The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Realme C33 and the Xiaomi Redmi 12C. Both promise a solid experience without breaking the bank, but which one truly delivers?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 12C edges out the Realme C33 thanks to its slightly more powerful Helio G85 chipset, resulting in smoother performance. While both offer decent features for the price, the Redmi 12C's improved processing power makes it the better overall choice for most users.
| 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, 8, 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 | 2022, September 06 | 2022, December 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 12 | Available. Released 2023, January 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 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 | 187 g (6.60 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1650 pixels (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 12, Realme UI S | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB 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 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF
0.08 MP (depth) |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | - | 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/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 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 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sandy Gold, Aqua Blue, Night Sea | Graphite Gray, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Lavender Purple |
| Models | RMX3624 | 22120RN86G, 22120RN86I, 22126RN91Y, 2212ARNC4L |
| Price | About 110 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) |
Realme C33
- Stylish Design
- Decent Main Camera
- Good Battery Life
- Weaker Processor
- Slow Charging
- Limited Storage Options
Xiaomi Redmi 12C
- Better Performance (Helio G85)
- Slightly Improved Camera Processing
- Good Value for Money
- Design Less Distinctive
- 10W Charging
- May have MIUI bloatware
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.5-inch display, likely with an HD+ resolution. While specific panel types aren't always detailed, expect adequate viewing angles and color reproduction for the price point. The Redmi 12C might offer slightly better brightness due to its generally more modern design.
Camera Comparison
The Realme C33 typically features a 50MP main camera, while the Redmi 12C also boasts a 50MP main sensor. Image quality will depend heavily on software processing. Expect decent daytime shots from both, but low-light performance may be limited. The Redmi 12C's more powerful processor could contribute to slightly better image processing.
Performance
The Redmi 12C's MediaTek Helio G85 chipset holds a clear advantage over the Realme C33's Unisoc Tiger T612. The G85 offers better CPU and GPU performance, leading to smoother app loading, multitasking, and even light gaming. The Realme C33 will handle basic tasks adequately, but may struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both devices are expected to have a 5000mAh battery, providing all-day battery life for moderate usage. Charging speeds are limited to 10W wired charging on both, meaning a full charge will take around 2-3 hours.
Buying Guide
The Realme C33 is a good option for users prioritizing a stylish design and basic functionality. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is ideal for those seeking a more responsive experience for everyday tasks, light gaming, and multitasking.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Helio G85 chipset.
❓ Do both phones have expandable storage?
Yes, both the Realme C33 and Xiaomi Redmi 12C typically offer a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
❓ What operating system do these phones run?
The Realme C33 runs Realme UI (based on Android), while the Xiaomi Redmi 12C runs MIUI (based on Android). Both offer a customized Android experience.
