Looking for a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank? The Realme Narzo 50i Prime and Xiaomi Redmi 12C are two popular contenders in the budget segment. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you make the right choice.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 12C edges out the Narzo 50i Prime thanks to its superior chipset and slightly better overall performance. While both offer decent value, the Redmi 12C's Helio G85 provides a smoother experience for everyday tasks and light gaming. Both offer 10W charging, a significant drawback.
| 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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 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, June 22 | 2022, December 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, June 27 | Available. Released 2023, January 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 164.1 x 75.6 x 8.5 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 | 182 g (6.42 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 (~82.2% 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 11, Realme UI Go | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 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, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF | 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 | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | 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 | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
Reverse wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Blue, Mint Green | Graphite Gray, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Lavender Purple |
| Models | RMX3506 | 22120RN86G, 22120RN86I, 22126RN91Y, 2212ARNC4L |
| Price | About 90 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 50i Prime
- Clean and lightweight software
- Decent battery life
- Reverse wired charging
- Underpowered chipset
- Slow charging (10W)
- Basic camera performance
Xiaomi Redmi 12C
- Better performance (Helio G85)
- More vibrant display
- Versatile camera system
- Slightly better battery efficiency
- Can have MIUI bloatware
- Slow charging (10W)
- HD+ resolution may appear pixelated
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.5-inch HD+ display, but the Redmi 12C generally offers slightly better color accuracy and brightness. The Narzo 50i Prime's display is adequate, but the Redmi 12C provides a more enjoyable viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi 12C typically boasts a more versatile camera setup, often including a higher resolution main sensor and potentially a depth sensor. While both phones offer decent image quality in good lighting conditions, the Redmi 12C generally captures more detail and offers better low-light performance. The Narzo 50i Prime's camera is adequate for casual snapshots.
Performance
The Redmi 12C's MediaTek Helio G85 chipset is noticeably more powerful than the Unisoc Tiger T612 in the Narzo 50i Prime. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. The Narzo 50i Prime is sufficient for basic tasks but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones typically feature a 5000mAh battery, offering all-day battery life under moderate usage. However, the Redmi 12C's more efficient chipset might provide slightly better battery endurance. The shared drawback is the slow 10W charging speed for both devices.
Buying Guide
The Realme Narzo 50i Prime is ideal for users prioritizing a clean software experience and basic functionality. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is a better choice for those seeking slightly better performance, a more vibrant display, and a more versatile camera system, even with the same charging speed.
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 either phone support 5G?
No, neither the Realme Narzo 50i Prime nor the Xiaomi Redmi 12C support 5G connectivity. They both rely on 4G LTE.
❓ What is the storage capacity of each phone?
Both phones typically come in configurations with 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD card.
❓ What are the RAM options for these phones?
Both phones are usually available with 4GB or 6GB of RAM.
