Alright, let's dive into a detailed comparison of the Realme C35 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G. I'm going to break down these specs and translate them into what actually matters to you, the user.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here’s a detailed comparison table highlighting the key technical specifications and their real-world implications:
| Feature | Realme C35 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.4 × 75.6 × 8.1 mm | 164.2 × 76.1 × 8.1 mm | Practically identical in size, you won't feel a significant difference holding them. |
| Weight | 189g | 201.8g | The Realme C35 is slightly lighter, which might be a preference for some when holding for extended periods. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones with no foldable capabilities |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.6" | 6.67" | Almost identical screen sizes; a very small difference that will likely be unnoticeable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2408 | 1080x2400 | Both offer sharp and clear visuals for daily use; the minimal resolution difference is not noticeable. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 401 | 395 | Both offer a similar level of sharpness; the tiny difference won't be noticeable to the naked eye. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED provides deeper blacks, richer colors, and better contrast. It's a significantly better experience for media consumption and viewing in bright light. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The 120Hz display of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G offers significantly smoother animations and scrolling compared to the 60Hz of the Realme C35. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G's significantly higher brightness will make it much easier to see the screen in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G (8 nm) | The Snapdragon 732G in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G offers considerably better performance than the Unisoc chip, with faster app loading and smoother multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 230,726 | 397,200 | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G boasts much higher benchmark performance, which translates to smoother overall usage, especially with demanding tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 (Mali-G57 MP1) | Adreno 618 (Qualcomm Adreno 618) | The Adreno 618 GPU is more capable for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks compared to the Mali-G57 MP1. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.8 | 108MP, f/1.9 (1/1.52" sensor) | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G has a higher resolution sensor (108MP), and a larger sensor. While Realme's f/1.8 aperture is slightly wider, it will not be as impactful. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.0 | 16MP, f/2.45 (1/3.13" sensor) | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G has a higher resolution sensor (16MP) and a larger sensor, capturing more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Camera | N/A | 8MP, f/2.2 (1/2.8" sensor) | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G offers a wide-angle camera, which the Realme C35 lacks, making it more versatile for group shots and landscapes. |
| Portrait Camera | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4 (1/5" sensor) | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G has a dedicated depth camera for portrait mode, creating better bokeh (background blur). |
| Macro Camera | 2MP, f/2.4 | 5MP, f/2.4 (1/5" sensor) | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G has a slightly higher resolution macro camera, capturing better close-up shots. |
| Black & white Camera | 2MP, f/2.8 | N/A | The Realme C35 has a dedicated B&W camera that may be useful for some artistic shots (but is not common) |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G offers higher resolution video recording, making it superior for content creation or capturing higher quality footage. |
| Slow Motion | No, 30fps | Yes, 960fps | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G can record slow motion videos with 960fps, allowing for impressive slow-motion footage. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5020mAh | Both phones offer similar battery capacities, providing a full day of moderate usage. |
| Charging | 18W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G's significantly faster charging can fully charge the device in a fraction of the time. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11 | Both phones run on Android 11. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac | Similar Wi-Fi capabilities, both support all common protocols. Xiaomi's additional Wi-Fi features are negligible. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Bluetooth 5.1 LE | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro has a slightly newer bluetooth version; both devices support key features |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro has a newer version with more satellite support, increasing accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Both devices can run two SIM cards simultaneously |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G provides more base storage as well as a larger capacity variant, which is better if you plan on storing lots of media. |
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G has more RAM which translates to better performance and multitasking capabilities. |
| Expandable | No expandable storage | No expandable storage | Neither phone offers expandable storage options. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G delivers higher quality audio with stereo speakers, providing a better listening experience compared to the basic setup of the Realme C35. |
| Security | |||
| Features | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both phones offer basic biometric security features |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G has superior screen protection |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G includes more biometric sensors |
2. Key Insights
Realme C35:
- Strengths: The Realme C35 offers a slightly lighter design, a comparable battery capacity, and a wide aperture main camera.
- Competitive Advantages: Its main competitive advantage is its potentially lower price point (depending on your region and current offers).
- Trade-offs and Limitations: The biggest compromises are its significantly less powerful chipset, its basic LCD screen, slow charging, and limited camera performance, and basic audio quality.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G:
- Strengths: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G shines with its excellent AMOLED display (with a 120Hz refresh rate), far superior performance, more versatile and higher quality cameras, much faster charging, enhanced audio quality, and superior screen protection.
- Competitive Advantages: Its key advantage is its far better overall user experience due to its superior display, performance, and camera systems.
- Trade-offs and Limitations: The main compromise is a slightly heavier design.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Realme C35:
- Best Suited For: Budget-conscious users who prioritize basic smartphone functions, long battery life, and do not require high performance, great visuals, or top-tier camera quality. This is a device for users who need a functional phone for simple daily tasks and don't want to spend too much.
- Use Cases: Casual browsing, social media, basic photography, making calls, and using basic apps.
- Price-to-Value: Good for budget-conscious users who can compromise on performance and features.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G:
- Best Suited For: Users who want a well-rounded smartphone experience with a great display, strong performance, high-quality photography, and fast charging. This is suitable for users who consume a lot of media, use their phone for gaming, or appreciate high-quality visuals and photography.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, watching videos, content creation, photography, everyday productivity, and enjoying high-quality multimedia.
- Price-to-Value: Excellent value for the money, providing a substantial upgrade in user experience for a reasonable price.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three practical questions to help you decide between these two phones:
How important is display quality to you?
- If you watch a lot of videos or care about vibrant visuals, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G's AMOLED display is a huge upgrade. If you primarily use your phone for basic tasks, the Realme C35’s IPS LCD will do the job.
How much do you value performance?
- If you want a snappy phone that can handle demanding apps and games, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G's Snapdragon 732G is far superior. If you just use basic apps and don't care about performance, the Realme C35's performance may be sufficient.
Are you willing to pay more for better cameras and fast charging?
- If you take a lot of photos, especially in various scenarios, and want the convenience of very fast charging, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G is the better option. If you only use the camera occasionally and charging speed isn’t a priority, the Realme C35 might suffice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget User: If you're on a very strict budget and primarily need a basic phone, the Realme C35 may be a decent option, but it should be noted that there are some trade offs.
- Multimedia Enthusiast: If you enjoy watching videos, playing games, or want to capture high-quality photos and videos, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G is the clear winner.
- Everyday User: For an all-around superior experience for general daily tasks, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G is worth the investment, especially for the significantly faster performance and excellent display.
What I would choose and Why
Personally, I would absolutely choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G. Here's why:
As someone who deeply appreciates technology and understands its impact on daily life, the compromises that come with the Realme C35 are simply too significant. The difference between an IPS LCD and an AMOLED display, particularly with a 120Hz refresh rate, is monumental for media consumption and everyday usage. The vastly superior Snapdragon chipset and GPU on the Xiaomi mean that the phone won't feel sluggish after a short period of usage. Additionally, the camera performance of the Xiaomi is noticeably better than the Realme, which is important for capturing detailed photos and videos, and the fast charging of 67W, is a huge time saver.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G provides a user experience that's just far more refined and versatile, making it worth the slight increase in price. It's a phone that can actually enhance my daily life, whether I'm working, creating content, or unwinding with a movie or game. While the Realme C35 might be adequate for basic tasks, the Xiaomi offers an experience that feels modern and high quality, which is where I'd choose to invest.
