Motorola Moto S30 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone market is brimming with options, and choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Today, we pit two compelling contenders against each other: the Motorola Moto S30 Pro and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo. Both offer impressive features, but cater to slightly different needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Redmi Note 12 Turbo emerges as the overall winner, offering a more modern chipset and excellent value. However, the Moto S30 Pro's Snapdragon 888+ still delivers strong performance, especially if you prioritize a slightly more premium feel and potentially better camera capabilities (though both are mid-range).

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Moto S30 Pro	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	LTE	1, 3, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands	SA/NSA/Sub6	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
	CDMA 800 / 1900	CDMA2000 1x

Launch
Announced	2022, August 11	2023, March 28
Status	Available. Released 2022, August 11	Available. Released 2023, March 28

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5)	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	158.5 x 71.2 x 7.5 mm or 7.7 mm	161.1 x 75 x 7.9 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	172 g / 167 g (5.89 oz)	181 g (6.38 oz)
	Splash and dust resistant	-

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~91.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	P-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+	OLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x2.91 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.49 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM7475-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 725
OS	Android 12, MYUI 4.0	Android 13, MIUI 14

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm Auxiliary lens	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30ps, gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps

Selfie camera
Single	32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", AF	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Ready For 3.5 support	-

Battery
Charging	68W wired, 50% in 10 min	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Type	Li-Po 4400 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Blue, Black	Black, Blue, White, Harry Potter Edition
Models	XT2243-2	23049RAD8C
Price	About 330 EUR	About 270 EUR

Motorola Moto S30 Pro

Potentially better camera versatility
Clean Android experience
Flagship-adjacent performance
Fast charging (68W)

Older chipset compared to competitor
May lack some of the latest features
Potentially less efficient battery

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo

More modern and efficient chipset (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2)
Excellent value for money
Fast charging (67W)
Likely brighter and more accurate display

Camera might not be as versatile as the S30 Pro
Xiaomi's MIUI software can be divisive

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant displays, likely AMOLED panels with high refresh rates (assumed 120Hz for both). The Redmi Note 12 Turbo might have a slight edge in brightness and color accuracy due to its newer generation display technology. Screen size is likely similar, around 6.6-6.7 inches.

Camera Comparison

The Moto S30 Pro likely boasts a more versatile camera system, potentially including a higher resolution main sensor and telephoto lens (based on typical Motorola offerings). The Redmi Note 12 Turbo will likely focus on computational photography and AI enhancements. Image quality will be competitive, but the S30 Pro might offer more creative options.

Performance

This is where the biggest difference lies. The Snapdragon 888+ in the Moto S30 Pro is a powerful chip, but the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 in the Redmi Note 12 Turbo is significantly more modern and efficient. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Redmi Note 12 Turbo. The 7+ Gen 2's efficiency also translates to better battery life.

Battery Life

Both phones offer fast charging (67-68W). The Redmi Note 12 Turbo's more efficient chipset should give it a slight advantage in battery life, allowing it to last longer on a single charge.

Buying Guide

The Motorola Moto S30 Pro is ideal for users who want a flagship-adjacent experience without breaking the bank, and appreciate Motorola's clean Android skin. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo is perfect for those seeking maximum performance and value for money, prioritizing a smooth, fast experience for everyday tasks and gaming.