The REDMI 12 is a budget 4G phone that Xiaomi first launched in Thailand in June 2023. It reached Europe, the UK, India, Latin America and other markets later that summer. This is the 4G model; a separate REDMI 12 5G uses a different chip. In Germany, the 4 GB + 128 GB version launched at €199.90.
Design and display
The phone has a glass back and a plastic frame. It measures 168.6 x 76.28 x 8.17 mm and weighs 198.5 g. Xiaomi sold it in three colors: Midnight Black, Sky Blue and Polar Silver. In India, the same colors were marketed as Jade Black, Pastel Blue and Moonstone Silver.
The 6.79-inch FHD+ LCD has a resolution of 2460 x 1080 pixels and 396 ppi. Its refresh rate switches between 36, 48, 60 and 90 Hz. Xiaomi rates the peak brightness at 550 nits in high brightness mode. The body carries an IP53 rating, so it resists dust and splashes but should not be submerged.
Performance
Inside is the MediaTek Helio G88, a 12 nm chip. It pairs two Cortex-A75 cores at 2.0 GHz with six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. Graphics come from an Arm Mali-G52 GPU. Xiaomi sold it with 4, 6 or 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM. Storage is 128 or 256 GB of eMMC 5.1. A hybrid slot takes a microSD card of up to 1 TB.
Compared with the REDMI 12 5G, this model uses the Helio G88 instead of a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. It also lacks 5G support and stays on 4G LTE networks.
Cameras
The rear has three cameras. The main one has 50 MP and an f/1.8 lens, with no optical stabilization. An 8 MP ultrawide covers a 120-degree field of view, and a 2 MP macro camera handles close-ups. The front camera has 8 MP. Both sides record video at up to 1080p and 30 fps.
Battery and charging
A 5,000 mAh battery powers the phone. It charges at up to 18 W over USB-C. There is no wireless charging. A charger is not included in every market, including parts of Europe and India.
Software and updates
The REDMI 12 shipped with MIUI 14 based on Android 13. Xiaomi lists security updates until June 2027, four years after launch. Extras include a side fingerprint sensor and NFC in many markets. There is also an IR blaster, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and Bluetooth 5.3.
Should you buy the REDMI 12?
The REDMI 12 suits buyers on a tight budget. It offers a large screen, a big battery and a headphone jack. Its glass back and IP53 rating are uncommon at this price. However, it has a single speaker, slow 18 W charging and no 5G. Those who need 5G can look at the REDMI 12 5G. The newer REDMI 13 is its direct successor.
