Xiaomi’s line-up is a mix of number series, Redmis and Pocos. The flagship models are skipping Prime Day, but there’s plenty to choose from in the mid-range and some more premium models from the Poco series.
The Redmi Note 12 Pro (5G) has a 50MP (1/1.56″ IMX766) camera with an f/1.88 lens with OIS, along with an 8MP ultra wide angle and a 16MP selfie camera. The phone features an AMOLED display 6.67″ at 120Hz, a 10-bit FHD+ panel with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, as well as stereo speakers to complete the audiovisual experience. It has a 5,000mAh battery with 67W charging (78% in 30 minutes, 100% in 55 minutes).
There is also the LTE model, the Redmi Note 12 Pro (4G). This is powered by the weaker Snapdragon 685 vs. Dimension 1080 for the 5G model. It also loses HDR10+, Dolby Vision and stereo speakers, plus the 5,000mAh battery only reaches 33W (55% in 30 minutes, 100% in 1 hour and 11 minutes). To make matters worse, the 50MP main camera switches to a tiny 1/2.76″ sensor and loses OIS. However, the 4G model costs only half as much.
The Xiaomi 12 is a blast from the past, well, from the end of 2021. It is smaller with a 6.28-inch display – a high-quality 12-bit 120Hz AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution (HDR10+ and also Dolby Vision) . And it features the powerful (if hot) Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and the same IMX766 sensor (with OIS) as the Note 12 Pro 5G. The battery on this one is smaller, at 4,500mAh, but it offers both 67W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Next, we move to the Poco side of the garage. We see a lot of superlatives for the Poco F5 and with good reason. It features the surprisingly powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset paired with a high-quality 6.67-inch 12-bit AMOLED, 120Hz FHD+ panel with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision (and stereo speakers too). The 5,000mAh battery with 67W charging is essentially the same as the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, but the 64+8MP camera setup is simpler (the main module has a small 1/2″ sensor, however it is present the OIS).
The Poco F5 Pro is a notable upgrade with a QHD+ display, still a 12-bit 120Hz panel. And it uses the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which is even faster, as well as 30W wireless charging in addition to the 67W wired option. The camera is the same, though, and there’s enough premium on the Pro model Unlike the F5, the F5 Pro doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack
The F5 duo isn’t on offer in the UK, unfortunately, but the Poco F4 GT is an alternative (to the F5, it falls short of the F5 Pro). This one has the original Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and a 6.67-inch 12-bit 120Hz AMOLED panel, however only FHD+ resolution. The battery is smaller at 4,700mAh versus 5,160mAh (in our tests the F4 GT got an 81-hour endurance rating, the F5 Pro did 99 hours), but charging is quicker with a 120-charge adapter. W, a full charge takes only 17 minutes.
The Poco X5 belongs to a low-end series: you can tell by looking at the 6.67″ FHD+ display at 120Hz (8-bit color only) and the Snapdragon 695 chipset. Even the camera (48 + 8 MP, without OIS ) and the 5,000mAh 33W battery aren’t all that exciting.
Things get more interesting with the Poco X5 Pro, which upgrades the 6.67-inch 10-bit color AMOLED panel (with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision) and you get Snapdragon 778G performance. Additionally, the main camera has a decently large 108MP (1/1.52″) sensor with native support for lossless zoom. Additionally, the 5,000mAh battery now charges at 67W (from full in 50 minutes). , compared to 1 hour 6 minutes on the non-Pro).
Finally, a couple of budget phones: the Redmi 12C and the Redmi A2. Both have HD+ displays, but the 12C at least has a large panel (6.72″ vs 6.52″) and a Helio G85 (vs G36), as well as a 50MP camera (vs 8MP). Both have 5,000mAh batteries with 10W charging. We’d recommend the 12C, unless you really can’t save the £30.
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