Xiaomi offers a compelling range of smartphones, and the Redmi 12 and Poco X5 Pro represent two distinct approaches to the budget and mid-range markets. The Redmi 12 prioritizes affordability and all-day battery life, while the Poco X5 Pro aims for a more powerful experience with a focus on gaming and faster charging. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a smooth, responsive experience and faster charging, the Poco X5 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset offers significantly better performance than the Redmi 12’s Helio G88, and the 67W charging is a game-changer. However, the Redmi 12 remains a viable option for those on a tighter budget who value long battery endurance.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, June 15 | 2023, February 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, June 15 | Available. Released 2023, February 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 168.6 x 76.3 x 8.2 mm (6.64 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) | 162.9 x 76 x 7.9 mm (6.41 x 2.99 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198.5 g (7.02 oz) | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.79 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 550 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.1, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.2 (Intl), 5.1 (India), A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band - India |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 45 min
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Sky Blue, Polar Silver, Moonstone Silver | Astral Black, Horizon Blue, Poco Yellow |
| Models | 23053RN02A, 23053RN02Y, 23053RN02I, 23053RN02L, 23077RABDC | 22101320G, 22101320I |
| Price | € 109.00 / $ 139.99 / £ 84.99 / ₹ 9,899 | € 156.00 / $ 221.33 / ₹ 22,490 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.9 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 531398 (v9)
GeekBench: 2930 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi 12
- Potentially longer battery life due to unspecified larger capacity.
- More affordable price point.
- Reliable performance for basic tasks.
- Significantly slower performance compared to the Poco X5 Pro.
- Slower charging speed (18W).
- Less vibrant display.
Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro
- Much faster performance with the Snapdragon 778G.
- Incredibly fast 67W charging.
- Brighter and more vibrant display.
- Slightly lower endurance rating (though comparable in real-world use).
- Higher price compared to the Redmi 12.
- May run slightly warmer under heavy load.
Display Comparison
The Poco X5 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching 912 nits compared to the Redmi 12’s 541 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While the Redmi 12 offers a respectable 1507:1 contrast ratio, the Poco X5 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels, delivers deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. Both devices feature similar resolutions, but the brighter panel and superior contrast of the Poco X5 Pro provide a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but the provided data doesn’t offer specifics. Given the Poco X5 Pro’s positioning, it likely features a more sophisticated camera system with a larger sensor and potentially optical image stabilization (OIS). While both will likely perform adequately in good lighting conditions, the Poco X5 Pro is expected to excel in low-light photography due to its superior image processing capabilities and potentially larger sensor. The Redmi 12’s camera is likely geared towards casual snapshots.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Poco X5 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Redmi 12’s MediaTek Helio G88 (12nm). The 778G’s Cortex-A78 prime core, coupled with its more efficient 6nm process, delivers significantly faster CPU and GPU performance. The Redmi 12’s Helio G88 is adequate for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding games and multitasking. The Snapdragon 778G’s Adreno 642L GPU provides a much smoother gaming experience. The Poco X5 Pro also benefits from potentially faster RAM speeds, though this isn't explicitly stated in the provided data.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve similar endurance ratings (117h vs 113h), suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite the Redmi 12’s potentially larger battery capacity (not specified). However, the Poco X5 Pro’s 67W charging is a massive advantage, achieving a full charge in just 45 minutes. The Redmi 12’s 18W charging is considerably slower. The Poco X5 Pro also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a convenient feature for topping up accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 12 if you need a reliable, long-lasting phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and social media, and prioritize maximizing battery life over raw performance. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro if you prefer a smoother experience for gaming, multitasking, and content creation, and value the convenience of incredibly fast charging and a brighter display.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G in the Poco X5 Pro get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 778G is a relatively efficient chip, and while it will generate heat during prolonged gaming, the Poco X5 Pro’s thermal management system should prevent significant throttling. Expect some warmth, but not to the point of severely impacting performance. The 6nm process node contributes to better thermal efficiency compared to the Redmi 12’s 12nm Helio G88.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Redmi 12 slow enough to be a major inconvenience?
Yes, the 18W charging on the Redmi 12 is considerably slower than the 67W charging on the Poco X5 Pro. While it will still charge overnight, topping up quickly during the day will take significantly longer. This is a key area where the Poco X5 Pro excels, offering a full charge in just 45 minutes.
❓ Will the Redmi 12 struggle with popular apps like TikTok and Instagram?
The Redmi 12’s Helio G88 should handle basic usage of apps like TikTok and Instagram without major issues. However, you might experience occasional stutters or slowdowns when multitasking or using more demanding features within these apps. The Poco X5 Pro will provide a much smoother and more responsive experience.
❓ Does the Poco X5 Pro support 5G connectivity, and is it a significant benefit?
Yes, the Poco X5 Pro’s Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset supports 5G connectivity. Whether this is a significant benefit depends on your location and 5G network availability. If you live in an area with robust 5G coverage, you’ll experience significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to 4G.
