Honor X7a vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12: A Detailed Comparison

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Honor X7a and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best overall experience?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 emerges as the clear winner. Its superior chipset, faster charging, brighter display, and generally better performance outweigh the Honor X7a's strengths. While the X7a is a decent option, the Redmi Note 12 offers a more compelling package for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor X7a	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	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2023, January 04	2022, October 27
Status	Available. Released 2023, January 06	Available. Released 2023, January 11

Body
Dimensions	167.5 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm (6.59 x 3.03 x 0.33 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 + Nano-SIM
Weight	196 g (6.91 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 (~260 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.75 inches, 110.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT LCD	AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6765H Helio G37 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Adreno 619
OS	Android 12, Magic UI 6.1	Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB 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
Quad	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, (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	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 (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	FM radio	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, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	22.5W wired 5W reverse wired	33W wired, 50% in 22 min
Type	Li-Po 5330 or 6000 mAh (market/region dependent)	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Titanium Silver, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black	Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue
Models	RKY-LX1, RKY-LX2, RKY-LX3	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 X7a

Large Display
Reverse Wired Charging
Decent Battery Life

Underpowered Chipset
Slower Charging
Mediocre Camera

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

Faster Chipset (Snapdragon 4 Gen 1)
Brighter Display
Faster Charging (33W)
Better Camera Performance
Excellent Battery Life

No Reverse Wired Charging (potentially)

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 boasts a significantly brighter display (706 nits vs. likely around 400-450 nits for the X7a), offering better visibility outdoors. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and richer colors on the Redmi Note 12. While both have large screens, the Redmi Note 12's quality is noticeably superior.

Camera Comparison

While both offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 typically pairs with a more capable camera system. Expect better image processing, dynamic range, and low-light performance from the Redmi Note 12. The X7a's camera is adequate for casual snapshots.

Performance

The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 in the Redmi Note 12 is a substantial upgrade over the Helio G37 in the Honor X7a. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the Redmi Note 12. The X7a will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding apps or games.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Redmi Note 12 achieving an endurance rating of 101 hours. The X7a is likely comparable, but the Redmi Note 12's 33W charging is significantly faster than the X7a's 22.5W, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Honor X7a? Users prioritizing a large display and potentially reverse charging for accessories. Who should buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12? Anyone seeking a smoother, faster experience with a better camera and display, and faster charging speeds.