OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro emerges as the stronger contender, boasting faster charging, a brighter display, and a more powerful chipset. While the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G offers a clean OnePlus experience, the Redmi Note 12 Pro provides a more well-rounded package for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2022, April 282022, October 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 30Available. Released 2022, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight195 g (6.88 oz)187 g (6.60 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.59 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120HzAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Mali-G68 MC4
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens50 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
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired67W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 46 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack Dusk, Blue TideFrosted Blue (Sky Blue), Onyx Black (Midnight Black), Polar White, Stardust Purple
ModelsCPH2381, CPH240922101316C, 22101316I, 23013RK75C, 22101316G
PriceAbout 220 EUR€ 148.54 / $ 142.17 / £ 149.99 / ₹ 19,999
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     0.71 W/kg (body)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)

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G

  • Clean OxygenOS software
  • Familiar OnePlus experience
  • Decent 5G connectivity
  • Lightweight design

  • Less powerful chipset
  • Slower charging
  • Lower display brightness
  • Potentially less impressive camera

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro

  • Faster charging (67W)
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • More powerful Dimensity 1080 chipset
  • Excellent battery life
  • Potentially better camera

  • MIUI software (can be polarizing)
  • Potential for bloatware
  • Design may not appeal to everyone

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 Pro takes a clear lead with its 890 nits max brightness, offering significantly better visibility in outdoor conditions. Its infinite contrast ratio also suggests richer colors and deeper blacks. The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and brightness of its competitor. Both likely use AMOLED panels, but the Redmi Note 12 Pro's implementation is superior.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Redmi Note 12 Pro likely holds an edge due to its potentially higher-resolution main sensor and image processing capabilities. Detailed camera specs are missing, but the Redmi Note 12 Pro's reputation suggests better image quality, especially in low light. Both offer Photo/Video capabilities.

Performance

The Redmi Note 12 Pro's Dimensity 1080 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G's Snapdragon 695 5G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Redmi Note 12 Pro. While the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is capable for everyday tasks, it may struggle with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Redmi Note 12 Pro shines with its exceptional battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 97 hours and incredibly fast 67W charging (50% in 15 minutes, 100% in 46 minutes). The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G's 33W charging is slower, and while its battery life is respectable, it doesn't match the Redmi Note 12 Pro's longevity.

Buying Guide

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is ideal for users prioritizing a streamlined software experience and a familiar OnePlus ecosystem. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is a better choice for those seeking superior charging speeds, a vibrant display, and a more powerful processor for demanding tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro offers significantly better battery life with an endurance rating of 97 hours and faster charging speeds.
❓ Is the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G worth buying?
It's a decent option if you prioritize a clean software experience and are comfortable with slightly lower performance. However, the Redmi Note 12 Pro offers more value overall.