Smartphone Comparison: Asus Zenfone 8 vs. Xiaomi Redmi 12C
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Asus Zenfone 8 | Xiaomi Redmi 12C | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 148 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm | 168.8 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm | The Zenfone 8 is significantly smaller and more pocketable; the Redmi 12C is taller and wider, offering a larger footprint. |
| Weight | 169g | 192g | The Zenfone 8 is lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged one-handed use. |
| Build | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus screen protection | Unknown screen protection | Zenfone 8 offers enhanced screen durability against scratches and drops. |
Display
| Feature | Asus Zenfone 8 | Xiaomi Redmi 12C | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 5.9" | 6.71" | The Redmi 12C offers a much larger viewing area, better for media consumption and multitasking. The Zenfone 8 is more compact and easier to use single-handedly. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 720 x 1650 | The Zenfone 8's higher resolution results in a sharper and clearer display, with more detail visible. |
| Pixel Density | 446 PPI | 268 PPI | The Zenfone 8's higher PPI means text and images appear significantly crisper. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | The Zenfone 8's AMOLED screen provides deeper blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colors, and is more power-efficient for dark themes, resulting in a better viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | The Zenfone 8 offers significantly smoother scrolling and animations, making the user experience feel more responsive. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 0 nits | The Zenfone 8's much higher brightness makes it usable in direct sunlight; the Redmi 12C's brightness is not listed, and may be significantly dimmer. |
Performance
| Feature | Asus Zenfone 8 | Xiaomi Redmi 12C | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G85 (12 nm) | The Zenfone 8's flagship-level chipset allows for much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 891,700 | 225,154 | The Zenfone 8 has significantly higher overall performance, making it more suitable for demanding tasks and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G52 MC2 | The Adreno 660 in Zenfone 8 provides substantially better graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB/12GB/16GB | 3GB/4GB/6GB | The Zenfone 8 has significantly more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and better handling of memory-intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Asus Zenfone 8 | Xiaomi Redmi 12C | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 64MP | 50MP | The Zenfone 8 captures higher-resolution photos with more detail. |
| Main Camera Sensor | Sony IMX686 | Not Listed | The Zenfone 8 uses a superior sensor, resulting in better image quality, especially in low light conditions. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 5MP | The Zenfone 8 captures higher-resolution selfies with more detail. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP | The Redmi 12C offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography, which is not available on the Zenfone 8. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12MP | None | The Zenfone 8 offers a wide-angle lens for capturing more of the scene in a single shot and macro capabilities, which is not available on the Redmi 12C. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K @ 24fps | Up to 1080p @ 30fps | The Zenfone 8 offers significantly higher quality video recording capabilities with additional features like HDR and EIS. |
| Video Stabilization | Yes | No | Zenfone 8 has better video quality thanks to video stabilization feature. |
| DxOMark Score (Mobile) | 116 (Photo: 120, Video: 118) | 45 (Photo: 50, Video: 43) | The Zenfone 8 offers a much higher quality camera experience overall, both in photo and video. |
| Camera Features | 4K/8K Video, OIS, RAW, Continuous Autofocus | Autofocus, Touch Focus, PDAF | The Zenfone 8 offers a wider range of advanced camera features for greater flexibility and control over image capture. |
Battery
| Feature | Asus Zenfone 8 | Xiaomi Redmi 12C | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh | The Redmi 12C has a larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life on a single charge. |
| Charging | 30W Fast Charging | 10W Fast Charging | The Zenfone 8 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Battery Type | Li-Polymer | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer is more durable and safer. |
Other
| Feature | Asus Zenfone 8 | Xiaomi Redmi 12C | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Operating System | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 12 | The Redmi 12C ships with a slightly newer version of Android out of the box, but is not stated to have an upgrade plan. The Zenfone 8 is confirmed to upgrade to Android 13. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | The Zenfone 8 supports faster Wi-Fi standards for better network performance. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.1 | The Zenfone 8 has a newer Bluetooth version for better energy efficiency and connectivity. |
| GPS | More precise GPS (L1+L5 bands), Galileo, QZSS, NavIC | Standard GPS, Galileo | The Zenfone 8 has more precise GPS, better for navigation and location-based services. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Micro SIM + Nano SIM | The Zenfone 8 is more modern offering two nano SIM slots, while the Redmi 12C uses a slightly older micro SIM standard. |
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256GB | 32GB/64GB/128GB | Zenfone 8 has larger maximum storage capacity, allowing users to store more files. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Basic Audio Features | The Zenfone 8 provides much better audio quality, including higher quality playback, clearer calls, better audio separation, and immersion. |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | Similar biometric security measures, both offer a fingerprint sensor. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Light, Gravity, Hall | Accelerometer, Ultrasonic Proximity | The Zenfone 8 offers a more complete set of sensors, beneficial for gaming and advanced use cases. The Redmi 12C uses virtual proximity. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Asus Zenfone 8 Advantages
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset offers significantly faster processing and graphics performance, making it ideal for gaming and demanding apps.
