The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S and Samsung Galaxy A54 are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right choice.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior chipset, brighter display, and longer software support. While the Redmi Note 12S offers faster charging and a slightly more affordable price, the A54's performance and longevity make it the better investment.
| 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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, March 06 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, April 26 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.30 x 2.91 x 0.32 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 | 176 g (6.21 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, 700 nits (HBM), 1000 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 13, MIUI 14 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (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 |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide) | 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, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1), BDS (B1) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Onyx Black, Ice Blue, Pearl Green | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | 2303CRA44A, 23030RAC7Y, 2303ERA42L | 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 | € 122.47 / $ 149.99 / £ 229.89 | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S
- Faster Charging (33W)
- More Affordable Price
- Decent Camera for the Price
- Good Display Quality
- Less Powerful Chipset
- Shorter Software Support
- Lower Display Brightness
- Less Efficient Processor
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Superior Performance (Exynos 1380)
- Brighter and Better Display
- Excellent Camera Quality
- Longer Battery Life
- Longer Software Support
- Slower Charging (25W)
- Higher Price
- Samsung's One UI can be polarizing
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display (980 nits peak) compared to the Redmi Note 12S, offering better visibility in sunlight. The A54's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks and richer colors. While the Redmi Note 12S has a good quality display, the A54's is noticeably superior.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable cameras, but the Galaxy A54 generally produces better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Samsung's image processing is typically more refined, resulting in more vibrant and detailed photos and videos. The A54 also benefits from better video stabilization.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is a clear winner here. Built on a 5nm process, it offers significantly better performance and efficiency than the Redmi Note 12S's 12nm Helio G96. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the A54.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A54 shines in battery life, consistently achieving endurance ratings around 119 hours. The Redmi Note 12S offers decent battery life, but falls short of the A54's longevity. While the Redmi Note 12S charges faster (33W vs 25W), the A54's longer battery life often outweighs this advantage.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize fast charging and a decent camera for everyday use. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those seeking a smoother, more future-proof experience with a vibrant display, excellent camera capabilities, and longer software updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 chipset provides significantly better gaming performance than the Redmi Note 12S's Helio G96.
❓ How long will Samsung support the Galaxy A54 with software updates?
Samsung promises 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Galaxy A54, a significant advantage over the Redmi Note 12S.
