1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Xiaomi 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.5 × 74.5 × 8.3 mm | 152.7 × 69.9 × 8.2 mm | Note 10S is larger and wider, may be less comfortable for single-hand use. Xiaomi 12 is more compact. |
| Weight | 178.8g | 179g | Virtually identical, not a major factor in choosing. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.43" | 6.28" | Note 10S has a slightly larger screen, better for media consumption. Xiaomi 12 is slightly more pocketable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness. |
| PPI | 409 | 419 | Virtually the same pixel density, sharpness is comparable |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Identical vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Xiaomi 12 offers much smoother scrolling, gaming, and animations. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 1100 nits | Identical maximum brightness, both are easily visible outdoors. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Xiaomi 12 has significantly faster performance, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities. |
| AnTuTu Score | 409,874 | 1,150,831 | Xiaomi 12 has vastly superior performance in benchmarks, translating to real-world speed. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 730 | Xiaomi 12 offers substantially better graphics, especially in demanding games. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Note 10S has a larger battery, likely offering longer battery life under normal usage. |
| Charging | 33W | 67W | Xiaomi 12 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse charging | 50W wireless, 10W reverse charging | Xiaomi 12 offers wireless charging and slightly faster reverse charging capabilities. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56" sensor | Xiaomi 12 has a larger sensor despite lower resolution, potentially better low light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06" sensor | 32MP, 1/3.14" sensor | Xiaomi 12 has higher resolution selfie camera. Xiaomi 12 has a slightly smaller sensor |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor | 13MP, f/2.4 | Xiaomi 12 has higher resolution wide-angle camera; Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S has a wider aperture. |
| Portrait Camera | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | None | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait photos. |
| Macro Camera | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | 5MP, f/2.4 | Xiaomi 12 has a higher resolution macro camera. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps | Xiaomi 12 records at higher quality and has better stabilization for professional-level videos. |
| Stabilization | No | Yes | Xiaomi 12 has video stabilization, offering smoother videos compared to the Note 10S. |
| DXOMARK | N/A | 113 | Xiaomi 12's camera is rated with a score of 113, providing a benchmark of its capabilities. |
| Additional Features | Quadruple camera | Triple camera, OIS, Ultra stable video | Xiaomi 12 offers advanced features like OIS, RAW and higher stabilization. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 12 | Xiaomi 12 ships with a newer Android version and is likely to receive updates for longer. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Xiaomi 12 supports faster and more stable Wi-Fi connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Xiaomi 12 has a newer Bluetooth version for better performance and features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Xiaomi 12 provides more accurate and reliable location tracking due to more satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both support Dual SIM with Nano SIM cards. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | Xiaomi 12 offers more internal storage. |
| RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 8 GB or 12 GB | Xiaomi 12 has more RAM for smoother multitasking and heavy usage. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Xiaomi 12 offers slightly better audio experience with Dolby Atmos support and dual microphones. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner is usually faster than an in-display sensor. |
| Build | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass Victus | Xiaomi 12 offers superior screen protection against scratches and impacts. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint, RGB | Xiaomi 12 additionally features: RGB Sensor; suitable for advanced features and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Advantages:
- Larger Battery: 5000mAh provides potentially longer battery life, especially for users who prioritize endurance.
- Larger Display: Slightly larger screen may be preferred for media consumption and general usage.
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: Offers a depth sensor to enhance the portrait photography experience.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: faster than the in-display sensor of the Xiaomi 12.
Xiaomi 12 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers significantly better performance for gaming and demanding tasks.
- 120Hz Refresh Rate: Provides a much smoother and more responsive user experience.
- Better Cameras: Larger sensor size on the main camera, higher resolution on selfie and wide-angle lens, and advanced video recording capabilities(up to 8K).
- Faster Charging: 67W fast charging drastically reduces charging times, plus it has 50W wireless charging.
- More Storage & RAM: Comes with options for more storage and RAM.
