TCL 40 SE vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12: A Detailed Comparison

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the TCL 40 SE and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12. But which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 emerges as the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster chipset, faster charging, and a brighter display. While the TCL 40 SE offers decent value, the Redmi Note 12's overall performance and features justify its slight price premium.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 40 SE	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - T610K	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - T610K	1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/75 Mbps	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 28, 38, 40, 66 - T610E, T610P	-

Launch
Announced	2023, January 05	2022, October 27
Status	Available. Released 2023, April 04	Available. Released 2023, January 11

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	-
Dimensions	167.9 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm (6.61 x 3.01 x 0.33 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 + 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	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.75 inches, 110.0 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz, 450 nits (typ)	AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6765 Helio G37 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Adreno 619
OS	Android 13, TCL UI 5.0	Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm	-
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	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	HDR	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	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	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes (T610K, T610K2, T610P, T610P2)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	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, proximity	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	18W wired	33W wired, 50% in 22 min
Type	Li-Po 5010 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Dark grey, Twilight purple	Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue
Models	T610K	22111317I, 22111317G
Price	About 120 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)

TCL 40 SE

Large Display
Good Battery Life
Affordable Price

Slower Processor
Slower Charging
Less Powerful Camera

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

Faster Processor
Faster Charging
Brighter Display
Likely Better Camera

Slightly Higher Price
Design may be less appealing to some

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 706 nits, offering significantly better visibility in sunlight compared to the TCL 40 SE. While the TCL 40 SE has a decent display, the Redmi Note 12's contrast ratio (infinite nominal) suggests richer colors and deeper blacks. Both likely use IPS LCD panels.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Redmi Note 12 likely has a more advanced camera system. Expect better image processing, improved low-light performance, and potentially more features like optical image stabilization (OIS). Specific sensor details are needed for a more precise comparison, but the Snapdragon chipset generally supports better camera processing.

Performance

The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 in the Redmi Note 12 is a substantial upgrade over the Helio G37 in the TCL 40 SE. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Redmi Note 12. The Cortex-A78 cores in the Snapdragon chip provide a significant boost for demanding tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Redmi Note 12 boasting an endurance rating of 101 hours. The TCL 40 SE is also expected to have good battery life, but the Redmi Note 12's active use score of 10:58h suggests it can handle demanding tasks for extended periods. The Redmi Note 12's 33W charging is also significantly faster than the TCL 40 SE's 18W.

Buying Guide

The TCL 40 SE is a good choice for users prioritizing a large display and extended battery life on a tight budget. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is ideal for those seeking a smoother user experience, faster charging, and a better camera, even if it means spending a little more.