HTC Wildfire E2 Play vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro: Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the HTC Wildfire E2 Play and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro. Let's see which phone emerges as the champion for budget-conscious buyers.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is the clear winner. Its superior chipset, faster charging, brighter display, and significantly better camera performance outweigh the HTC Wildfire E2 Play's potential affordability. The Redmi Note 12 Pro delivers a premium experience without breaking the bank.

PHONES
Phone Names HTC Wildfire E2 Play Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2023, April 172022, October 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 17Available. Released 2022, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions174.2 x 78.6 x 9.3 mm (6.86 x 3.09 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
Weight210 g (7.41 oz)187 g (6.60 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~80.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 450 nits (typ)AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetUnisoc T606 (12 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MP1Mali-G68 MC4
OSAndroid 12Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, (ultrawide) 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)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video720p1080p@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
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEOGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB 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
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging10W wired67W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 46 min
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, BlueFrosted Blue (Sky Blue), Onyx Black (Midnight Black), Polar White, Stardust Purple
Models-22101316C, 22101316I, 23013RK75C, 22101316G
Price-€ 148.54 / $ 142.17 / £ 149.99 / ₹ 19,999
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.06 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-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 Wildfire E2 Play

  • Potentially lower price
  • Compact size (likely)
  • Basic smartphone functionality

  • Weak chipset
  • Slow charging
  • Lower quality display
  • Less capable camera
  • Limited software updates

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro

  • Powerful chipset
  • Fast charging
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Excellent camera
  • Long battery life
  • Good value for money

  • Xiaomi's MIUI software can be polarizing
  • May have slightly more bloatware than some competitors

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display (890 nits vs. likely around 350-400 nits for the Wildfire E2 Play) and a superior contrast ratio (Infinite vs. likely standard). This translates to better outdoor visibility and more vibrant colors. The Wildfire E2 Play's display is adequate for basic use, but lacks the visual punch of the Redmi Note 12 Pro.

Camera Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 Pro's camera system is expected to be significantly better, offering higher resolution images, improved low-light performance, and more versatile shooting options. While the Wildfire E2 Play will likely have a functional camera, it won't compete with the Redmi Note 12 Pro's capabilities.

Performance

The Dimensity 1080 in the Redmi Note 12 Pro is a substantial upgrade over the Unisoc T606 in the Wildfire E2 Play. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Redmi Note 12 Pro. The Wildfire E2 Play will handle basic tasks, but may struggle with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life with endurance ratings of 97 hours. However, the Redmi Note 12 Pro's 67W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups (50% in 15 minutes, 100% in 46 minutes) compared to the Wildfire E2 Play's slower 10W charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the HTC Wildfire E2 Play? Primarily those seeking the absolute lowest price point and basic smartphone functionality. Who should buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro? Anyone wanting a well-rounded experience with a good display, capable camera, and fast charging, all at a competitive price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the HTC Wildfire E2 Play worth buying?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and only need basic smartphone features. Otherwise, the Redmi Note 12 Pro offers significantly more value.
❓ How does the Redmi Note 12 Pro's charging speed compare to other phones?
The 67W charging is exceptionally fast, allowing you to charge the phone from 0% to 100% in under an hour.