Huawei Nova 10 SE vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Huawei Nova 10 SE and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features at attractive price points, but which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro edges out the Nova 10 SE thanks to its superior chipset, brighter display, and faster charging. While the Nova 10 SE boasts a sleek design and fast charging, the Redmi Note 12 Pro delivers a more well-rounded experience for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 10 SE Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - BNE-LX1HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - BNE-LX11, 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - BNE-LX31, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2022, October 052022, October 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 25Available. Released 2022, November 01
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions162.4 x 75.5 x 7.4 mm (6.39 x 2.97 x 0.29 in)163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight184 g (6.49 oz)187 g (6.60 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90HzAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)
 Always-On Display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 680G 4G (6 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 610Mali-G68 MC4
OSEMUI 12, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)-
Triple108 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)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
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYes (BNE-LX1 only)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity (ultrasound)Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired67W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 46 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsStarry Silver, Mint Green, Starry BlackFrosted Blue (Sky Blue), Onyx Black (Midnight Black), Polar White, Stardust Purple
ModelsBNE-LX1, BNE-LX3, BNE-AL0022101316C, 22101316I, 23013RK75C, 22101316G
PriceAbout 170 EUR€ 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)

Huawei nova 10 SE

  • Sleek and stylish design
  • Fast 66W charging
  • Smooth user experience for basic tasks
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Less powerful chipset
  • Lower display brightness
  • Potentially less impressive camera performance
  • Limited availability in some regions

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro

  • Powerful Mediatek Dimensity 1080 chipset
  • Bright and vibrant display (890 nits)
  • Excellent battery life (97h endurance)
  • Fast 67W charging with PD3.0 support
  • Generally better camera performance

  • Design may be less striking than the Nova 10 SE
  • Software experience can vary by region

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 Pro takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 890 nits, significantly brighter than the Nova 10 SE. While the Nova 10 SE's display is adequate, the Redmi Note 12 Pro's higher brightness offers better visibility in sunlight and a more vibrant viewing experience. The Redmi Note 12 Pro also boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels and image depth.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Redmi Note 12 Pro likely holds an edge due to its generally better image processing and potentially higher resolution sensors (specific sensor details are missing). The Redmi Note 12 Pro's camera is described as 'Photo / Video', suggesting a focus on both still and moving images. The Nova 10 SE's camera is also described similarly, but lacks specific details for a direct comparison.

Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro's Mediatek Dimensity 1080 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Huawei Nova 10 SE's Snapdragon 680G. The Dimensity 1080's Cortex-A78 cores offer significantly better CPU performance, making it better suited for demanding games and multitasking. The Nova 10 SE is still capable for everyday tasks, but the Redmi Note 12 Pro offers a smoother, more responsive experience.

Battery Life

The Redmi Note 12 Pro demonstrates exceptional battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 97 hours and an active use score of 12 hours and 8 minutes. This significantly surpasses what we'd expect from the Nova 10 SE. The Redmi Note 12 Pro's 67W charging is also faster than the Nova 10 SE's 66W, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Nova 10 SE is ideal for users prioritizing aesthetics, fast charging, and a smooth, albeit less powerful, experience. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is a better choice for those seeking a balance of performance, display quality, and battery life, especially if gaming or demanding apps are a priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better performance?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro's Dimensity 1080 chipset offers significantly better performance than the Huawei Nova 10 SE's Snapdragon 680G, especially for gaming and demanding apps.
❓ Is the Huawei Nova 10 SE worth buying?
The Nova 10 SE is a good option if you prioritize aesthetics and fast charging, but be aware that its performance is less powerful than the Redmi Note 12 Pro.