The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme 10 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 delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Realme 10 boasts significantly better battery endurance and a slightly brighter display. However, the Redmi Note 12 charges faster and features a more modern chipset. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities: battery life or faster charging and a newer processor.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, November 09 | 2022, October 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, November 11 | Available. Released 2023, January 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.30 x 2.89 x 0.31 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 | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 1000 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 | Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.76", PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 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, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide) | 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 | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | 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 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, 50% in 28 min | 33W wired, 50% in 22 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Blue | Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue |
| Models | RMX3630 | 22111317I, 22111317G |
| Price | About 440 EUR | € 151.99 / $ 219.99 / ₹ 11,999 |
| SAR | - | 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 126h
|
Endurance rating 101h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-24.9 LUFS (Very good)
|
-28.0 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 385829 (v9)
GeekBench: 1762 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 360745 (v9)
GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6) |
Realme 10
- Exceptional battery life
- Slightly brighter display
- Good value for money
- Older chipset
- Slower charging speed compared to Redmi Note 12
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
- Faster charging
- Newer chipset (Snapdragon 4 Gen 1)
- Brighter display
- Shorter battery life
- Potentially less impressive camera performance
Display Comparison
Both phones feature vibrant displays, but the Redmi Note 12 edges out the Realme 10 with a measured peak brightness of 706 nits compared to 610 nits. While both have a nominal infinite contrast ratio, the brighter screen on the Redmi Note 12 offers better visibility in direct sunlight. Both likely use AMOLED panels, offering excellent color reproduction and deep blacks.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely similar between the two, with both offering decent photo and video capabilities for their price range. Expect a main sensor around 50MP on both devices, along with ultrawide and macro lenses. Image quality will depend heavily on software processing and lighting conditions. Low-light performance is likely to be a weak point on both.
Performance
The Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset is a newer architecture than the Realme 10's Mediatek Helio G99. While both are octa-core processors, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1's Cortex-A78 cores offer a performance advantage in certain tasks. Expect smoother multitasking and slightly faster app loading times on the Redmi Note 12. Gaming performance should be comparable, but the Redmi Note 12 might handle newer titles slightly better.
Battery Life
This is where the Realme 10 truly shines. Its endurance rating of 126h significantly surpasses the Redmi Note 12's 101h. While both offer 33W wired charging, the Realme 10's larger battery capacity translates to longer usage times between charges. The Redmi Note 12 does charge slightly faster to 50% (22 minutes vs 28 minutes).
Buying Guide
The Realme 10 is ideal for users who prioritize long battery life and don't mind a slightly older chipset. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is a better choice for those who value faster charging speeds and a more recent processor, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12's newer Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset likely offers a slight edge in gaming, especially for newer titles, but both phones are primarily designed for casual gaming.
❓ Is the Realme 10's battery life really that good?
Yes, the Realme 10's endurance rating is exceptionally high, suggesting it can easily last for two or more days on a single charge with moderate usage.
