Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 and Samsung Galaxy A54 are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior display, longer software support, and consistently excellent battery life. While the Redmi Note 12 offers a slightly faster chipset, the A54's refinements and Samsung's ecosystem make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 (China) Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, October 272023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, November 01Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.53 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight188 g (6.63 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSamsung AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2-
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, (wide), 0.8µm, PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging33W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, BlueLime, Graphite, Violet, White
Models22101317CSM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 190 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR-0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 (China)

  • Slightly faster chipset
  • Faster charging (33W)
  • Generally more affordable

  • Less vibrant display
  • Weaker camera performance
  • Shorter software support
  • Less premium build quality

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Excellent camera with OIS
  • Longer battery life
  • Longer software support (4 years)
  • Premium design and build quality

  • Slower charging (25W)
  • Slightly more expensive
  • Exynos chipset can be less efficient in some scenarios

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display (980 nits peak) with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering a more immersive and visually appealing experience. The Redmi Note 12's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and outdoor visibility of the A54. The A54's Super AMOLED technology also provides richer colors and deeper blacks.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 consistently delivers excellent photo and video quality, with improved image processing and dynamic range. While the Redmi Note 12's camera is decent, it struggles in low-light conditions and lacks the A54's optical image stabilization (OIS). The A54's video recording capabilities are also superior.

Performance

The Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset offers a slight edge in raw processing power, particularly in benchmarks. However, the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is more efficient and provides smoother overall performance in real-world usage, thanks to its 5nm process. Gaming performance is comparable, but the A54's better cooling might prevent throttling during extended sessions.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A54 shines in battery life, consistently achieving over 11 hours of active use and an impressive endurance rating of 119 hours. The Redmi Note 12's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the A54's longevity. While the Redmi Note 12 charges slightly faster (33W vs 25W), the A54's longer battery life more than compensates.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is ideal for budget-conscious users prioritizing raw performance and a slightly faster charging speed. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those who value a vibrant display, long-term software updates, a reliable camera, and a polished user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 offers 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches, significantly longer than the Redmi Note 12.
❓ Is the Redmi Note 12 good for gaming?
The Redmi Note 12 can handle most games, but the Galaxy A54's more efficient chipset and better cooling might provide a smoother experience during extended gaming sessions.