The sub-$150 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. Both the Cubot Note 60 and Xiaomi Redmi 12C aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at an incredibly accessible price point. However, they take different approaches: the Cubot Note 60 prioritizes exceptional battery endurance, while the Redmi 12C focuses on a slightly more powerful processor for everyday tasks and light gaming.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing all-day (and then some) battery life, the Cubot Note 60 is the clear winner, boasting a remarkable 27:38h endurance. However, the Xiaomi Redmi 12C offers a small performance edge thanks to its Helio G85 chipset, making it a better choice for those who occasionally engage in mobile gaming.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, November | 2022, December 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, November | Available. Released 2023, January 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 177.4 x 84.3 x 9.8 mm (6.98 x 3.32 x 0.39 in) | 168.8 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.65 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 254 g (8.96 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Mohs level 6 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~239 ppi density) | 720 x 1650 pixels (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 7.2 inches, 127.3 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T615 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF
0.08 MP (depth) |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 48 MP (wide), PDAF
5 MP (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Type | 7000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Titan Grey | Graphite Gray, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Lavender Purple |
| Models | - | 22120RN86G, 22120RN86I, 22126RN91Y, 2212ARNC4L |
| Price | $ 105.00 / £ 115.72 | £ 132.99 / € 107.41 |
| SAR | - | 1.08 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | 27:38h endurance, 1000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class G | - |
| Free fall | Class A (270 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class B | - |
Cubot Note 60
- Exceptional battery life (27:38h endurance)
- Potentially longer lifespan with 1000 charge cycles
- Efficient Unisoc T615 chipset
- Slightly lower CPU/GPU performance compared to Redmi 12C
- Likely basic camera system
Xiaomi Redmi 12C
- Slightly more powerful Helio G85 chipset
- Better gaming performance (marginally)
- Widely available brand
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Slow 10W charging
- Potential for more aggressive software bloat
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Both are likely utilizing LCD panels, common in this price bracket. While specific details like resolution and brightness are missing, the focus here is on internal components. Display quality will likely be similar, prioritizing functionality over visual fidelity.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is difficult. Both phones likely feature a primary camera and potentially a depth or macro sensor. Given the price point, image quality will be adequate for social media sharing in good lighting conditions, but expect limitations in low-light scenarios. The absence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device suggests reliance on software processing for stabilization.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C’s Mediatek Helio G85 (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) has a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed on its prime cores compared to the Cubot Note 60’s Unisoc T615 (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55). This translates to a marginal performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. However, the Unisoc T615’s 12nm process node is identical to the Helio G85, meaning thermal differences will be minimal. The Redmi 12C’s GPU will likely offer a more noticeable boost in gaming performance, but neither phone is designed for demanding titles.
Battery Life
This is where the Cubot Note 60 truly shines. Its 27:38h endurance is exceptional for a budget smartphone, indicating a highly optimized power management system. The Redmi 12C, while offering adequate battery life, lacks fast charging – limited to 10W wired. This means significantly longer charge times compared to the Cubot Note 60, even if the Redmi 12C’s battery capacity were slightly higher (which isn’t specified).
Buying Guide
Buy the Cubot Note 60 if you need a phone that can reliably last through two full days of moderate use, or if you frequently find yourself away from a charger. It’s ideal for travelers, field workers, or anyone who simply dislikes the anxiety of low battery warnings. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 12C if you prefer a slightly snappier experience for social media, web browsing, and casual gaming, and are willing to compromise on battery life and potentially carry a power bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ How much faster is the Redmi 12C for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
The Redmi 12C’s Helio G85 chipset offers a slight performance advantage due to its higher CPU clock speed. You’ll likely notice a marginally snappier experience when switching between apps or loading web pages, but the difference won’t be dramatic. The Unisoc T615 in the Cubot Note 60 is still perfectly capable for these tasks.
❓ Will the Cubot Note 60 last a full day with heavy usage (video streaming, gaming)?
While the 27:38h endurance is based on moderate usage, the Cubot Note 60 should still provide a full day of battery life even with heavier tasks. However, expect the battery to drain significantly faster during prolonged gaming or video streaming. It’s still likely to outperform the Redmi 12C in these scenarios.
❓ Is the 10W charging on the Redmi 12C a significant drawback?
Yes, 10W charging is quite slow by modern standards. Expect it to take several hours to fully charge the Redmi 12C from 0%. This is a major disadvantage compared to the Cubot Note 60, which, while not specifying wattage, benefits from the efficiency of its chipset and longer battery lifespan, reducing the frequency of charging.
