1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro and Realme 12 Pro+, focusing on practical implications for users:
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164 × 76.5 × 8.1 mm | 161.5 × 74 × 8.8 mm | Xiaomi is slightly taller and wider, Realme is thicker; negligible impact on daily use, but potentially slightly less comfortable for one-handed use for the Xiaomi, slightly bulkier feel for the Realme. |
| Weight | 193g | 196g | Virtually identical, both feel similar in hand. |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 Screen | Unknown Screen | Xiaomi offers better protection against scratches and minor impacts. Realme screen protection is unknown. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.7" | Negligible difference; both offer a large, immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2412 | Both are virtually identical and sharp; excellent for media consumption and general use. |
| PPI | 395 | 394 | Similar pixel densities result in nearly identical sharpness on screen. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Vibrant colors and deep blacks on both; excellent for watching videos and gaming. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Smooth scrolling and animations on both; better gaming and overall responsiveness. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 0 nits | Xiaomi offers far superior visibility in bright sunlight; Realme data is missing, it's unclear whether it has proper visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) | Realme's newer chip is more power-efficient and provides better performance, faster app loading, smoother multitasking, better gaming. |
| Antutu Score | 397,200 | 603,400 | Realme performs significantly better in benchmarks, indicating superior real-world speed and responsiveness. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 710 | Realme provides better graphics performance, resulting in better gameplay experience and smoother graphics rendering. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 108MP f/1.9, 1/1.52" sensor (Samsung S5KHM2), 0.70µm pixels | 50MP f/1.8, 1/1.56" sensor (Sony IMX890), 1.00µm pixels | Xiaomi boasts higher resolution, however, Realme uses a sensor with larger pixels that capture more light and offer better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP f/2.45, 1/3.13" sensor (Sony IMX471), 1.00µm pixels | 32MP f/2.4, 1/2.74" sensor (Sony IMX615), 0.80µm pixels | Realme captures sharper selfies with more detail; the difference in low-light may be negligible. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP f/2.6, 1/2" sensor (Omnivision OV64B), 0.70µm pixels | Realme offers optical zoom capabilities, which are excellent for capturing detailed images from a distance; Xiaomi has no telephoto lens. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 8MP f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor (Sony IMX355), 1.14µm pixels | None | Xiaomi allows you to capture more content in a single frame; Realme does not have a dedicated wide-angle lens. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP f/2.4, 1/5" sensor (GalaxyCore GC02M1), 1.75µm pixels | None | Xiaomi captures depth data for background blur in portrait shots; Realme does not have a dedicated portrait mode camera. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP f/2.4, 1/5" sensor (Omnivision OV5675), 1.12µm pixels | None | Xiaomi allows close-up photography; Realme does not have a dedicated macro lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 8MP f/2.2, 1/4" sensor (Hynix HI-846), 1.12µm pixels | Realme combines wide-angle and macro, sacrificing pure wide-angle capabilities in favor of more versatile camera. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, No EIS; Slow-motion: Yes, 960fps | 4K@30fps with EIS, 1080p@30/60/120fps with EIS; Slow-motion: Yes, 240fps | Realme offers better video recording features with EIS across all resolutions, and better slow-motion capabilities. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5020mAh | 5000mAh | Very similar battery life; both are likely to last a full day of moderate usage. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Realme charges much faster, reducing downtime significantly; very useful for people who need to quickly charge on the go. |
| Removable | Non-removable | Non-removable | Standard for modern smartphones; no practical impact. |
Software
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (up to 13) | Android 14 | Realme offers a more up-to-date software experience with potentially longer update support. Xiaomi has older software with a max upgrade to 13. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Realme offers faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance in crowded networks with Wi-Fi 6. Xiaomi uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Realme offers slightly improved connection stability and range, along with more audio codecs for better wireless audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Realme offers slightly improved accuracy with a wider range of satellite systems. Xiaomi uses the more standard version of GPS. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both support dual SIM. |
Storage
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal Storage | 64GB/128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | Realme offers a higher storage option for users that need it. Both have multiple options for storage, but the Realme has more storage on it's highest end model. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB | Realme offers more RAM, which translates to better multitasking and app performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both phones do not allow for storage expansion. |
Audio
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Realme offers improved audio quality for calls with a noise cancellation microphone. |
Security
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Basic | Xiaomi offers a more advanced fingerprint sensor. |
Sensors
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Realme 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Proximity: Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic | Xiaomi has more sensors. Realme has basic sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro Advantages
- Brighter Display: Significantly higher peak brightness (1200 nits), making it far more usable in direct sunlight.
