Xiaomi took the wraps off the latest Redmi Note 12 series earlier this month. While the brand released three new phones as part of the lineup, much of the spotlight was grabbed by the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G. The smartphone boasts a massive 200-megapixel primary camera, 120W fast charging (with a charger in the box), a 6.67-inch full-HD+ Pro AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, and Dolby Atmos sound. What’s more, it was the most expensive Redmi Note to be ever released in India with a starting price of Rs 29,999 (for context, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ was launched at Rs 20,999 in 2022).
That puts the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G right into the premium mid-segment where it faces stiff competition, some from its own siblings.
Here’s a look at six of the most prominent smartphones standing in the way of Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G.
Google Pixel 6a: Pure Android, phenomenal camera player
Price: Rs 32,999
When it was launched at Rs 43,999 in India in mid-2021, the Google Pixel 6a was mostly regarded as being overpriced. Subsequent months have, however, seen its price dip to a far more affordable Rs 32,999 and at that price, it is one of the best options for those who value pure Android and magical photography, especially inside a relatively compact form factor.
The Pixel 6a’s AMOLED display comes with a 60Hz refresh rate and might not seem as spectacular as some of the other devices mentioned on this list, but its dual 12.2- and 12-megapixel cameras on the back and the 8-megapixel selfie snapper deliver some brilliant photography, especially in terms of detail.
Then there is the charm of a clean, stock Android interface with the assurance of timely updates, and a lot of smart functions, courtesy of Google’s own Tensor chip.
There is no charger in the box to top up the 4,410mAh battery, and charging speeds are not the fastest either, but this is a phone for Android purists and those seeking camera glory on a budget.
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G: Never letting phones below Rs 30,000 settle
Price: Rs 28,999
The OnePlus Nord 2T brings the trademark clean UI, smooth performance, and fast charging of the OnePlus range to the Rs 30,000 price segment.
The phone comes with a sleek and compact form factor and packs in an AMOLED display (albeit with a 90Hz refresh rate) and also features the flagship-level Sony IMX 766 50-megapixel sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) as its main camera as well as a dependable 32-megapixel selfie camera.
You get clean OxygenOS as the interface and the 4,500mAh battery easily lasts a day of use and gets charged in next to no time, thanks to an 80W Super VOOC charger in the box.
The inbuilt MediaTek DImensity 1300 SoC makes it run smoothly, although it is no gaming beast. A great option for those who want the OnePlus experience on a tighter budget.
Nothing Phone (1): The (still) different phone
Price: Rs 27,499
The Nothing Phone (1), the first phone from Carl Pei’s new initiative grabbed a lot of attention with its semi-transparent, LED-laden back. While some of the hype around it might have worn off, it still remains a unique proposition with its design and LEDs that light up in different patterns for notifications (what Nothing calls the Glyph UI).
It is also a very smooth performer with a near-stock Android interface, a very good AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, support for wireless charging, and a powerful Snapdragon 778G+ processor.
While it has only two cameras on the back — both 50-megapixel — with one being a Sony IMX 766 with OIS.
There’s no charger in the box but the Phone (1) is one of the few phones that has literally been improving with age, thanks to a number of updates from the brand.
A price cut has made it even more affordable and an even bigger headache for all phones below Rs 30,000, especially for those who want a device that stands out in the general sea of smartphone sameness.
Poco F4 5G: The solid value-for-money proposition
Price: Rs 27,999
The Poco F4 is one of the most powerful phones on this list. It comes in an elegant design and boasts a Super AMOLED display 120Hz, and is powered by the flagship-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor.
Dolby Vision on the display and Dolby Sound on the stereo speakers, make this a great device for watching shows, with that chip providing enough muscle to make it a cool gaming customer too. The phone comes with a very good 64-megapixel main sensor with OIS and its 4500 mAh battery lasts a day of hectic use and also gets recharged swiftly, thanks to a 67W charger in the box.
The design is a little predictable but this is a phone that’s all about performance.
iQoo Neo 6 5G: A power-packed performer
Price: Rs 28,999
If you are looking for a phone that packs in a lot of power across all departments, the iQoo Neo 6 would be one of the best options.
It runs on the very powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chip and comes with an AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate.
Photography is mainly handled by a 64-megapixel camera with OIS, with a variety of shooting modes that reflect iQoo’s being a part of Vivo’s camera-centric family.
A 4,700mAh battery, accompanied by an 80W FlashCharge-supporting charger, ensures that the phone not only lasts through a day but also gets recharged super quickly.
Redmi K50i 5G: The Redmi budget bro with a terrific chip
Price: Rs 23,999 onwards
The Redmi K50i was one of the surprises of 2022. It marked the return of the Redmi K series to the Indian market and came packed with impressive specs.
While some might frown at its LCD display (albeit with a 144Hz refresh rate), the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor was a flagship-level performer, making it one of the best gaming phones below Rs 30,000.
It also featured superb sound, and even a 3.5mm audio jack. Its 64-megapixel main sensor is not the greatest (no OIS) but is steady enough and the 5,080mAh battery often lasted us close to days, with a quick 67W charger in the box.
It loses out to the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G in terms of camera and display prowess and looks a little plain as well, but its lower price tag and super processor give it the power edge.