Honor Magic5 Lite vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12: A Detailed Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Honor Magic5 Lite and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12. Both promise solid features at accessible prices, but which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic5 Lite edges out the Redmi Note 12 thanks to its significantly brighter display and slightly more powerful chipset. While both offer good value, the Magic5 Lite's superior screen and performance make it the more compelling choice for most users, especially those prioritizing media consumption.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic5 Lite	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

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, February 15	2022, October 27
Status	Available. Released 2023, February 20	Available. Released 2023, January 11

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	-
Dimensions	161.6 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.31 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	175 g (6.17 oz)	188 g (6.63 oz)
	-	IP53, dust and splash resistant

Display
Protection	Scratch/drop-resistant glass	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)	AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm)
GPU	Adreno 619	Adreno 619
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MagicOS 7.1	Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India)

Memory
Card slot	No	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Dual	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)	-
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	-
Triple	-	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	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0"
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	No	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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	40W wired	33W wired, 50% in 22 min
Type	Li-Po 5100 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Midnight Black, Emerald Green, Titanium Silver	Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue
Models	RMO-NX1, RMO-NX3	22111317I, 22111317G
Price	About 190 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 111h	Endurance rating 101h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-31.4 LUFS (Below average)	-28.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 387250 (v9) GeekBench: 1912 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 360745 (v9) GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6)

Honor Magic5 Lite

Brighter Display
Slightly More Powerful Chipset
Exceptional Battery Life
Good Value

Camera performance could be better
Design might be less premium

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

Fast Charging
Clean User Experience
Affordable Price
Reliable Performance

Less Bright Display
Weaker Chipset
Battery life slightly less than Magic5 Lite

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Lite boasts a significantly brighter display at 864 nits compared to the Redmi Note 12's 706 nits. This difference is noticeable, especially when using the phones outdoors. Both have 'Infinite' contrast ratios (likely a marketing term), but the Magic5 Lite's higher brightness provides a more immersive viewing experience. Both likely use AMOLED panels, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. Based on general expectations for these models, the Magic5 Lite might offer slightly better image processing and low-light performance due to the more powerful chipset. Both likely include a main sensor, ultrawide, and macro lens. Video recording capabilities are likely similar.

Performance

The Honor Magic5 Lite utilizes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, offering a slight edge in processing power over the Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. While both are capable of handling everyday tasks, the Magic5 Lite will likely feel snappier when multitasking or playing less demanding games. The Snapdragon 695 is generally considered a more efficient and powerful chip.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5 Lite demonstrates exceptional battery life with an endurance rating of 111 hours, surpassing the Redmi Note 12's 101 hours. While both offer all-day battery life, the Magic5 Lite provides a greater margin of safety. The Redmi Note 12 does offer faster charging at 33W, reaching 50% in 22 minutes, compared to the Magic5 Lite's 40W.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic5 Lite is ideal for users who value a vibrant display, smooth performance for everyday tasks, and a long-lasting battery. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is a great option for those seeking a reliable and affordable phone with fast charging and a clean user experience, prioritizing value above all else.