The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme C55 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 are two strong contenders vying for your attention. Both offer compelling features at affordable prices, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 edges out the Realme C55 thanks to its more modern chipset, slightly faster charging, and potentially better display. While the Realme C55 boasts impressive battery endurance on paper, the Redmi Note 12's overall package provides a more refined and future-proof experience.
| 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, 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 | 2023, March 07 | 2022, October 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 08 | Available. Released 2023, January 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 165.6 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm (6.52 x 2.99 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 | 189.5 g (6.70 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.72 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 680 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 | Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB 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 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | - |
| 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@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, (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 |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes, 360˚ (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 50% in 29 min | 33W wired, 50% in 22 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sun Shower, Rainy Night, Rainforest | Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue |
| Models | RMX3710 | 22111317I, 22111317G |
| Price | ₹ 8,399 | € 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 123h
|
Endurance rating 101h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1264:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-31.8 LUFS (Below average)
|
-28.0 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 257263 (v9)
GeekBench: 1452 (v5.1), 1413 (v6)
GFXBench: 9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 360745 (v9)
GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6) |
Realme C55
- Exceptional battery life (on paper)
- Vibrant display
- Stylish design
- Affordable price
- Older chipset
- Slower charging
- Potentially weaker camera performance
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
- More modern chipset (Snapdragon 4 Gen 1)
- Slightly faster charging
- Potentially better display brightness
- Good value for money
- Battery life slightly less than Realme C55 (on paper)
- Marketing 'infinite' contrast ratio
Display Comparison
Both phones feature vibrant displays, but the Redmi Note 12 takes a slight lead. The Realme C55's 1264:1 contrast ratio is excellent, and its 659 nits brightness is respectable. However, the Redmi Note 12's 'infinite' contrast ratio (likely marketing) and 706 nits brightness offer a marginally better viewing experience, especially outdoors. Both displays are likely LCD panels with FHD+ resolution.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely comparable, with both phones offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. Both likely feature a primary sensor around 50MP, an ultrawide lens, and a macro lens. Low-light performance is likely a weak point for both, but the Redmi Note 12's newer processor might offer slightly better image processing. Video recording capabilities are likely similar, supporting 1080p at 30fps.
Performance
The Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6nm) chipset is a significant upgrade over the Realme C55's Helio G88 (12nm). The Cortex-A78 cores in the Snapdragon offer noticeably better performance in demanding tasks and gaming. While both phones handle everyday tasks well, the Redmi Note 12 provides a smoother and more responsive experience overall.
Battery Life
The Realme C55's endurance rating of 123h is impressive, suggesting exceptional battery life. However, the Redmi Note 12's active use score of 10:58h is still respectable, and its 33W charging is slightly faster, reaching 50% in 22 minutes compared to the C55's 29 minutes. Real-world battery performance can vary significantly based on usage patterns.
Buying Guide
The Realme C55 is ideal for users prioritizing maximum battery life and a vibrant display on a tight budget. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is a better choice for those who value performance, a more modern processor, and slightly faster charging speeds, even if it means a small compromise in battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset offers significantly better gaming performance than the Realme C55's Helio G88.
❓ Is the 'infinite' contrast ratio on the Redmi Note 12 a real feature?
The 'infinite' contrast ratio is likely a marketing term and doesn't represent a measurable or significant advantage over the Realme C55's 1264:1 ratio.
