrees, but the end result is always pleasing.
Regular images are captured at pixel-binned 12.5MP resolution, and to unlock the full power of the 200MP sensor, you must go into the camera settings. Even so, you’re greeted with a 50MP option at first, with the full resolution enabled only after a tap in the corner. Remember to always have good lighting while taking 200MP snaps as the exposure as well as dynamic range takes a hit.
The 8MP ultra-wide performs better in terms of maintaining colour temperature parity and capturing significant details away from the frame’s centre. The 2MP macro shooter lacks the resolution to capture detailed images, but it compensates by replicating colour accuracy. The overall impression I got, at least in daylight, is that the Note 12 Pro+ is a powerful image-capture device. With some additional tweaking, it could compete with offerings in the flagship category.
Battery
The smartphone has a large 4980mAh battery and supports 120W ‘Hypercharge,’ which according to the company can charge the phone to 100% in 19 minutes. It took about 25 minutes to charge the device from 0% to 100% while I was using it. Even this, to be honest, is quite impressive.The battery backup is adequate and can provide full-day backup even when the smartphone is heavily used. Users can get up to two days of battery life with this device when used moderately.
Verdict
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is doing its best to not compromise on any aspect of a balanced smartphone experience. It has the necessary processing power, a lightning-fast charging solution, and an opulent display. While I appreciate the 200MP sensor’s daylight photography abilities, I believe the low-light capabilities could be improved. Leaving that niggle aside, you will be hard pressed to find a better mid-range daily driver than the Note 12 Pro+.
