Realme 9 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme 9 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.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 edges out the Realme 9 5G thanks to its superior battery life, faster charging, and brighter display. While the Realme 9 5G boasts a slightly more powerful chipset, the Redmi Note 12's overall package provides a more well-rounded and user-friendly experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Realme 9 5G	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

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	1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA	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, May 12	2022, October 27
Status	Available. Released 2022, June 09	Available. Released 2023, January 11

Body
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	191 g (6.74 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 (~400 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz, 600 nits (peak)	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, Realme UI 3.0	Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB 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	50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, 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, panorama	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 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	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, 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	18W wired	33W wired, 50% in 22 min
Type	5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Meteor Black, Stargaze White	Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue
Models	RMX3474	22111317I, 22111317G
Price	About 190 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 101h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-28.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 360745 (v9) GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6)

Realme 9 5G

Slightly more powerful chipset
5G connectivity
Decent camera

Slower charging
Less impressive display
Average battery life

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

Excellent battery life
Fast charging (33W)
Bright and vibrant display
Good value

Slightly less powerful chipset
Design may be less premium

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 706 nits, offering better visibility in sunlight. Its infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent image quality. The Realme 9 5G's display is likely adequate but doesn't match the Redmi Note 12's brightness and contrast.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. The Redmi Note 12 likely offers slightly better image processing and potentially improved low-light performance. Both should be capable of capturing decent photos and videos.

Performance

The Realme 9 5G's Snapdragon 695 5G chipset generally offers slightly better performance than the Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks. However, real-world differences may be minimal for everyday use. Both phones handle multitasking well.

Battery Life

The Redmi Note 12 shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 101 hours and active use lasting 10 hours and 58 minutes. The Realme 9 5G's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the Redmi Note 12's longevity. The Redmi Note 12's 33W charging is also significantly faster than the Realme 9 5G's 18W.

Buying Guide

The Realme 9 5G is a good choice for users prioritizing raw processing power for gaming or demanding apps. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is ideal for those who value long battery life, fast charging, and a vibrant display for media consumption.