Xiaomi Redmi K50 vs. Xiaomi 12X: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi K50 emerges as the stronger value. Its Mediatek Dimensity 8100 chipset delivers noticeably superior performance compared to the Snapdragon 870 in the 12X, and the 67W charging is comparable. While the 12X offers a potentially more polished software experience, the K50’s performance advantage is hard to ignore.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Redmi K50 | Xiaomi 12X |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 17 | 2021, December 28 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 22 | Available. Released 2021, December 31 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back | - |
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 76.2 x 8.5 mm (6.42 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 176 g (6.21 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 8100 (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G610 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 11, MIUI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.1 / 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi 6 (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 80% in 30 min | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray, Blue, Green | Gray, Blue, Purple |
| Models | 22041211AC | 2112123AC, 2112123AG |
| Price | About 480 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 105h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 598003 (v8), 690298 (v9) GeekBench: 3168 (v5.1) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi K50
- Superior chipset performance with Dimensity 8100
- Faster charging speed (80% in 30 mins)
- Potentially better thermal management due to 5nm process
- Camera system likely less refined than the 12X
- Software experience may not be as polished
Xiaomi 12X
- Compact and potentially more ergonomic design
- Potentially better color accuracy and display calibration
- Proven Snapdragon 870 chipset offers solid performance
- Less powerful chipset compared to the Dimensity 8100
- Slightly slower charging speed (100% in 39 mins)
Display Comparison
Both the Redmi K50 and Xiaomi 12X feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed specifications like peak brightness and panel type (AMOLED vs. LCD) are missing. Given the K50’s positioning, it likely boasts a higher peak brightness for better outdoor visibility. The 12X, being a more premium device, may have slightly better color accuracy out of the box, but this is speculative without further data. Bezels are likely comparable, given both Xiaomi’s design language.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specific details are absent. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the K50’s focus on value, it likely employs a more cost-optimized camera system. The 12X, positioned as a more premium device, *may* have a slightly better image processing pipeline and potentially a larger main sensor, but this is conjecture. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is unlikely to significantly impact image quality and should be considered a minor feature.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Redmi K50’s Mediatek Dimensity 8100 (5nm) is architecturally superior to the Xiaomi 12X’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 (7nm). The Dimensity 8100 utilizes newer Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.85 GHz, compared to the 870’s 3.2 GHz Kryo 585. While the 870’s single-core speed is higher, the 8100’s more efficient 5nm process and improved core design translate to better sustained performance and thermal management. This means the K50 will likely exhibit less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The K50’s potential for LPDDR5X RAM further enhances its memory bandwidth, contributing to smoother multitasking.
Battery Life
Both devices share a 67W wired charging capability, with the 12X reaching 100% in 39 minutes and the K50 achieving 80% in 30 minutes. This suggests comparable charging speeds, with the K50 potentially completing a full charge slightly faster. Both phones have an endurance rating of 105 hours, indicating similar battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. The Dimensity 8100’s 5nm efficiency could offset a potentially smaller battery in the K50, resulting in comparable real-world usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K50 if you need maximum performance for gaming or demanding applications, and prioritize fast charging. It’s ideal for users who want a powerful device without breaking the bank. Buy the Xiaomi 12X if you prefer a more compact and potentially refined software experience, and are willing to trade some raw processing power for a smaller form factor and potentially longer software support.