The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Honor 70 Lite and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12. Both promise a solid experience, but which one truly delivers? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 edges out the Honor 70 Lite thanks to its superior chipset, faster charging, and impressive battery life. While the Honor 70 Lite has a sleek design, the Redmi Note 12 offers a more well-rounded package for the price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, March 20 | 2022, October 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 31 | Available. Released 2023, January 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 75.1 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.34 in) | 165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.53 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194 g (6.84 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 90Hz | AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.9 GHz Kryo 460) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Magic UI 8 | Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | Unspecified | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 33W wired, 50% in 22 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Ocean Blue, Titanium Silver, Midnight Black | Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue |
| Models | RBN-NX1 | 22111317I, 22111317G |
| Price | About 120 EUR | € 151.99 / $ 219.99 / ₹ 11,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 101h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.0 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 360745 (v9)
GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6) |
Honor 70 Lite
- Sleek design
- Compact size
- Potentially better selfie camera (speculative)
- Weaker chipset
- Slower charging
- Less impressive battery life
- Lower display brightness
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
- Superior chipset (Snapdragon 4 Gen 1)
- Excellent battery life
- Faster charging (33W)
- Brighter display
- Generally better image processing
- Design may be less premium
- IPS LCD display (likely)
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 12 boasts a brighter display with a measured 706 nits of peak brightness, offering better visibility in sunlight. Its 'infinite' contrast ratio (though nominal) suggests deeper blacks and richer colors. The Honor 70 Lite's display is likely adequate but doesn't match the Redmi Note 12's performance in this area. Resolution and panel type (likely AMOLED on the Honor and IPS LCD on the Redmi) will also impact the viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specs are missing. Generally, Xiaomi phones tend to offer slightly better image processing and dynamic range in their mid-range offerings. The Honor 70 Lite might have a slightly better selfie camera, but this is speculative without specific megapixel and sensor information. Expect decent camera performance from both, but not flagship-level quality.
Performance
The Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset (6nm) is a significant upgrade over the Honor 70 Lite's Snapdragon 480+ (8nm). The Cortex-A78 cores in the Redmi Note 12 provide a noticeable boost in processing power, resulting in smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. While both have octa-core CPUs, the Redmi Note 12's architecture is more efficient and powerful.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 12 shines in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 101 hours and an active use score of 10:58 hours. This is significantly better than what we'd expect from the Honor 70 Lite. The Redmi Note 12's 33W charging also provides a faster top-up compared to the Honor 70 Lite's 22.5W charging, reaching 50% in just 22 minutes.
Buying Guide
The Honor 70 Lite is a good choice for users prioritizing aesthetics and a slightly more compact design. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is ideal for those seeking longer battery life, faster performance, and quicker charging speeds, especially if camera quality is a secondary concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset.
❓ Does the Redmi Note 12 have a better camera?
While both offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Redmi Note 12 likely has better image processing and dynamic range, resulting in slightly better overall camera performance.
❓ Which phone has longer battery life?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 has a substantially longer battery life, with an endurance rating of 101 hours.
❓ Is the Honor 70 Lite worth considering?
The Honor 70 Lite is a decent option if you prioritize a sleek design and compact size, but the Redmi Note 12 offers a more compelling overall package.
