The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 and Samsung Galaxy A54 are two of the biggest contenders. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 edges out the Redmi Note 12 thanks to its brighter display, more powerful chipset, and faster software updates. While the Redmi Note 12 offers faster charging, the A54's overall package provides a more premium and future-proof experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 27 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, January 11 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.53 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India) | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0" | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| 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, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 50% in 22 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | 22111317I, 22111317G | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | € 151.99 / $ 219.99 / ₹ 11,999 | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 101h
|
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.0 LUFS (Good)
|
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 360745 (v9)
GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6) |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
- Faster Charging (33W)
- Competitive Price
- Decent Display
- Good Value
- Less Powerful Chipset
- Lower Display Brightness
- Potentially Less Refined Camera
- Software Updates May Be Slower
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Brighter Display (980 nits)
- More Powerful Chipset (Exynos 1380)
- Better Camera System
- Samsung's Software Support
- IP67 Water Resistance
- Slower Charging (25W)
- Higher Price
- Exynos Chipset Performance Can Vary
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display at 980 nits compared to the Redmi Note 12's 706 nits. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the A54's higher brightness makes it more visible in direct sunlight. The A54 also likely has better color accuracy and vibrancy, typical of Samsung's AMOLED panels, while the Redmi Note 12 uses an LCD.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is expected to have a superior camera system. Samsung's image processing is generally more refined, and the A54 likely features a better main sensor and improved low-light performance. The Redmi Note 12's camera is adequate, but it won't match the A54's quality.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 chipset (5nm) generally outperforms the Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6nm). The A54's Cortex-A78 cores are clocked higher, and the 5nm process offers better efficiency. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A54. The Redmi Note 12 is still capable for everyday tasks, but it may struggle with demanding games.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A54 demonstrates slightly better battery life in active use (11:15h) and endurance rating (119h) compared to the Redmi Note 12 (10:58h / 101h). However, the Redmi Note 12's 33W wired charging is significantly faster than the A54's 25W, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is ideal for budget-conscious users prioritizing fast charging and a decent display. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is a better choice for those seeking a brighter screen, smoother performance, a more refined camera system, and the reliability of Samsung's software support.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 chipset provides noticeably better gaming performance than the Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1.
❓ Does the Galaxy A54 have water resistance?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A54 has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, a feature absent in the Redmi Note 12.