- Dedicated wide-angle and macro lens: Offers a wider variety of photo and video shooting options
- Advanced Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: More convenient to use.
- Compass and Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor: More advanced sensors for advanced features
Realme 12 Pro+ Advantages
- Superior Performance: Newer chipset and higher benchmark scores for faster and smoother operation.
- Better Camera System: Larger main camera pixels, dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, and superior low-light performance
- Faster Charging: 67W charging significantly reduces charge times.
- More Up-to-Date Software: Ships with Android 14 for longer-term software support.
- Newer Bluetooth and Wi-Fi: Faster and more stable wireless connections with more advanced features.
- More RAM and Storage: Higher RAM and storage options provide better multitasking and more space for photos and videos.
- Improved Audio: Noise-cancelling microphone and spatial audio features.
Trade-offs
- Xiaomi: Better screen visibility in bright light and more camera versatility vs a slower phone with older software.
- Realme: Better camera performance and faster charging and newer software vs having a lower brightness display.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize a bright display, versatile camera features, and don't demand top-tier performance.
- Use Cases:
- Outdoor photography, where screen visibility is essential.
- Users who need a wide variety of dedicated camera lenses.
- General users who prioritize value over top-tier performance.
Realme 12 Pro+
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize performance, a superior camera system, faster charging, and the latest software.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile photographers who need a quality telephoto lens and superior low-light performance.
- Mobile gamers or heavy app users who need smooth and responsive operation.
- Users who frequently need to charge their phones on the go.
4. Decision Framework
Here are three key questions to help buyers decide:
How important is screen visibility in bright sunlight?
- If very important: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is the superior option due to its significantly higher peak brightness.
- If not crucial: Realme 12 Pro+ is a good choice.
What is your priority: versatile camera features or better overall photo quality?
- If versatile: Xiaomi has a more diverse set of camera lenses.
- If better overall: Realme 12 Pro+ offers higher quality main and telephoto camera performance.
How important is performance and software updates?
- If very important: Realme 12 Pro+ is the superior option because of its newer chipset and software.
- If performance is not crucial: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is adequate.
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious Outdoor Photographer
- Recommendation: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro offers a very bright screen, which is essential for outdoor use, and gives good camera versatility.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gamer/Power User
- Recommendation: Realme 12 Pro+ provides the performance needed for demanding games and apps, faster charging, and newer software.
- Scenario 3: Mainstream User
- Recommendation: Both phones are suitable, but the Realme 12 Pro+ provides better long-term software support, performance, and battery charging, while the Xiaomi excels at bright screens and a variety of camera lenses.
Personal Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would select the Realme 12 Pro+. Here's why:
- Performance: The newer chipset and higher benchmark scores of the Realme 12 Pro+ make it a more future-proof device. This means a smoother experience not just in the present but also with future apps and updates.
- Camera Quality: While the Xiaomi boasts a higher resolution in its main camera, the Realme's larger sensor pixels and telephoto lens are a significant advantage. In real-world use, the Realme is likely to produce better overall photos, especially in challenging conditions.
- Charging Speed: The significantly faster 67W charging on the Realme is a huge convenience. The ability to quickly top up the battery is a practical benefit for me.
- Software and Support: With Android 14 out of the box, the Realme 12 Pro+ is more future-proof in terms of software updates and features. This offers a longer life cycle.
- Overall Experience: For me, the Realme offers the best balance of performance, camera quality, and practical features, even if the screen brightness is not as high as the Xiaomi.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is still a good device, especially if screen brightness and diverse camera lenses are your top priority. However, the Realme 12 Pro+ provides more of what I value in a smartphone.
