The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Nokia G11 Plus and the Xiaomi Redmi 12C. Both promise a solid experience without breaking the bank, but which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive in.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 12C edges out the Nokia G11 Plus thanks to its slightly more powerful Helio G85 chipset, offering better overall performance. While both offer decent battery life and similar charging speeds, the Redmi 12C's processing advantage makes it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - India | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, June 29 | 2022, December 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 20 | Available. Released 2023, January 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 164.8 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.49 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) | 168.8 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.65 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| | Splash protection | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1650 pixels (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.67", PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF
0.08 MP (depth) |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0" | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0" | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, 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 | microUSB 2.0 |
| 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 | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Lake Blue, Charcoal Grey | Graphite Gray, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Lavender Purple |
| Models | - | 22120RN86G, 22120RN86I, 22126RN91Y, 2212ARNC4L |
| Price | About 130 EUR | £ 132.99 / € 107.41 |
| SAR | - | 1.08 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
Nokia G11 Plus
- Clean Android experience
- Reliable brand reputation
- Decent battery life
- Durable build quality (typically)
- Less powerful chipset
- Slower performance
- Mediocre camera
- Slow charging
Xiaomi Redmi 12C
- Better performance (Helio G85)
- More versatile camera
- Often more affordable
- Good battery life
- MIUI software (can be cluttered)
- Plastic build (feels less premium)
- Slow charging
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.6-inch HD+ display, offering a large viewing area. However, the Redmi 12C often boasts slightly better color accuracy and brightness, leading to a marginally more enjoyable viewing experience. Nokia's display is generally adequate but lacks the vibrancy of the Redmi.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi 12C typically features a more versatile camera setup, often including a higher-resolution main sensor and potentially a depth sensor. While both phones offer decent image quality in good lighting conditions, the Redmi 12C generally captures more detail and performs better in low light. Nokia's camera is acceptable but lacks the refinement of the Redmi.
Performance
The Redmi 12C's MediaTek Helio G85 chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the Unisoc T606 in the Nokia G11 Plus. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user interface. Gaming performance is also better on the Redmi 12C.
Battery Life
Both phones pack a large 5000mAh battery, promising all-day battery life under moderate usage. Charging speeds are identical at 10W, meaning a full charge will take around 2-3 hours for both devices.
Buying Guide
The Nokia G11 Plus is a good option for users prioritizing a clean Android experience and reliable brand reputation. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is ideal for those seeking a bit more performance for everyday tasks and light gaming, and often comes at a slightly lower price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Nokia generally offers more consistent and timely Android updates, focusing on a clean and bloatware-free experience. Xiaomi's MIUI can be feature-rich but may receive updates less frequently.
❓ Can I play games on these phones?
The Redmi 12C is better suited for gaming due to its more powerful chipset. While the Nokia G11 Plus can handle basic games, it will struggle with more demanding titles.
