Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed vs. Google Pixel 7a: A Detailed Comparison

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed and Google Pixel 7a represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed prioritizes raw performance and charging speed, while the Pixel 7a focuses on computational photography and a refined software experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your priorities.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera quality and software support, the Google Pixel 7a is the superior choice. However, gamers and those who frequently transfer large files will appreciate the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed’s faster chipset and significantly quicker 67W charging.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed	Google Pixel 7a

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1x	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8

Launch
Announced	2022, December 27	2023, May 10
Status	Available. Released 2022, December 27	Available. Released 2023, May 10

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions	162.9 x 76 x 7.9 mm (6.41 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)	152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	181 g (6.38 oz)	193.5 g (6.84 oz)
	IP53, dust and splash resistant	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)	OLED, HDR, 90Hz
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)	Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 642L	Mali-G710 MP7
OS	Android 13, MIUI 14	Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 2.2	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Dual	-	64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Triple	108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)	-
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30/60fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	-
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
Radio	Unspecified	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2
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, tri-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+	18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 4385 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue, Green	Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
Models	22101320C	GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
Price	About 230 EUR	€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed

Significantly faster 67W charging
Potentially better gaming performance with Snapdragon 778G 5G
Likely more affordable price point

Inferior camera system compared to Pixel 7a
Less frequent software updates
Unknown display brightness and quality

Google Pixel 7a

Exceptional camera quality and image processing
Clean and consistently updated Android experience
Bright and vibrant OLED display

Slow 18W charging
Less powerful chipset for demanding tasks
Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7a boasts a measured peak brightness of 1070 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed (brightness data unavailable). While the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed’s panel specifics are unknown, the Pixel 7a’s OLED panel delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Pixel 7a’s display is likely to have a higher pixel density, resulting in sharper images. The absence of LTPO technology on either device means refresh rate scaling isn’t as efficient as on flagship models, but both likely offer a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 7a’s camera system is its standout feature, leveraging Google’s renowned computational photography expertise. While specific sensor sizes are not provided, the Pixel 7a excels in dynamic range, low-light performance, and image processing. The Tensor G2 chip’s image signal processor (ISP) plays a critical role in delivering consistently excellent results. The Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed’s camera capabilities are less emphasized in the provided data, suggesting a more standard mid-range camera experience. The Pixel 7a’s video recording capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from the Tensor G2’s advanced video processing algorithms. Ignoring the likely present 2MP macro sensors on both devices, the Pixel 7a’s overall camera system is expected to deliver more consistently impressive results.

Performance

The Google Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 (5nm) chipset, featuring 2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 cores, demonstrably outperforms the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) in CPU-intensive tasks. The Cortex-X1 cores provide a significant boost in single-core performance, crucial for app launch speeds and responsiveness. While the Snapdragon 778G 5G is still a capable performer, the Tensor G2’s architecture and 5nm process offer superior efficiency and sustained performance. The Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed’s octa-core configuration (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78, 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) is well-balanced, but ultimately lacks the raw power of the Pixel 7a’s flagship-tier processor. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the Pixel 7a’s optimized software and chip integration will likely result in smoother multitasking.

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 7a has an endurance rating of 76 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed compensates for a potentially smaller battery (data unavailable) with its blazing-fast 67W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC3+. This allows for a full charge in under 45 minutes, a significant advantage over the Pixel 7a’s 18W charging. The Pixel 7a also offers 7.5W wireless charging, a feature absent on the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed. For users who prioritize minimizing downtime, the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed’s charging speed is a game-changer.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed if you need a phone for demanding mobile games, frequent large file transfers, and value incredibly fast charging. Its Snapdragon 778G 5G offers a performance edge for these tasks. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you prioritize exceptional camera quality, a clean and consistently updated Android experience, and intelligent features powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G 5G in the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed get hot during extended gaming sessions?

The Snapdragon 778G 5G is a relatively efficient chip, but prolonged gaming at high settings can generate heat. While the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed likely has thermal management systems in place, sustained performance may be throttled to prevent overheating. The Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2, while more powerful, can also experience thermal throttling under heavy load.

❓ How does the Pixel 7a’s image processing handle skin tones and portraits?

Google’s Tensor G2 excels at accurately rendering skin tones in portraits, avoiding the over-smoothing or unnatural colors often seen in other smartphones. The Pixel 7a’s portrait mode utilizes advanced algorithms to create a natural bokeh effect and accurately separate the subject from the background.

❓ Is the 18W charging on the Pixel 7a slow enough to be a major inconvenience?

Yes, 18W charging is considerably slower than the 67W charging on the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed. A full charge will take significantly longer, potentially requiring overnight charging. This is a major trade-off for Pixel 7a buyers who prioritize convenience.

❓ What kind of software support can I expect from Xiaomi compared to Google?

Google provides guaranteed software updates and security patches for the Pixel 7a for a longer duration (typically 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches) than Xiaomi typically offers for the Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed. This means the Pixel 7a will remain secure and receive new features for a longer period.