Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max: Clash of the Titans

The smartphone landscape is fiercely competitive, and today we're pitting two powerhouses against each other: the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery, known for its blazing-fast charging and value, versus the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, a premium device celebrated for its performance and camera capabilities. This comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Pro Max wins on overall performance, camera quality, and ecosystem integration. However, the Redmi Note 12 Discovery offers incredible charging speed and a more budget-friendly price point, making it a compelling choice for those prioritizing value and quick top-ups.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
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, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2894, A2896
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2022, October 272022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, November 01Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions162.9 x 76 x 9 mm (6.41 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight207.5 g (7.34 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUMali-G68 MC4Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.2NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/1.9, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging210W wired, PD3.0, 66% in 5 min, 100% in 9 minWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlackSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
Models22101316UPA2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 380 EUR€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery

  • Incredibly fast 210W charging
  • Excellent value for money
  • Good display
  • Decent performance for the price

  • Lower performance compared to iPhone
  • Camera quality not as good as iPhone
  • Android ecosystem may not appeal to all

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance (A16 Bionic)
  • Premium display with ProMotion
  • Outstanding camera system
  • Seamless iOS ecosystem

  • High price
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Limited customization compared to Android

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display (1760 nits peak) compared to the Redmi Note 12 Discovery, offering superior outdoor visibility. While the Redmi Note 12 Discovery's display is good, the iPhone's contrast ratio (infinite) and color accuracy provide a more premium viewing experience. The iPhone also features ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate) for smoother scrolling.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max's camera system is a clear winner. It offers superior image quality, dynamic range, and video recording capabilities. Apple's computational photography is also top-notch. The Redmi Note 12 Discovery's camera is decent for its price range, but it lacks the refinement and overall quality of the iPhone's system.

Performance

The Apple A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro Max utterly dominates the Mediatek Dimensity 1080 in the Redmi Note 12 Discovery. The iPhone delivers significantly faster processing speeds, smoother multitasking, and better graphics performance, especially in demanding games and applications. While the Dimensity 1080 is a capable chip, it can't compete with Apple's silicon.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max achieving an impressive 121h endurance rating. While the Redmi Note 12 Discovery's battery capacity is likely smaller, its 210W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. The iPhone's charging is considerably slower.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery is ideal for users seeking a feature-rich phone with incredibly fast charging at an affordable price. It's great for those comfortable with Android and prioritizing value. The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is perfect for users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, demanding top-tier performance, and prioritizing a premium camera experience, regardless of price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Redmi Note 12 Discovery worth buying if I'm on a budget?
Absolutely! It offers incredible value with its fast charging and decent specs for the price. It's a great option if you don't need the absolute best performance or camera.
❓ Is the iPhone 14 Pro Max worth the high price?
If you prioritize top-tier performance, a premium camera, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, then yes. However, it's a significant investment.