Oppo A16K vs Xiaomi Redmi 12C: A Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Oppo A16K and the Xiaomi Redmi 12C. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi 12C emerges as the clear winner. While both are budget options, the Redmi 12C's significantly more powerful Helio G85 chipset provides a noticeable performance boost, making it a better choice for everyday tasks and light gaming. Both offer 10W charging, a significant drawback.

PHONES
Phone Names	Oppo A16K	Xiaomi Redmi 12C

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	-	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2021, November 08	2022, December 31
Status	Available. Released 2021, November 08	Available. Released 2023, January 01

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	-
Dimensions	164 x 75.4 x 7.9 mm (6.46 x 2.97 x 0.31 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
Weight	175 g (6.17 oz)	192 g (6.77 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	-
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 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 480 nits (typ)	IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm)	Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Mali-G52 MC2
OS	Android 11, ColorOS 11.1	Android 12, MIUI 13

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB 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, (wide), PDAF 0.08 MP (depth)
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR
Single	13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", PDAF Auxiliary lens
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	5 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide)	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, aptX	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	Unspecified	FM radio
USB	microUSB 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	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	10W wired	10W wired
Type	Li-Po 4230 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue	Graphite Gray, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Lavender Purple
Models	CPH2349	22120RN86G, 22120RN86I, 22126RN91Y, 2212ARNC4L
Price	About 550 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)

Oppo A16K

Simple and reliable
Affordable
Decent battery life

Slow performance
Outdated chipset
Slow charging
Basic camera

Xiaomi Redmi 12C

Better performance
Improved camera (50MP)
Modern design
Good battery life

Slow charging
HD+ display (not FHD+)
Budget build quality

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.5-inch HD+ display, offering adequate viewing for their price range. Color accuracy and brightness are typical for budget devices. The Redmi 12C might have a slightly more modern design with a flatter edge, but the difference is minimal.

Camera Comparison

The Oppo A16K typically features a 13MP main camera, while the Redmi 12C boasts a 50MP main camera. While megapixels aren't everything, the Redmi 12C generally captures more detailed photos in good lighting conditions. Both phones likely have similar selfie camera performance (around 5-8MP). Low-light performance will be average on both.

Performance

This is where the Redmi 12C shines. The Helio G85 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Helio G35 in the A16K. Expect smoother app loading, faster multitasking, and a more responsive user interface on the Redmi 12C. The A16K will feel noticeably slower, especially when handling more demanding apps.

Battery Life

Both phones are expected to have a 5000mAh battery, offering all-day battery life under moderate usage. However, the slower 10W charging on both devices means it will take a considerable amount of time to fully recharge.

Buying Guide

The Oppo A16K is a decent choice for users prioritizing a simple, reliable phone for basic communication and media consumption. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is ideal for those seeking a smoother experience, better performance for multitasking and gaming, and a slightly more modern design, even within a tight budget.