1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S and Xiaomi Redmi 12, focusing on real-world implications:
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Xiaomi Redmi 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 160.5 × 74.5 × 8.3 mm | 168.6 × 76.3 × 8.2 mm | Redmi 12 is taller and wider, making it less pocketable for some users. Both are similar in thickness. |
| Weight | 178.8g | 198.5g | Redmi Note 10S is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. Redmi 12 is noticeably heavier. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphone designs. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Xiaomi Redmi 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.43" | 6.79" | Redmi 12 offers a larger screen, better for media consumption and multitasking. Redmi Note 10S is more compact. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2460 | Both have a similar FHD+ resolution, providing sharp images. Minor difference in pixel count will not be noticeable to most users. |
| Pixel Density | 409 PPI | 396 PPI | Both have similar pixel density, resulting in comparable sharpness of text and images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | AMOLED on the Note 10S provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency for dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Redmi 12 offers slightly smoother scrolling and animations with the higher refresh rate. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 0 nits | Redmi Note 10S is significantly brighter, providing much better visibility in bright outdoor conditions. Visibility of Redmi 12 in bright conditions is unknown and potentially not very good. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Xiaomi Redmi 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12 nm) | Mediatek Helio G88 (12 nm) | Redmi Note 10S offers better performance for gaming and demanding tasks. |
| Antutu Score | 409,874 | 249,400 | Redmi Note 10S is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, better multitasking, and smoother gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Mali-G52 MC2 | Redmi Note 10S has better graphics capabilities, leading to smoother and higher graphical performance in games. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Xiaomi Redmi 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 64MP f/1.79, 1/2" sensor, 0.7µm pixels | 50MP f/1.8, 1/2.76" sensor, 0.64µm pixels | Redmi Note 10S has a higher resolution, larger sensor, and wider aperture, resulting in better image quality, especially in low light and more details. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP f/2.45, 1/3.06" sensor, 1.12µm pixels | 8MP f/2.1 | Redmi Note 10S captures higher-resolution selfies, Redmi 12 has wider aperture for better low light performance but the pixel size is not known. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor, 1.14µm pixels | 8MP f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor, 1.14µm pixels | Comparable wide-angle performance with similar hardware. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP f/2.4, 1/5" sensor, 1.75µm pixels | Not available | Redmi Note 10S offers a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode photos with background blur. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4, 1/5" sensor, 1.75µm pixels | 2MP f/2.4 | Both offer similar macro capabilities for close-up shots, but the pixel size for Redmi 12 is not known. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps, 1080p up to 120fps, 720p@960fps | 1080p@30fps | Redmi Note 10S can record higher-resolution videos and supports higher frame rate slow-motion. |
| Features | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Geotagging, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night Mode | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW | Both include many similar camera features. Redmi Note 10S has an additional night mode and an additional camera. The Redmi 12 includes RAW file format and a continuous shooting mode. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Xiaomi Redmi 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones offer similar battery capacity, providing comparable battery life for typical usage. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 18W fast charging | Redmi Note 10S charges significantly faster, reducing the time spent plugged in. |
| Features | Reverse charging, Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 9W reverse wired charging | Both offer basic reverse charging; Redmi 12 also includes 9W reverse wired charging. |
| Software | Android 11, max Android 13 | Android 13, max Android 14 | Redmi 12 has a newer OS out of the box and will get a newer update. |
Connectivity & Storage
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Xiaomi Redmi 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual band, Hotspot, Direct, Display, MiMO | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual band, Hotspot, Direct, Display | Both have similar WiFi capabilities. Redmi Note 10S has additional Wi-Fi MiMO capability. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE, A2DP, EDR, HID, LE | 5.3 LE, A2DP, LE, APT-x | Redmi 12 has a newer Bluetooth version. Redmi Note 10S supports additional audio and control profiles, and Redmi 12 offers enhanced audio through APT-x. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Both phones offer comparable location capabilities. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Both offer dual SIM support. |
| Internal Storage | 64/128 GB | 128/256 GB | Redmi 12 offers larger storage options. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 4/6/8 GB | Both offer similar memory, the exact configuration depends on the SKU. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both do not offer expandable storage. |
Audio & Security
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Xiaomi Redmi 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Audio | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Basic audio features | Redmi Note 10S provides higher audio quality with Hi-Res audio support and stereo speakers for immersive experience. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both offer convenient biometric unlocking. |
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass 3 | Unknown | Redmi Note 10S has additional protection. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity | Both offer similar sensors for standard functionality. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Advantages
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with much higher brightness (1100 nits), significantly better for outdoor visibility and display quality, offering vibrant colors, deeper blacks and better power efficiency.
