The Redmi Note 12 is joined by the Pro, Pro+, and Explorer Edition, which have all launched in China. We’ve got the details on them all below, and will be keeping this article up to date with more handsets in the range and the first details of the international launch. So without further ado, here’s all we know so far about the Redmi Note 12 series.
When will the Redmi Note 12 be released worldwide?
The first four Redmi Note 12 phones were revealed in China on 27 October, where they went on sale from 31 October. The global rollout is set to begin in the New Year, when the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ model launches in India on 5 January. We’re not sure if other models in the line will launch with it, or if the phones will make it beyond India to other markets, but at least an international launch is definitely on the way.
How much will the Redmi Note 12 cost?
Now that the phones have launched in China, we have prices for the three models in that market, and rough conversions to international prices to go with them:
Redmi Note 12: From ¥1,199 (about $165/£145/€165/₹13,500)Redmi Note 12 Pro: From ¥1,699 (about $230/£200/€230/₹19,500)Redmi Note 12 Pro+: From ¥2,199 (about $300/£260/€300/₹25,000)Redmi Note 12 Explorer Edition: From ¥2,399 (about $330/£285/€330/₹27,500)
As ever, bear in mind that those conversions are very approximate, and international pricing is typically higher than it is in China. Still, it gives you a ball park as to what to expect. We can also look at the previous models for more context:
Redmi Note 11 – £199/€199Redmi Note 11S – €249Redmi Note 11 Pro – £269/€329Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G – £319/€369Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G – £369/€449
We can’t see the Note 12 series moving too far away from these price structures, as they also fit around the Poco and Xiaomi devices that are their stablemates. Of course, the current disruptions to the manufacturing and distribution networks due to Covid and the Ukrainian war could well force prices up slightly. Hopefully not.
What are the Redmi Note 12 specs and features?
With four phones so far, we’ll break them down one by one.
Redmi Note 12
The Note 12 is a pretty basic budget phone, but it doesn’t look bad by any means. It’s also the least like the other phones in the series though. It’s powered by the entry-level Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chip, with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. Like all the phones in the series you can expect a 6.67in OLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), a 120Hz refresh rate, a 240Hz touch sampling rate, and support for HDR10+, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. Despite the OLED screen it still uses a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, but one perk is you still get a 3.5mm headphone jack. You get a 5000mAh battery, but with slightly sluggish 33W wired charging. As for the cameras, the 48Mp main rear camera is joined only by a 2Mp depth sensor, with a basic 8Mp selfie camera on the front. Like all the phones in the series, it runs Android 12 with MIUI 13.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 16/8GB RAM128/256GB storage6.67in 120Hz OLED5000mAh battery33W wired chargingCamera:48Mp main camera2Mp depth sensor8Mp selfie camera5GWi-Fi 63.5mm headphone jackAndroid 12 with MIUI 13
Redmi Note 12 Pro
The Pro is second phone in the series, and the most basic of the Pro variants. Like all the other Pro models, it’s powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chip, combined here with 6, 8, or 12GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage. It packs the same display as the entry model. The 5000mAh battery should deliver decent longevity, with fairly nippy 67W wired charging too – one of the main areas this is less impressive than its Pro stablemates. The other big difference is the camera, where the Pro uses the 50Mp Sony IMX766 sensor for its main camera, at an aperture of f/1.9 and with OIS. The other lenses are identical across the range though: an 8Mp ultrawide camera and 2Mp macro camera, with a 16Mp selfie camera on the other side.
MediaTek Dimensity 10806/8/12GB RAM128/256GB storage6.67in 120Hz OLED5000mAh battery67W wired chargingCamera:50Mp, f/1.9 main camera with OIS8Mp ultrawide2Mp macro16Mp selfie camera5GWi-Fi 63.5mm headphone jackAndroid 12 with MIUI 13
Redmi Note 12 Pro+
The Pro+ doesn’t change the formula too much. Performance is the same, with the exception that RAM is only available in 8 or 12GB, with storage locked to 256GB. The battery is the same as the Pro, but charging is faster at 120W. The camera also gets a major upgrade: the main sensor here is the 200Mp Samsung ISOCELL HPX, at a much wider f/1.65 aperture. 200Mp camera sensors are still new, so it remains to be seen how well this camera will hold up, but with the ability to combine 16 pixels into one, it should offer a definite step up from the Pro’s camera.
MediaTek Dimensity 10808/12GB RAM256GB storage6.67in 120Hz OLED5000mAh battery120W wired chargingCamera:200Mp, f/1.65 main camera with OIS8Mp ultrawide2Mp macro16Mp selfie camera5GWi-Fi 63.5mm headphone jackAndroid 12 with MIUI 13
Redmi Note 12 Explorer Edition
Finally, the Explorer Edition is almost identical to the Pro+, but with two key changes. First up, it features a significantly smaller 4300mAh battery, so won’t last as long. But that’s to fit in the absurdly fast 210W wired charging support, now the fastest we’ve seen in any phone on the market. It also only ships in a single 8GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration.
MediaTek Dimensity 10808GB RAM256GB storage6.67in 120Hz OLED4300mAh battery210W wired chargingCamera:200Mp, f/1.65 main camera with OIS8Mp ultrawide2Mp macro16Mp selfie camera5GWi-Fi 63.5mm headphone jackAndroid 12 with MIUI 13
We’ll be updating this article as more information comes to light, so be sure to check back regularly. Until then, you can also take a look at our roundup of the best budget phones and best budget Chinese phones for more options. Tech Advisor’s Deputy Editor, Dom covers everything that runs on electricity, from phones and laptops to wearables, audio, gaming, smart home, and streaming - plus he’s a regular fixture on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
