Realme Narzo 50 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12: The Ultimate Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme Narzo 50 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features at attractive price points, but which one reigns supreme? This comprehensive comparison will break down every aspect to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 edges out the Narzo 50 5G thanks to its superior battery life, brighter display, and slightly faster charging. While the Narzo 50 5G boasts a more powerful chipset, the Redmi Note 12's overall package provides a more well-rounded experience for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Realme Narzo 50 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International	1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International	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
	1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India	-

Launch
Announced	2022, May 18	2022, October 27
Status	Available. Released 2022, May 24	Available. Released 2023, January 11

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	-
Dimensions	163.8 x 75.1 x 8.1 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.32 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	190 g (6.70 oz)	188 g (6.63 oz)
	-	IP53, dust and splash resistant

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz, 600 nits	AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 810 (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 (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Dual	48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens	-
Features	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (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@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	Panorama	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (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, with stereo speakers	Yes
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.3, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Unspecified	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 Direct	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	33W wired, 50% in 22 min
Type	5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Hyper Blue, Hyper Black	Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue
Models	RMX3572, RMX3571	22111317I, 22111317G
Price	About 560 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 Narzo 50 5G

More powerful chipset (Dimensity 810)
Better gaming performance
5G connectivity

Shorter battery life
Less bright display
Potentially less refined camera software

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

Exceptional battery life
Brighter display
Faster charging (50% in 22 min)
Excellent value

Less powerful chipset (Snapdragon 4 Gen 1)
Slightly less impressive gaming performance

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 706 nits, offering significantly better visibility in sunlight. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (though nominal) suggests excellent image quality. The Narzo 50 5G's display is adequate but lacks the same vibrancy and brightness. Expect slightly washed-out colors and reduced outdoor usability on the Narzo.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer decent camera capabilities for their price range. The Redmi Note 12 likely has a slight edge in image processing and overall photo quality due to Xiaomi's software optimization. However, the Narzo 50 5G's camera is still capable of capturing respectable shots in good lighting conditions. Video recording quality is likely comparable on both.

Performance

The Realme Narzo 50 5G's Mediatek Dimensity 810 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage, particularly in gaming. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 in the Redmi Note 12 is capable for everyday tasks, but struggles with more demanding games. Expect smoother frame rates and faster loading times on the Narzo 50 5G.

Battery Life

The Redmi Note 12 absolutely dominates in the battery department. Its endurance rating of 101 hours is exceptional, and active use lasting 10 hours and 58 minutes is impressive. The Narzo 50 5G's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the Redmi Note 12's longevity.

Buying Guide

The Realme Narzo 50 5G is ideal for users prioritizing gaming and performance, and who don't mind slightly shorter battery life. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is a better choice for those who value long battery life, a vibrant display, and a more balanced feature set for everyday use.