Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has always been an easy budget recommendation, but with the Redmi Note 12 5G, things are a bit different. The phone packs in 5G radios and has also seen a noticeable hike in pricing even when you keep in mind its higher base storage.

The phone’s design is made of polycarbonate and is a bit slippery because of its matte surfaces. There’s a high-refresh rate Super AMOLED display that works well under sunlight, but falls a bit short when viewing darker content.

Performance is not the best in class, but Xiaomi’s well-optimised software keeps the phone running smoothly. At the same time it is a bit surprising to see an Android-powered device being launched in 2023 with Android 12 inside.

Camera performance is by far the most disappointing bit about the Redmi Note 12 5G, with below average performance in daylight and low light. Battery life is reliable and the phone charges up quickly.