Xiaomi Redmi 12 review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Xiaomi Redmi 12 is a 2023 entry-level phone on the MediaTek Helio G88, with a 6.79-inch 90 Hz IPS LCD rated at 550 nits, a 5000 mAh battery with 18 W charging, and an IP53 body at 199 grams. Our catalog scores it 26 on everyday use and 81 on compactness, with the 2/128 GB trim tracked near $159 new. A 50-megapixel main camera without stabilization is joined by an 8-megapixel ultrawide. The Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G is the network-upgraded sibling, while the Xiaomi Redmi 13 4G is the successor of the line.

Display and design

The 6.79-inch IPS LCD refreshes at 90 Hz with a 550-nit rating, scoring 29 on our screen axis: a large, smooth panel for the class, with modest brightness. IP53 sealing resists splashes and dust, and the 199-gram body with an 81 compactness score reads as a plain, practical workhorse.

Performance

The Helio G88 posts an everyday axis of 26 and a gaming axis of 0: messaging, media and light apps are the design envelope. Tracked trims run from 2 to 8 GB of RAM — the base 2 GB configuration should be avoided for anything beyond calls — and our records show the software window already closed.

Camera

The camera axis of 17 sits on a 50-megapixel main sensor with an 8-megapixel ultrawide, without stabilization and with no video specification in our records. Daylight snapshots are dependable for the class; low light and zoom stay basic.

Battery and charging

The 5000 mAh battery scores 40 on our battery axis, a full day behind the frugal platform, while 18 W charging earns a charging axis of 0 — the slowest refill tier we track, so overnight charging is the practical rhythm.

Verdict

Near $159 new for 2/128 GB, the Redmi 12 is a screen-first entry phone with a closed software window: a large 90 Hz panel, splash sealing and long runtimes, with performance, camera and charging at entry minimums. The Redmi 12 5G is the same body with a stronger platform and is the better buy at the small price difference.