Okay, let's dive into a detailed comparison between the Honor 70 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12. I'll break down the specs, explore the real-world implications, and help you figure out which phone might be the better fit for your needs.
1. Specifications Breakdown
| Feature | Honor 70 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | 165.9 × 76.2 × 8 mm | Honor 70 is slightly smaller, making it easier to handle, while Redmi Note 12 is slightly taller and wider. |
| Weight | 178g | 188g | Honor 70 is a bit lighter, which might be preferred for prolonged use. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones with no special form factors. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.67" | Identical display sizes - comfortable for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical resolutions – sharp and clear images for daily use. |
| PPI | 395 | 395 | Similar pixel density means similar sharpness of text and images. |
| Technology | OLED | AMOLED | Both offer excellent contrast, deep blacks and vibrant colors, with minor differences between the technologies. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Smooth scrolling and animations. Good for gaming. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12's screen is significantly brighter, making it much better in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) | Honor 70's chipset is significantly more powerful for gaming, demanding apps, and multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 600,525 | 460,800 | Honor 70 has notably superior performance; 30% better than Xiaomi Redmi Note 12. |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 619 | Honor 70 has a more powerful GPU, leading to better gaming and graphics performance. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 54MP, f/1.9, 1/1.49" (Sony IMX800) | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76" (Samsung S5KJN1) | Honor 70 has a larger sensor and more megapixels, likely yielding better images, especially in low light. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" (Omnivision OV08D10) | Honor 70's wide-angle lens significantly outclasses the Redmi Note 12 in resolution. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2" (Omnivision OV32C) | 13MP, f/2.45 | Honor 70 has a much higher resolution selfie camera with a slightly wider aperture. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Comparable macro lenses on both. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps (EIS) | Up to 1080p@30fps | Honor 70 offers significantly higher video recording resolution and capabilities, including EIS. |
| DXOMark Mobile Score | 115 | 69 | Honor 70 has substantially better image quality overall, especially in video. |
| Camera Features | 4K Video, RAW, Night Mode | RAW, Night Mode | Honor 70 offers 4K video recording, while Xiaomi has additional features like Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 5000mAh | Redmi Note 12 has a slightly larger battery, but this does not mean better battery life. |
| Charging | 66W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | Honor 70 charges much faster, which is a significant advantage. |
| Battery Features | Reverse Charging | Non-removable | Honor 70 allows you to charge other devices using the phone. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 12 | Android 12 | Both run on Android 12, expect different UI customizations on top. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Honor 70 has a faster and more efficient Wi-Fi standard. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.1 | Honor 70 offers a newer Bluetooth standard with APT-x codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1) | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 offers more location technologies, potentially more accurate GPS. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256/512GB options | 128/256GB options | Honor 70 offers larger storage options, useful for media-heavy users. |
| RAM | 6/8/12GB options | 4/6/8GB options | Honor 70 offers more RAM options for better multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, so choose your internal storage wisely. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Basic audio features | Honor 70 has a better audio system and offers stereo speakers and Hi-Res Audio support for better audio quality. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 offers a more modern and arguably faster fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 has a more robust screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity Virtual Sensor | The sensor suites are similar, but slightly different. |
2. Key Insights
Honor 70 Strengths:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 778G+ chipset offers significantly better performance than the Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a better gaming experience.
- Enhanced Camera System: The Honor 70 boasts a higher-resolution main camera with a larger sensor, a significantly better wide-angle lens, and a higher-resolution selfie camera. The DXOMark scores also reflect these differences, especially in video quality.
- Faster Charging: The 66W fast charging significantly reduces charging time compared to the Redmi Note 12's 33W charging.
- Better Audio: The Honor 70 has significantly superior audio quality through Hi-Res Audio and Stereo speakers, better for music, videos, and even gaming.
- More RAM and Storage Options: The Honor 70 offers up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (in some variants), whereas the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 has a limit of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Strengths:
- Brighter Display: The Redmi Note 12 has a much brighter display (1200 nits), which makes it easier to see in bright sunlight.
- Slightly Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery is marginally bigger than the Honor 70's 4800mAh, which could lead to slightly better battery life, although this is not always guaranteed due to varying power consumption.
- Better Screen Protection: It uses Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for screen protection, which is more robust.
- GPS technologies: It offers more GPS technologies for location accuracy.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: More modern design.
Trade-offs and Limitations:
- Honor 70 The display is not as bright as the Redmi Note 12, and it lacks expandable storage and a robust screen protection.
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12: It falls behind significantly in performance, camera quality, charging speed, audio quality, and overall specifications.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Honor 70 is ideal for:
- Power Users: Users who frequently game, edit media, multitask heavily, or demand excellent app performance.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize high-quality photos and videos, especially in low light, will appreciate the camera upgrades.
- Users On-The-Go: The much faster charging speed is excellent for those who need to quickly top up their phone during the day.
- Audio Lovers: Users who enjoy music and videos will appreciate the Hi-Res Audio and Stereo speakers.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is suitable for:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users who are on a tighter budget and prioritize affordability over high-end performance or camera capabilities.
- Users needing a bright display: The Redmi Note 12 is better suited for people who spend a lot of time outdoors and need a bright screen.
- Everyday Users: People who primarily use their phones for basic tasks such as browsing, social media, and casual photography.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to help you decide:
- How important is performance to you? If you need a phone for heavy gaming or demanding tasks, the Honor 70 is the better choice. If you only use your phone for light use, the Redmi Note 12 can suffice.
- How much do you value camera quality? If you want a top-tier camera for taking photos and videos, especially in low light, the Honor 70 wins. If you want a functional camera for social media, the Redmi Note 12 might work.
- How important is a bright display vs. fast charging? If you need a phone that is easily visible in sunlight, the Redmi Note 12 is superior. If you prefer fast charging, the Honor 70 is much better.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: You're a heavy mobile gamer who wants the best graphics and fast loading times - go for the Honor 70.
- Scenario 2: You mostly use your phone for social media and streaming and want a budget-friendly option - consider the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12.
- Scenario 3: You frequently use your phone for photography and videography and need a phone with a capable camera - choose the Honor 70.
- Scenario 4: You are outdoors a lot and need a very bright screen with good enough functionality - go for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12.
My Choice
If I were choosing between the two, I would go with the Honor 70. Here's why:
The performance jump from the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 to the 778G+ is very significant and for me the user experience trumps all. As someone who uses a lot of different mobile apps for work, the Honor 70's chipset, coupled with its better RAM options, would allow me to do all of that without any slowdowns. Secondly, the camera quality is vastly superior in every single metric. And, as someone who likes to take a lot of pictures and videos, this would be a big draw for me. While the battery capacity is slightly lower than the Redmi Note 12, the 66W charging speed would more than make up for that by charging the phone very fast, so it's always topped up and ready to go. Overall, the Honor 70 is simply a better-performing phone with a more versatile camera system and better sound capabilities, and that's worth the extra investment in my book.
