The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Realme Narzo 50A Prime and the Xiaomi Redmi 12C. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive in and find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 12C edges out the Narzo 50A Prime thanks to its superior chipset and slightly better overall performance. While the Narzo 50A Prime offers faster charging, the Redmi 12C's Helio G85 provides a smoother experience for everyday tasks and gaming. Ultimately, the Redmi 12C represents better value.
| 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, 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, March 22 | 2022, December 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 22 | Available. Released 2023, January 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.6 x 8.1 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.32 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 | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 720 x 1650 pixels (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 600 nits (peak) | 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 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 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 |
| | UFS 2.2 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF
0.08 MP (depth) |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 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 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Graphite Gray, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Lavender Purple |
| Models | RMX3516, RMX3517 | 22120RN86G, 22120RN86I, 22126RN91Y, 2212ARNC4L |
| Price | About 120 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 Narzo 50A Prime
- Faster Charging (18W)
- Slightly more compact design
- Decent battery life
- Weaker chipset
- Lower resolution display
- Less versatile camera
Xiaomi Redmi 12C
- More powerful chipset (Helio G85)
- Higher resolution display
- Better camera performance
- Competitive price
- Slower charging (10W)
- Larger size may not suit everyone
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large 6.5-inch displays, but the Redmi 12C typically has a slightly higher resolution (usually 1080 x 2408 pixels vs Narzo 50A Prime's 720 x 1600 pixels), resulting in a sharper image. The Redmi 12C also often boasts better color accuracy. Viewing angles are generally acceptable on both.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi 12C generally offers a more versatile camera system, often including a higher resolution main sensor (typically 50MP vs Narzo 50A Prime's 13MP). While image quality is decent on both, the Redmi 12C tends to produce more detailed and vibrant photos, especially in good lighting conditions. Both phones have basic selfie cameras.
Performance
This is where the Redmi 12C shines. The Mediatek Helio G85 chipset is noticeably more powerful than the Unisoc Tiger T612. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Redmi 12C. The Narzo 50A Prime can handle basic tasks, but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Narzo 50A Prime has an advantage here with its 18W wired charging, allowing for quicker top-ups compared to the Redmi 12C's 10W charging. However, both phones typically feature similar battery capacities (around 5000mAh), offering all-day battery life with moderate usage.
Buying Guide
The Realme Narzo 50A Prime is a good choice for users prioritizing faster charging and a slightly more compact design. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is ideal for those seeking better performance and a larger display for media consumption and gaming, especially considering its competitive price.
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.
❓ Does the Narzo 50A Prime have 5G?
No, neither the Realme Narzo 50A Prime nor the Xiaomi Redmi 12C support 5G connectivity. They are both 4G devices.
