BLU Bold N3 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ emerges as the stronger choice. Its significantly faster 120W charging, coupled with a reported 88-hour endurance rating, addresses a key pain point for many smartphone users. While the BLU Bold N3 offers a competitive chipset, the charging advantage of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is decisive.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | BLU Bold N3 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International, China |
| 5G bands | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A (CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, July | 2022, October 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, August | Available. Released 2022, November 01 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 74.7 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) | 162.9 x 76 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 208.4 g (7.34 oz) |
| - | IP53, dust and splash resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm) | Mediatek MT6877V Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MC4 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.2 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm | - |
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 100% in 39 min | 120W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 19 min (advertised) |
| Type | Li-Po 4700 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Sage Green | Arctic White, Iceberg Blue, Obsidian Black, Trend edition |
| Models | - | 22101316UCP, 22101316UG |
| Price | About 250 EUR | $ 348.00 / £ 439.00 / € 399.00 / ₹ 29,949 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 88h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.7 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 498710 (v9) GeekBench: 2208 (v5.1), 2372 (v6) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
BLU Bold N3
- Potentially lower price point
- Capable Mediatek Dimensity 7050 chipset
- 66W fast charging is still respectable
- Slower charging compared to the Redmi Note 12 Pro+
- Missing display and camera specifications hinder comparison
- Uncertainty regarding RAM and storage options
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+
- Ultra-fast 120W charging with PD3.0
- Reported 88-hour battery endurance
- Likely superior camera system with OIS
- Potentially higher price
- Diminishing returns on 200MP sensor for casual users
- Software bloat (typical of Xiaomi)
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ boasts an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting a high-quality AMOLED panel, though specific peak brightness and color accuracy data are absent. The BLU Bold N3’s display specifications are not provided, making a direct comparison difficult. However, given the Redmi Note 12 Pro+'s positioning, it likely offers a superior visual experience, particularly in HDR content, assuming it supports HDR10+ or Dolby Vision. The lack of LTPO technology in either device suggests standard refresh rate management, potentially impacting battery life during dynamic content.
Camera Comparison
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is expected to feature a more sophisticated camera system, though specific details are missing. The presence of a 200MP sensor (a common feature of this model) would provide significant detail and flexibility for cropping and digital zoom. The BLU Bold N3’s camera specifications are not available, making a detailed comparison impossible. However, given the Redmi Note 12 Pro+'s market positioning, it likely includes Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on its main sensor, a feature that significantly improves low-light photography and video stabilization. The Redmi Note 12 Pro+'s image processing pipeline is also likely more refined, resulting in more accurate colors and dynamic range.
Performance
Both the BLU Bold N3 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ utilize the same core CPU configuration: an octa-core setup with 2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. However, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ employs the Mediatek Dimensity 1080, built on a 6nm process, while the Bold N3 uses the Dimensity 7050, also on 6nm. While the core architecture is identical, the Dimensity 1080 generally offers slightly higher clock speeds for the GPU and improved AI processing capabilities, translating to a marginal performance advantage in demanding tasks and gaming. The absence of RAM specifications for the BLU Bold N3 makes a direct memory bandwidth comparison impossible, but the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ likely benefits from faster LPDDR5X RAM.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+’s 120W wired charging is its standout feature, promising a full charge in just 19 minutes (advertised). This is a substantial improvement over the BLU Bold N3’s 66W charging, which takes 39 minutes to reach 100%. While the actual battery capacity of both devices is unknown, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+’s reported 88-hour endurance rating suggests efficient power management. The inclusion of PD3.0 support on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ also offers wider compatibility with chargers and accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the BLU Bold N3 if you need a solid performer with a capable chipset at a potentially lower price point and aren't heavily reliant on ultra-fast charging. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ if you prioritize minimizing downtime with its blazing-fast 120W charging, and value a potentially more refined overall experience, including a longer-lasting battery based on endurance testing.