- High-Quality Display: The AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, higher resolution, and higher brightness provides a superior visual experience.
- Advanced Camera System: The Zenfone 8 has a much better camera system, offering higher resolution, superior sensors, 8K video recording, and advanced features like OIS.
- Faster Charging: The 30W fast charging means less time plugged in and more time on the go.
- Better Audio: With Hi-Res Audio, stereo speakers, and a noise-canceling microphone, the Zenfone 8 delivers much better audio quality.
- More RAM: Up to 16GB of RAM allows seamless multitasking.
- Better Build Quality: The Zenfone 8 has a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus screen for superior protection.
Xiaomi Redmi 12C Advantages
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery should provide longer battery life, suitable for those who need extended use throughout the day.
- Larger Screen: The 6.71-inch display might be preferable for media consumption and users who like bigger phones.
- Macro Lens: The dedicated macro lens enables close-up photography not available on the Zenfone 8.
- Lower Price: The Redmi 12C is a budget-oriented phone with a lower price point.
Trade-offs
- Zenfone 8: The smaller battery may require more frequent charging, despite faster charging speeds.
- Redmi 12C: The lower performance, lower resolution display, and lower-quality camera make it less suited for demanding users.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Asus Zenfone 8
- Ideal User: Performance-oriented users, gamers, photography enthusiasts, and users who prioritize screen quality and premium features, users who prefer compact phones.
- Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming and smooth multitasking.
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos.
- Watching videos and media with excellent visual fidelity.
- Users requiring advanced features and performance in a compact size.
- Price-to-Value: It is a flagship device with high performance, a great camera, and a high-quality display. It offers higher value for performance users.
Xiaomi Redmi 12C
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, individuals who need long battery life, basic smartphone users and those who prefer larger devices.
- Use Cases:
- Basic daily tasks like calling, messaging, and browsing.
- Long battery life for extended use without frequent charging.
- Occasional social media use and basic photography.
- Users who prefer a larger display for media consumption at a lower price.
- Price-to-Value: It's designed as a budget device, therefore it provides decent value for those on a tight budget, offering basic smartphone functionalities and a large display at a lower price point.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider
- Performance Needs: Do you need a high-performance phone for gaming and demanding apps, or are basic functions sufficient?
- Display Quality: Is a premium display with high refresh rate, resolution, and vibrant colors important to you, or is a larger but basic display acceptable?
- Camera Requirements: Do you need a high-quality camera for photography and videography, or will basic photo and video capabilities suffice?
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- For Gamers/Power Users: Choose the Asus Zenfone 8. It's superior chipset, GPU, RAM, and display will provide a much smoother and more enjoyable experience for gaming and demanding apps.
- For Budget-Conscious Users: Choose the Xiaomi Redmi 12C. It provides basic smartphone functions with a large screen and long battery life at a lower price point.
- For Photography Enthusiasts: Choose the Asus Zenfone 8. Its advanced camera system, high-resolution sensors, 8K video, and OIS result in better image and video quality.
- For Heavy Media Consumption: If budget is not a concern, choose the Asus Zenfone 8 because its superior display with higher refresh rate, better resolution and better color accuracy is better for media consumption, otherwise the Xiaomi Redmi 12C could be a viable option because of its larger screen.
- For Users Preferring Smaller Phones: The Asus Zenfone 8 is the better choice due to its compact size, making it more comfortable for one-handed use.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would pick the Asus Zenfone 8. Although the Redmi 12C has a larger battery and a larger screen, the Zenfone 8 offers significant advantages in terms of performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and overall user experience. I prioritize performance and a superior display, and the Zenfone 8 is the clear winner in those areas. Even though the battery capacity is smaller, I believe the faster charging makes up for it. Additionally, the smaller size of the Zenfone 8 is a plus for me because I appreciate compact phones that can easily be used with one hand. The significant performance boost and the much higher quality display are worthwhile trade-offs for the slightly smaller battery.