- Newer Software: Ships with a newer version of Android (12 vs 11) and is likely to receive updates for longer.
- Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos and dual microphone support for better sound quality.
- More advanced protection: Gorilla Glass Victus screen protection is superior to the Gorilla Glass 3 of the Note 10S.
- Better Connectivity: Supports WiFi 6 and newer Bluetooth 5.2 for faster and more stable connections.
- More Satellite Systems: Provides better location accuracy due to a more comprehensive GPS configuration
- DXOMark Camera Score: The Xiaomi 12 has an official DXOMark score that can be used to evaluate the camera's overall capabilities, where the Note 10S doesn't have one.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Xiaomi 12 has a smaller battery compared to the Note 10S (4500mAh vs 5000mAh), which might result in slightly shorter battery life despite faster charging. The Note 10S has no wireless charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Seeking a reliable smartphone with a good display and battery life at an affordable price.
- Casual Users: Who primarily use their phone for basic tasks like browsing, social media, and calls.
- Media Consumers: Who prioritize a larger screen for watching videos.
- Users Prioritizing Battery Life: Who need a phone that can last throughout the day without frequent charging.
Specific Use Cases for Redmi Note 10S:
- Daily driver for light to moderate use
- Media consumption (watching videos)
- Social media browsing
- Taking casual photos
- Users that need a reliable phone that can last for a day
- A user that will not push the performance capabilities of the phone.
Xiaomi 12 Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Gamers and power users who need a high-performance phone for demanding applications.
- Photography/Videography Buffs: Who value high-quality camera performance for capturing photos and videos.
- Users Prioritizing Smoothness: Who want a smooth and fluid user interface with a 120Hz display.
- Users Prioritizing Charging Speed: Those who want fast charging capabilities.
Specific Use Cases for Xiaomi 12:
- High-end gaming
- Professional photography and videography
- Smooth user experience with a high refresh rate display
- Fast charging for users on the go
- Users that demand high performance capabilities from their smartphone
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: Offers very good value for the price, especially for users who do not need top-tier performance.
- Xiaomi 12: Provides premium features but at a higher price. Offers excellent performance, camera, and display capabilities, offering great value for the performance.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Redmi Note 10S is a budget option, while the Xiaomi 12 is a premium device.
- How important is performance to you? If you're a gamer or heavy user, the Xiaomi 12 is better.
- What do you value more, battery life or charging speed? The Note 10S has a larger battery, while the Xiaomi 12 has much faster charging.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User: If your priority is saving money and you mostly use your phone for basic tasks, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is a good choice.
Scenario 2: Performance-Driven User: If you're a gamer or need a phone for demanding tasks, and you can afford it, the Xiaomi 12 is the clear winner.
Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast: If taking high-quality photos and videos is a key requirement, the Xiaomi 12 is the better choice, even though the Redmi Note 10S has a good camera.
Scenario 4: Battery-Life Prioritizer: If battery life is most important, and you can make do without the high-end features, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is preferable.
What I would choose and why!
I would choose the Xiaomi 12.
While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is a very capable phone for the price, the Xiaomi 12 offers a significantly better user experience in most of the critical areas. The vastly superior performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, coupled with the 120Hz refresh rate display, will provide a smoother and more responsive user experience. As someone who does enjoy playing mobile games from time to time, I would appreciate the better graphics performance.
Although the battery on the Xiaomi 12 is slightly smaller, the 67W fast charging and 50W wireless charging is a huge advantage that would help me throughout my day.
The vastly improved cameras, especially the larger sensor size of the main camera, combined with advanced features like OIS and 8K video recording make the Xiaomi 12 a much better option for photography and videography.
While it comes at a higher price, the Xiaomi 12 would offer a better experience that would improve my overall workflow, therefore the cost difference is worth it. The faster performance, better display, improved cameras, and faster charging speeds outweigh the slightly better battery life of the Redmi Note 10S, for my use case.
