The Honor X7c 4G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. Both devices leverage the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chipset, promising similar performance, but diverge in key areas like display brightness and charging capabilities. This comparison dissects these differences to help you determine which phone best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G emerges as the slightly better choice. While both phones share the same Snapdragon 685 processor, the Redmi Note 12’s noticeably brighter 744 nit display and identical battery endurance rating provide a more enjoyable user experience, justifying its potentially higher 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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, October 18 | 2023, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, October 18 | Available. Released 2023, March 30 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 166.9 x 76.8 x 8.1 mm (6.57 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) | 165.7 x 76 x 7.9 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194 g or 196 g (6.84 oz) | 183.5 g (6.49 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Tempered glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1610 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~261 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 120Hz | AMOLED, 120Hz, 450 nits (typ), 700 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 14, MagicOS 8 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | Unspecified | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, 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 |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 35W wired | 33W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5200/6000 mAh (market/region dependent) | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Forest Green, Moonlight White | Onyx Gray, Mint Green, Ice Blue |
| Models | ALT-LX2 | 23021RAAEG, 23021RAA2Y, 23027RAD4I, 23028RA60L |
| Price | - | £ 189.99 / € 107.98 / ₹ 9,998 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 0.89 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.90 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 117h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.9 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 319219 (v9)
GeekBench: 1797 (v5.1), 1341 (v6)
GFXBench: 7.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor X7c 4G
- Faster 35W charging
- Potentially more affordable price
- Similar Snapdragon 685 performance
- Display brightness likely lower than Redmi Note 12
- Camera specifications unknown
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G
- Brighter 744 nit display
- Solid 117-hour endurance rating
- Established Redmi brand and software support
- Slightly slower 33W charging
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G boasts a significant advantage in display quality with a measured peak brightness of 744 nits. This is a crucial difference for users who frequently use their phones outdoors or in brightly lit environments. While the Honor X7c’s display specifications are not provided, the Redmi Note 12’s higher brightness translates to better readability and a more vibrant visual experience. Both displays feature an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting standard IPS LCD technology, but the brightness gap is the defining factor. The lack of information on the X7c’s panel type and resolution makes a detailed comparison difficult, but the Redmi Note 12 clearly leads in this category.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This suggests both are targeting the entry-level camera market. Without further information, it’s difficult to assess camera quality. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on many phones in this segment is likely, but its utility is limited due to the small sensor size and lack of detail. The image processing style will likely differ between Honor and Xiaomi, potentially influencing color accuracy and dynamic range, but a direct comparison requires sample photos.
Performance
Both the Honor X7c 4G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G are powered by the Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 (6 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. This means performance will be virtually identical for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming. The 6nm process node contributes to reasonable power efficiency. However, neither device is a powerhouse for demanding games or intensive multitasking. RAM configurations are not specified, but the performance bottleneck will likely be the chipset itself, not the RAM, in typical usage scenarios. Thermal management will likely be similar, given the shared chipset and power profile.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G has an endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating solid battery life. The Honor X7c 4G’s battery capacity is not specified, but the Redmi Note 12’s endurance suggests a comparable battery size. However, the Honor X7c 4G offers 35W wired charging, slightly faster than the Redmi Note 12 4G’s 33W wired charging. This translates to potentially quicker top-up times, though the difference is unlikely to be dramatic. Both phones should comfortably last a full day of moderate use, but the Honor X7c’s faster charging provides a slight convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor X7c 4G if you prioritize a slightly faster charging experience and are seeking the most affordable option. Its 35W charging is a small advantage. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G if you value a brighter, more visible display, especially for outdoor use, and appreciate the established ecosystem and software support of the Redmi series.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 685 in either phone struggle with graphically demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
Yes, the Snapdragon 685 is a budget-oriented chipset. While it can run PUBG Mobile, you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to achieve a smooth frame rate. Expect some occasional stuttering during intense firefights.
❓ Is the 35W charging on the Honor X7c 4G significantly faster in real-world use compared to the Redmi Note 12's 33W charging?
The difference in charging speed is likely to be noticeable but not dramatic. Expect the Honor X7c to gain a few percentage points faster during the initial stages of charging, but the overall 0-100% time difference will probably be around 10-15 minutes.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Honor's Magic UI and Xiaomi's MIUI on these devices?
MIUI is generally more feature-rich and customizable, but can also include more pre-installed apps (bloatware). Magic UI aims for a cleaner, more streamlined experience, but may lack some of the advanced features found in MIUI. Both interfaces are based on Android, but offer distinct visual styles and user experiences.
❓ Are either of these phones likely to receive significant software updates in the future?
Software update support for budget phones is often limited. Xiaomi generally provides more consistent updates than Honor, but don't expect either device to receive major Android version upgrades for more than two years.