- Better Performance: Significantly higher AnTuTu score (409,874 vs 249,400), indicating better performance for demanding tasks, app loading, and gaming.
- Superior Camera: Higher resolution main and front cameras (64MP vs 50MP and 13MP vs 8MP) , and an additional depth sensor, results in better photos, especially in low light and more details.
- Fast Charging: 33W fast charging which is almost double that of Redmi 12 (18W).
- Enhanced Audio: Hi-Res Audio and stereo speakers for a better listening experience.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for screen protection.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 Advantages
- Larger Display: A 6.79" display provides a larger viewing area, suitable for media consumption.
- Smoother Display: A 90Hz refresh rate offers slightly smoother scrolling and animations.
- Newer OS: Comes with a newer version of Android (13) out of the box and a higher upgrade ceiling (Android 14).
- Newer Bluetooth: 5.3 compared to 5.0, with AptX, providing improved wireless audio capabilities.
- Larger Storage Options: Up to 256GB internal storage compared to 128GB for the Redmi Note 10S.
Trade-offs
- Redmi Note 10S: Sacrifices a larger display size and smoother 90Hz refresh rate for better screen quality (AMOLED), brightness and higher performance, slower charging, and is older.
- Redmi 12: Trades superior display quality, significantly higher performance, faster charging and a more premium camera for a larger, smoother screen, a newer OS, newer bluetooth, and larger storage options.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize display quality, performance, and camera quality in that order. Good for gaming, content creation (videos, photos), and media consumption in outdoor environments.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers who need smooth performance.
- Users who frequently use their phone outdoors and need a bright screen.
- Those who take a lot of photos and videos and want better image quality with higher resolution and good low light performance.
- Users who want the best audio experience from a mobile device.
Xiaomi Redmi 12
- Ideal User: Users who value a larger display, a smoother experience, newer software, and larger storage options while still having a decent all-round device. Suitable for those focused on everyday social media, videos, and a smooth user experience.
- Use Cases:
- Users who primarily consume media (videos, browsing).
- Those who prefer a more recent OS for security and features.
- Users who need larger internal storage for apps and media.
- Users who value a larger display for better media consumption and slightly smoother scrolling and animations.
4. Decision Framework
Here are key questions to help buyers decide:
How important is display quality and brightness to you?
- If critical: Choose Redmi Note 10S for its AMOLED screen with superior brightness.
- If less crucial: Redmi 12's IPS LCD is sufficient, you may prefer the larger display.
Do you need maximum performance for gaming or heavy multitasking?
- If yes: Redmi Note 10S with Helio G95 and higher AnTuTu score.
- If no: Redmi 12 is adequate for typical day-to-day use.
How important is camera quality vs screen size?
- If camera quality is important: Redmi Note 10S is better with its higher-resolution sensors, better video options, and depth sensor.
- If a larger display is more important: Redmi 12 offers a larger screen for consumption and multitasking.
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- For the Mobile Gamer: Choose Redmi Note 10S for its superior performance and better graphics chip.
- For the Frequent Traveler/Outdoor User: The Redmi Note 10S's bright display is more suitable for good visibility in sunny conditions.
- For the Casual User Who Watches a Lot of Videos: The Redmi 12 offers a larger and slightly smoother display for a better viewing experience and larger storage capacity.
- For the Social Media Enthusiast Who Wants Good Selfies: Redmi Note 10S will capture sharper and clearer selfies and images in most situations.
- For someone who needs good all-round performance: Redmi Note 10S will provide a smoother experience overall.
My Choice
If I were choosing between the two, I would pick the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S. While the Redmi 12 offers a larger display and a newer operating system, the significant advantages of the Redmi Note 10S in terms of display quality (AMOLED, brightness), performance (Helio G95), faster charging (33W) and camera quality (higher resolution, depth sensor, and video options) are more important to me. I highly value display quality and performance for an all-round smooth experience, and the improved audio and better camera are important enough for me to choose the Redmi Note 10S despite its older launch date. The older android version is not a problem since the device will still be supported for an extra year at least, and both phones will no longer get software updates soon. The lack of a slightly smoother display is an acceptable tradeoff.
