Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery vs. Turbo: The Ultimate Showdown

Xiaomi's Redmi Note series consistently delivers impressive value. The Note 12 Discovery and Note 12 Turbo are two compelling options, but which one deserves your money? We'll break down their key differences to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Redmi Note 12 Turbo edges out the Discovery thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset and overall smoother performance. While the Discovery boasts incredibly fast charging, the Turbo's superior processing power makes it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 3, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	CDMA2000 1x

Launch
Announced	2022, October 27	2023, March 28
Status	Available. Released 2022, November 01	Available. Released 2023, March 28

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	162.9 x 76 x 9 mm (6.41 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)	161.1 x 75 x 7.9 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	207.5 g (7.34 oz)	181 g (6.38 oz)
	IP53, dust and splash resistant	-

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)	OLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x2.91 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.49 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM7475-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Mali-G68 MC4	Adreno 725
OS	Android 12, MIUI 13	Android 13, MIUI 14

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
	UFS 2.2	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	200 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)	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Video	1080p@30/60fps	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
Radio	Unspecified	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/6e, dual-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	210W wired, PD3.0, 66% in 5 min, 100% in 9 min	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Type	Li-Po 4300 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black	Black, Blue, White, Harry Potter Edition
Models	22101316UP	23049RAD8C
Price	About 380 EUR	About 270 EUR

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Discovery

Incredibly fast 210W charging
Vibrant AMOLED display
Stylish design

Less powerful chipset
Potentially less refined camera processing

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo

Powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset
Smooth performance
Excellent value

Slower charging speed (67W)
Design may be less distinctive

Display Comparison

Both phones feature AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Discovery might have slightly better color accuracy, but the Turbo's display is generally considered excellent. Resolution is likely FHD+ on both.

Camera Comparison

Both phones likely feature a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor. The Turbo's superior image processing capabilities, thanks to the Snapdragon chip, should result in slightly better image quality, especially in low light. The Discovery may offer slightly different color profiles.

Performance

This is where the Turbo shines. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is a substantial upgrade over the Dimensity 1080, providing noticeably faster performance in games and demanding apps. Expect smoother multitasking and quicker load times on the Turbo.

Battery Life

The Discovery's 210W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. However, both phones likely have similar battery capacities (around 5000mAh), so real-world battery life should be comparable, with the Turbo potentially lasting slightly longer due to more efficient chip.

Buying Guide

The Redmi Note 12 Discovery is ideal for users prioritizing ultra-fast charging and a vibrant display, and who aren't as concerned with raw processing power. The Redmi Note 12 Turbo is perfect for gamers, power users, and anyone who wants a smooth, responsive experience.