Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro vs Poco F5: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Xiaomi continues to dominate the mid-range smartphone market, and the Redmi Note 12 Pro and Poco F5 are prime examples. Both offer compelling features at competitive prices, but cater to slightly different users. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right choice.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco F5 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset and brighter display. While the Redmi Note 12 Pro offers solid value, the F5's performance edge makes it the better choice for most users, especially gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro	Xiaomi Poco F5

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China	-

Launch
Announced	2022, October 27	2023, May 09
Status	Available. Released 2022, November 01	Available. Released 2023, May

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 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	187 g (6.60 oz)	181 g (6.38 oz)
	IP53, dust and splash resistant	IP53, dust and splash resistant

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
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 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)	AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)

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, upgradable to Android 15, HyperOS

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

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (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@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (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 (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
Radio	No	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/6, dual-band

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

Battery
Charging	67W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 46 min	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 46 min
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Frosted Blue (Sky Blue), Onyx Black (Midnight Black), Polar White, Stardust Purple	Black, Blue, White
Models	22101316C, 22101316I, 23013RK75C, 22101316G	23049PCD8G, 23049PCD8I
Price	€ 148.54 / $ 142.17 / £ 149.99 / ₹ 19,999	€ 202.76 / $ 289.99 / ₹ 23,790
SAR	1.09 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body)	1.09 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body)	0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 97h	Endurance rating 118h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-26.6 LUFS (Good)	-24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 490526 (v9) GeekBench: 2209 (v5.1), 2372 (v6) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro

Excellent value for money
Good battery life
Reliable camera performance
Fast charging (67W)

Less powerful chipset compared to Poco F5
Lower display brightness
Design may be less premium

Xiaomi Poco F5

Superior performance (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2)
Brighter display
Excellent endurance rating
Fast charging (67W)

Potentially slightly shorter active use battery life
Price may be slightly higher

Display Comparison

The Poco F5 boasts a brighter display at 963 nits compared to the Redmi Note 12 Pro's 890 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal), but the F5's higher brightness provides better visibility in direct sunlight. Both likely use AMOLED panels, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. Generally, the Redmi Note 12 Pro is known for its consistent image quality, while the Poco F5 might offer slightly improved processing and low-light performance due to the more powerful chipset. Both likely have a primary 50MP sensor.

Performance

This is where the Poco F5 truly shines. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is a substantial upgrade over the Dimensity 1080. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a much better gaming experience on the F5. The F5's CPU architecture also contributes to its superior performance.

Battery Life

The Redmi Note 12 Pro demonstrates slightly better active use battery life (12:08h vs 11:52h), but the Poco F5 holds a significant advantage in endurance rating (118h vs 97h). Both support 67W fast charging, achieving 100% in roughly 46 minutes, making charging times comparable.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing a balanced experience with good battery life and a reliable camera, and who aren't heavily invested in demanding games. The Xiaomi Poco F5 is perfect for those seeking top-tier performance in a mid-range phone, particularly gamers and power users who value a smooth and responsive experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Poco F5 worth the extra money?

If performance is a priority, especially for gaming, then yes. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 provides a noticeable upgrade. If you're on a tighter budget and primarily use your phone for basic tasks, the Redmi Note 12 Pro remains a solid choice.

❓ Which phone has better software support?

Both phones run Xiaomi's MIUI, and support is generally good. However, Poco devices sometimes receive updates slightly later than Redmi models. Check Xiaomi's official website for the latest update information.