HTC Desire 20 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro: A Detailed Comparison

The HTC Desire 20 Pro and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Desire 20 Pro, released earlier, offers a more budget-conscious entry point, while the Redmi Note 12 Pro aims for a more premium experience with faster charging and a more modern chipset. This comparison dissects the key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is the superior choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 1080 chipset delivers significantly better performance than the Snapdragon 665 in the Desire 20 Pro, and the 67W charging is a game-changer, fully charging the device in just 46 minutes compared to the Desire 20 Pro's slower 15W charging.

PHONES
Phone Names HTC Desire 20 Pro Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, June 16. Released 2020, July 182022, October 27
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, November 01
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions162 x 77 x 9.4 mm (6.38 x 3.03 x 0.37 in)163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight201 g (7.09 oz)187 g (6.60 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 610Mali-G68 MC4
OSAndroid 10Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Call records20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls-
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
Phonebook1000 entries-
 -UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single25 MP, f/2.0, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
GamesYes-
JavaYes-
MessagingSMS-
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging15W wired, QC367W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 46 min
Stand-byUp to 570 h-
Talk timeUp to 8 h 40 min-
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSmoky Black, Pretty Blue, Crystal GreenFrosted Blue (Sky Blue), Onyx Black (Midnight Black), Polar White, Stardust Purple
Models-22101316C, 22101316I, 23013RK75C, 22101316G
PriceAbout 660 EUR€ 148.54 / $ 142.17 / £ 149.99 / ₹ 19,999
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.06 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.56 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 97h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 490526 (v9) GeekBench: 2209 (v5.1), 2372 (v6) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

HTC Desire 20 Pro

  • Lower price point
  • Simple and straightforward user experience
  • Acceptable for basic tasks

  • Outdated Snapdragon 665 chipset
  • Slow 15W charging
  • Less detailed display specifications

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro

  • Powerful Mediatek Dimensity 1080 chipset
  • Ultra-fast 67W charging
  • Bright and vibrant display (890 nits)

  • Higher price compared to Desire 20 Pro
  • May have more bloatware (typical of Xiaomi)
  • Software update support may be limited

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 890 nits, compared to the HTC Desire 20 Pro’s unspecified brightness. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility. While both displays have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for modern LCD/OLED panels), the Redmi Note 12 Pro’s higher brightness translates to a more vivid and enjoyable viewing experience, especially in direct sunlight. The Desire 20 Pro’s display specifications are less detailed, suggesting a more basic panel.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications beyond this are lacking for the Desire 20 Pro. The Redmi Note 12 Pro likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially a larger sensor, though specific details are unavailable. The absence of information regarding the Desire 20 Pro’s sensor size and aperture makes a direct comparison difficult, but it’s reasonable to assume the Redmi Note 12 Pro offers a more refined camera experience.

Performance

The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The Redmi Note 12 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 1080, built on a 6nm process, features a more modern CPU architecture (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) compared to the HTC Desire 20 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) fabricated on an 11nm node. The Dimensity 1080’s Cortex-A78 cores provide a significant uplift in single-core performance, while the 6nm process contributes to better power efficiency and reduced thermal throttling during sustained workloads. This means the Redmi Note 12 Pro will handle demanding apps and games with greater ease.

Battery Life

While both phones achieve an endurance rating of 97 hours, the Redmi Note 12 Pro’s 67W charging capability is a major advantage. It can reach 50% charge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 46 minutes, drastically reducing downtime. The HTC Desire 20 Pro’s 15W charging is considerably slower, making it less convenient for users who need to quickly top up their battery. The Redmi Note 12 Pro’s active use score of 12:08h further demonstrates its efficient power management.

Buying Guide

Buy the HTC Desire 20 Pro if you prioritize a lower upfront cost and are comfortable with a more basic user experience. It's suitable for light users who primarily need a phone for calls, texts, and occasional social media browsing. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro if you value performance, fast charging, and a brighter, more vibrant display. This phone is ideal for gamers, content creators, and anyone who demands a more responsive and feature-rich smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Mediatek Dimensity 1080 in the Redmi Note 12 Pro prone to overheating during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 1080 is built on a 6nm process, which generally offers better thermal efficiency than the 11nm Snapdragon 665 in the Desire 20 Pro. While some heat generation is inevitable during gaming, the Redmi Note 12 Pro is expected to manage temperatures more effectively, minimizing performance throttling. However, sustained high-intensity gaming will still generate heat, and performance may slightly decrease over time.
❓ Does the Redmi Note 12 Pro support fast charging with Power Delivery (PD) chargers from other devices?
Yes, the Redmi Note 12 Pro supports PD3.0 charging, meaning it can be charged with compatible PD chargers. However, to achieve the maximum 67W charging speed, it's recommended to use the charger included in the box or a certified 67W PD charger. Using a lower wattage PD charger will still charge the phone, but at a slower rate.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 665 in the Desire 20 Pro handle multitasking compared to the Dimensity 1080?
The Snapdragon 665 is a capable processor for basic multitasking, but it will struggle with demanding applications or numerous apps running simultaneously. The Dimensity 1080, with its more powerful CPU cores and increased memory bandwidth, offers a significantly smoother multitasking experience, allowing you to switch between apps quickly and efficiently.