Redmi Note 12 Discovery vs. Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery and Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate represent opposite ends of the Android spectrum. The Redmi Note 12 Discovery aggressively pushes charging technology, while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate prioritizes raw gaming performance and a feature-rich experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the superior device. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers significantly higher performance, crucial for demanding games and applications. While the Redmi Note 12 Discovery’s 210W charging is impressive, the ROG Phone’s overall package and sustained performance outweigh this advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China
Launch
Announced2022, October 272023, April 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, November 01Available. Released 2023, May
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 76 x 9 mm (6.41 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight207.5 g (7.34 oz)239 g (8.43 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantBuilt-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IP54 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G68 MC4Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
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)50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm
Video1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging210W wired, PD3.0, 66% in 5 min, 100% in 9 min65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackStorm White
Models22101316UP-
PriceAbout 380 EURAbout 780 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 131h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery

  • Incredibly fast 210W charging
  • Sleek and modern design
  • Competitive price point

  • Less powerful processor than the ROG Phone
  • Likely inferior gaming performance
  • Camera specs are unknown

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Excellent display with high brightness and refresh rate
  • Gaming-focused features (AirTriggers, etc.)

  • Slower charging speed compared to Redmi Note 12 Discovery
  • Higher price tag
  • Larger and heavier design

Display Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a display capable of reaching 1095 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Redmi Note 12 Discovery’s display specs are not provided, it’s unlikely to match the ROG Phone’s brightness. The ROG Phone’s infinite contrast ratio (typical of AMOLED panels) provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The ROG Phone’s higher refresh rate (likely 165Hz, based on ROG Phone history) will provide a smoother gaming experience than the Redmi Note 12 Discovery’s expected 120Hz panel.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, being a flagship, likely features a more sophisticated camera system with a larger sensor and advanced image processing. While the Redmi Note 12 Discovery may offer competitive image quality in good lighting, the ROG Phone is expected to excel in low-light conditions and offer more versatile shooting options. The absence of specific sensor details makes a precise comparison difficult, but the ROG Phone’s overall hardware positioning suggests a superior camera experience.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a flagship processor with a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz, offering a substantial performance leap over the Redmi Note 12 Discovery’s Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s architecture – incorporating Cortex-A715 and A710 cores – is more efficient and powerful than the Dimensity 1080’s Cortex-A78 and A55 configuration. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The ROG Phone likely utilizes faster LPDDR5X RAM, further enhancing performance.

Battery Life

Both phones have an endurance rating of 131 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite different battery capacities (not specified for the Redmi Note 12 Discovery). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Redmi Note 12 Discovery’s 210W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 100% charge in just 9 minutes. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s 65W charging, while still fast, takes 42 minutes to fully charge. The Redmi Note 12 Discovery’s charging speed is ideal for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly, while the ROG Phone’s more moderate charging speed is still convenient and may contribute to slightly better long-term battery health.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery if you prioritize incredibly fast charging and a sleek design, and your gaming needs are casual. You'll benefit from a phone that can go from 0 to 100% in under 10 minutes. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if you are a serious mobile gamer, value sustained performance under load, and appreciate gaming-specific features like AirTriggers and a high refresh rate display. You're paying for a dedicated gaming experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate get hot during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a powerful chip, Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate incorporates advanced cooling solutions, including a vapor chamber and potentially external fan accessories, to mitigate thermal throttling. Users can expect sustained performance even during demanding games, though some heat buildup is inevitable.
❓ Is the 210W charging on the Redmi Note 12 Discovery safe for the battery's long-term health?
Xiaomi employs sophisticated charging algorithms and safety mechanisms to protect the battery from damage during ultra-fast charging. While extremely fast charging *can* theoretically degrade battery health faster over years of use, the Redmi Note 12 Discovery’s charging system is designed to minimize this effect. However, it's still a factor to consider for long-term ownership.
❓ Can the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate run games at 90fps or higher?
Yes, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, with its high refresh rate display (likely 165Hz) and powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, is capable of running many popular games at 90fps or even higher, depending on the game's settings and optimization. The phone's gaming-specific software features further enhance this capability.