The Xiaomi Redmi Note series consistently delivers excellent value for money. The Redmi Note 11S and Redmi Note 12 are two popular contenders in this lineup, offering compelling features at affordable prices. But which one is right for you?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Redmi Note 12 edges out the 11S thanks to its newer, more efficient Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset and faster charging. While the 11S boasts slightly better endurance ratings, the Note 12's overall performance and charging speed make it the more appealing choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, January 26 | 2022, October 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 09 | Available. Released 2023, January 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, glass back | - |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.30 x 2.91 x 0.32 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 |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, 700 nits, 1000 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, MIUI 13 | Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 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 |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm | 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 | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 58 min | 33W wired, 50% in 22 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Graphite Gray, Pearl White, Twilight Blue | Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue |
| Models | 2201117SG, 2201117SI, 2201117SY, 2201117SL | 22111317I, 22111317G |
| Price | € 136.99 | € 151.99 / $ 219.99 / ₹ 11,999 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.88 W/kg (body) | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 133h
|
Endurance rating 101h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-25.4 LUFS (Very good)
|
-28.0 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 251201 (v8), 308741 (v9)
GeekBench: 1873 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 360745 (v9)
GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S
- Excellent battery endurance (rated)
- Slightly brighter display
- Older chipset
- Slower charging
- Potentially less smooth performance
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
- Newer, more efficient chipset
- Faster charging
- Smoother performance
- Lower endurance rating
- Slightly dimmer display
Display Comparison
Both phones feature vibrant displays with excellent contrast ratios (nominally infinite). The Redmi Note 11S has a slightly higher peak brightness of 744 nits compared to the Note 12's 706 nits, but the difference is likely imperceptible in most real-world scenarios. Both offer a comfortable viewing experience for media consumption and everyday use.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is generally comparable between the two devices. Both offer decent image quality in good lighting conditions, but struggle in low light. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are similar across both models, suggesting a similar photographic experience. Software processing plays a larger role in the final image quality.
Performance
The Redmi Note 12's Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset (6nm) represents a significant upgrade over the Redmi Note 11S's Mediatek Helio G96 (12nm). The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 offers improved efficiency and a noticeable boost in performance for multitasking and gaming. While neither phone is a powerhouse, the Note 12 provides a smoother and more responsive user experience.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 11S initially appears to have the advantage with an endurance rating of 133h, significantly higher than the Note 12's 101h. However, the 'Active Use Score' of 10:58h for the Note 12 provides a more realistic measure of battery life under typical usage. The Note 12 also boasts significantly faster charging (50% in 22 minutes vs. 58 minutes for the 11S), mitigating the endurance difference.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S is a good choice for users prioritizing maximum battery life and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is ideal for those seeking a smoother experience, faster charging, and a more modern processor, even if it means a small trade-off in absolute battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Redmi Note 12 worth the upgrade from the Redmi Note 11S?
Yes, the Note 12's improved chipset and faster charging make it a worthwhile upgrade for most users. The slight difference in display brightness and rated battery endurance are less significant.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Redmi Note 12, thanks to its Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset, offers noticeably better gaming performance compared to the Redmi Note 11S.
