The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Infinix Hot 12 Play and the Xiaomi Redmi 10C. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive in and find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 10C takes the crown thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 680 chipset and faster 18W charging. While the Infinix Hot 12 Play offers a larger screen, the Redmi 10C's performance and charging speed make it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 23 | 2022, March 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 30 | Available. Released 2022, March 23 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 171 x 78 x 8.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) | 169.6 x 76.6 x 8.3 mm (6.68 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 209 g (7.37 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~259 ppi density) | 720 x 1650 pixels (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.82 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) - X6816Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - X6816C | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765V/CB Helio G37 (12 nm) - X6816Unisoc T610 (12 nm) - X6816C | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 - X6816Mali-G52 MP2 - X6816C | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 11, XOS 10 | Android 11, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash | - |
| Single | 8 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | 6000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Racing Black, Horizon Blue, Daylight Green, Champagne Gold | Graphite Gray, Ocean Blue, Mint Green |
| Models | X6816C, X6816 | 220333QAG, 220333QBI, 220333QNY, 220333QL |
| Price | About 60 EUR | £ 99.00 / € 109.86 |
| SAR | - | 0.96 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.57 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) |
Infinix Hot 12 Play
- Large 6.8-inch display
- Excellent battery life (6000mAh)
- Affordable price
- Weaker processor
- Slow 10W charging
- Lower camera quality
Xiaomi Redmi 10C
- Powerful Snapdragon 680 chipset
- Faster 18W charging
- Better camera performance
- More responsive user experience
- Smaller battery (5000mAh)
- Slightly higher price than Hot 12 Play
Display Comparison
The Infinix Hot 12 Play boasts a larger 6.8-inch display, offering more screen real estate for videos and games. The Redmi 10C has a 6.53-inch display. Both feature HD+ resolution, so image quality is decent but not exceptional. The Infinix's larger size might be a plus for some, but the Redmi 10C's slightly more compact form factor could be preferred by others.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer a triple-camera setup. The Redmi 10C generally produces better image quality, especially in well-lit conditions, thanks to its more capable processor and image signal processing. Low-light performance is also likely to be better on the Redmi 10C. Both offer decent selfie cameras.
Performance
This is where the Redmi 10C shines. The Snapdragon 680 is a substantial upgrade over the Helio G37 (or Unisoc T610) found in the Hot 12 Play. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better overall responsiveness on the Redmi 10C. Gaming performance will also be significantly better.
Battery Life
The Infinix Hot 12 Play is known for its large 6000mAh battery, offering excellent battery life. The Redmi 10C has a 5000mAh battery, which is still respectable but won't last quite as long. However, the Redmi 10C's 18W fast charging significantly reduces charging times compared to the Hot 12 Play's 10W charging.
Buying Guide
The Infinix Hot 12 Play is ideal for users prioritizing a large display for media consumption and extended battery life on a tight budget. The Xiaomi Redmi 10C is perfect for those who want a smoother, more responsive experience and faster charging without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi Redmi 10C, thanks to its Snapdragon 680 chipset, offers significantly better gaming performance than the Infinix Hot 12 Play.
❓ How long does the battery last on each phone?
The Infinix Hot 12 Play generally offers longer battery life due to its larger 6000mAh battery, but the Redmi 10C charges much faster.