1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm | 168.6 x 76.3 x 8.2 mm | Xiaomi is slightly taller and much thinner; Motorola is thicker and will feel more bulky. |
| Weight | 212g | 199g | Xiaomi is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Screen Protection | Xiaomi offers better screen protection against scratches and minor impacts, Motorola screen protection is unknown. |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Xiaomi offers more flexibility with using two SIM cards at once for travel or multiple numbers. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.79" | Negligible difference in size, both offer large screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2460 | Similar sharpness levels, both offer FHD+ resolution for detailed visuals. |
| PPI | 393 | 396 | Virtually identical pixel density; both screens will look equally sharp. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | Both phones have similar color reproduction and viewing angles typical of IPS LCD panels. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Xiaomi provides a smoother visual experience with less motion blur, especially in scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones lack brightness data, which is critical for outdoor visibility. This makes it hard to say which one is superior. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Xiaomi's chipset is newer and more energy-efficient, resulting in better performance and battery life. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 456,552 | Xiaomi is significantly faster for daily use, app launching, and gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 613 | Motorola has a slightly more powerful GPU, but the newer chipset on the Xiaomi offers a bigger performance advantage overall. |
| RAM | 4GB or 6GB | 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB | Xiaomi offers more multitasking capability, especially with 8GB RAM. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP f/1.7 | 50MP f/1.8 | Xiaomi has slightly more detail, while Motorola has slightly better low-light capability due to its wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP f/2.2 | 5MP f/2.2 | Motorola offers much sharper and detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP f/2.2 | None | Motorola can capture more in each shot with wide-angle lens for group photos and landscapes. |
| Portrait (Depth) | None | 2MP f/2.4 | Xiaomi provides a depth sensor for more advanced portrait mode. |
| Macro | 2MP f/2.4 | None | Motorola allows close-up shots for small details. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | Motorola can capture higher resolution videos which translates to better overall quality and more options for post-production editing, while Xiaomi's video stabilization is superior |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | Xiaomi videos are more stable and less shaky while recording. |
| Slow-motion | 60fps | 120fps | Xiaomi offers better slow motion capabilities. |
| Additional Features | Triple Camera, Laser Autofocus, Continuous Shooting, RAW, Night Mode | Dual Camera, Optical Stabilization (OIS) | Motorola offers more versatile photography with more shooting modes and settings. Xiaomi offers better image stabilization on the main camera. |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones should provide similar battery life for everyday use. |
| Charging | 15W, Li-Ion | 18W, Li-Polymer | Xiaomi charges slightly faster, reducing waiting time. |
| Charger In-box | 10W | None | Motorola includes a charger in the box, but it is slower than Xiaomi's charging capacity. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- More Versatile Camera System: Offers wide-angle and macro lenses, along with higher-resolution selfie camera and 4k video recording capabilities.
- More Microphone: Offers improved audio capture with 2 built-in microphones.
- Included Charger: Ships with a 10W charger in the box.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G Advantages:
- Newer & More Powerful Processor: The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 offers better performance and efficiency than the Snapdragon 750G.
- Smoother Display: 90Hz refresh rate results in a smoother visual experience.
- Faster Charging: 18W fast charging significantly reduces charging times.
- Better Screen Protection: Gorilla Glass 3 offers superior scratch and impact resistance.
- More RAM Options: Available with 8GB of RAM for improved multitasking.
- Dual SIM Support: Allows the simultaneous use of two SIM cards.
- Better Video Stabilization: Ensures less shaky and smoother video recording.
- More Internal Storage Options: Available with 256 GB of internal storage, while the Motorola only has up to 128GB.
- More Advanced Fingerprint Sensor: Side-mounted sensor offers easier access and advanced functionality.
- Newer Android OS: Ships with Android 13 (upgradeable to 14) vs Android 10 on the Motorola
Significant Trade-offs
Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Outdated processor, resulting in slower and less efficient performance.
- Heavier and thicker, making it less pocketable.
- Lower refresh rate display resulting in less smooth UI experience.
- Lacks video stabilization resulting in shaky videos.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G:
- Lower-resolution selfie camera, which will result in less detailed selfie photos.
- Lacks macro and wide angle lenses compared to Motorola.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize camera versatility, including wide-angle shots, macro details, and high-resolution selfies, while sacrificing performance.
- Use Cases: Casual photography, landscape shots, detailed close-ups, content creators needing higher resolution footage, users preferring a included charger in the box.
- Value: It offers more camera options in the budget segment, but its performance is inferior.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G:
- Ideal User: Performance-oriented individuals who appreciate smoother displays, faster charging, better build quality, and dual SIM flexibility, while sacrificing slightly on the front camera.
- Use Cases: Gamers on a budget, users who multitask often, media consumption, users needing stable video recording, users requiring a future-proof software experience, people needing dual sim support.
- Value: Provides better performance, smoother experience, and modern features, making it a better all-around value for daily use.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is camera versatility (wide angle, macro) to you, versus performance and overall user experience?
- Are you willing to sacrifice processing speed and battery efficiency for a more versatile camera system, and a free included (but slower) charger?
- Do you need dual SIM functionality, a smoother display, and a more modern Android experience?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual User with a Photography Focus: If you prioritize a variety of camera lenses (wide-angle, macro) and higher resolution selfies, and don't mind slower processing speeds, the Motorola One 5G Ace is an acceptable budget-friendly option.
- Scenario 2: Performance & Smooth Experience Prioritized: If you value a smooth display, fast performance for everyday tasks and gaming, and better build quality, the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G is the superior choice.
- Scenario 3: Multitaskers & Power Users: If you need 8GB of RAM, dual-SIM functionality, the latest Android software, a modern experience, and a more future-proof phone, the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G is the clear choice.
My Choice
I would choose the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G. Although the Motorola has more camera versatility, the Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G offers a significantly better overall experience due to its superior performance, smoother display, faster charging, better screen protection, dual SIM support, more RAM and storage options, more modern software, better fingerprint sensor, better video stabilization, and superior build quality. The performance difference is a big factor in daily use and the newer software means it will be supported longer. The benefits of the Xiaomi outweigh the minor benefits of the Motorola's camera system for most users.
