The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 are two strong contenders vying for your attention. Both offer compelling features at attractive price points, but which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 edges out the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G thanks to its superior battery life, brighter display, and faster charging. While the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G boasts a slightly more powerful chipset, the Redmi Note 12's overall package provides better value for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 28 | 2022, October 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 30 | Available. Released 2023, January 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.53 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 | Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 33W wired, 50% in 22 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black Dusk, Blue Tide | Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue |
| Models | CPH2381, CPH2409 | 22111317I, 22111317G |
| Price | About 220 EUR | € 151.99 / $ 219.99 / ₹ 11,999 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.71 W/kg (body) | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 101h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.0 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 360745 (v9)
GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6) |
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
- Slightly more powerful chipset
- 5G connectivity
- OnePlus software experience
- Less impressive battery life
- Lower display brightness
- Slower charging
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
- Exceptional battery life
- Brighter display
- Faster charging
- Excellent value
- Slightly less powerful chipset
- Xiaomi's MIUI software (can be polarizing)
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 12 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 706 nits, offering significantly better visibility in sunlight compared to the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. While the Redmi Note 12 boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), both phones offer decent color reproduction for their price range. The Redmi Note 12's display is generally considered more visually appealing.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems for their price range. The Redmi Note 12's camera is known for producing vibrant and pleasing images, while the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G's camera tends to be a bit more neutral. Low-light performance is comparable on both devices. Video recording capabilities are similar on both.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G holds a slight advantage in performance thanks to its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, which is generally considered a bit more powerful than the Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. This translates to slightly smoother performance in demanding games and applications. However, in everyday use, the difference is often negligible.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 12 absolutely dominates in the battery department. Its endurance rating of 101 hours is exceptional, and it can reach 50% charge in just 22 minutes with its 33W charging. The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the Redmi Note 12's impressive longevity.
Buying Guide
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is ideal for users prioritizing performance and a smoother gaming experience. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is a better choice for those who value long battery life, a vibrant display, and quick charging, making it perfect for everyday use and media consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G has a slightly more powerful chipset, making it marginally better for demanding games. However, both phones can handle most games at reasonable settings.
❓ Which phone has better software?
OnePlus' OxygenOS is generally considered cleaner and more user-friendly than Xiaomi's MIUI. However, MIUI offers more customization options.
