Review of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months: User experience still great, strong performance, long-lasting battery

It's been 6 months since the release of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G in Vietnam, yet this remains Xiaomi's worthwhile mid-range phone. The reason being its attractive design, efficient performance, long-lasting battery, and impressive camera. I've penned down this review to delve deeper into my personal experience with this smartphone.

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G receives official Xiaomi HyperOS update (update: 05/02/2024)

On 05/02/2024, the official Vietnamese version of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G that I'm using received the official Xiaomi HyperOS update. This update has a size of approximately 4.9 GB, which is quite similar to the HyperOS update I previously experienced with Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13 Pro.

In late January 2024, some Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G users in Vietnam received the Xiaomi HyperOS update. Most people are quite satisfied with the experience that Xiaomi HyperOS brings. If your device has not been updated yet, please be patient and wait for it!

To better understand the new experiences and features of the Xiaomi HyperOS update on Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, stay tuned for the review that 24h Technology page will conduct in the near future!

Experience using Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months

After 6 months of using Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, I'm satisfied with the experiences this device brings. All the basic tasks I often use such as Facebook, YouTube, Google Chrome, Spotify, Messenger are handled very smoothly by the phone. Specifically, I haven't encountered any lagging, screen freezes, or even issues when running multiple tasks simultaneously with this phone.

In addition, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G delivers a smooth gaming experience. Thanks to this, I can play Arena of Valor for a long time without worrying about lagging. Additionally, due to the excellent internal cooling system, this product does not overheat during long gaming sessions. Even heavy games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail only cause the phone to warm up slightly faster than usual, rather than overheating.

Moreover, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G can help me accomplish tasks quickly with gesture controls and double-tap fingerprint sensor. Specifically, I can set up double-tap on the fingerprint sensor to quickly open apps or features such as taking screenshots, turning on the flashlight, pulling down the notification bar, etc. As my work involves keeping up with technology news, whenever I come across any news about phones, tablets, laptops, etc., I need to take screenshots immediately to store them.

However, when holding the phone normally and scrolling, using an additional hand to adjust the volume and press the power button is quite inconvenient and time-consuming. Instead, double-tapping the fingerprint sensor is more convenient while scrolling through news; I can easily capture screenshots by lightly tapping twice. Additionally, I often set up double-tap to open the calculator, which helps me quickly calculate expenses or split bills when dining with friends. This way, I don't need to waste time opening the phone and searching for the calculator. Those of you who manage accounts can give it a try too.

The pros of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G that I've mentioned are clear, as for the cons, the issue of delayed notifications still persists. This can be seen as a specific issue of Xiaomi devices in general and the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G in particular, which has not been resolved yet. Therefore, I can only hope that after the official release of the new operating system Xiaomi HyperOS in Vietnam, this issue can be addressed.

After 6 months, the performance of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G still meets all tasks efficiently

Before diving into details, let me summarize the specifications of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G for easy understanding:

• Display: 6.67-inch size, AMOLED panel, Full HD+ resolution (2,400 x 1,080 pixels), 120 Hz refresh rate.
• Processor: Dimensity 1080.
• RAM: 8 GB.
• Internal Storage: 256 GB.
• Rear Camera: 50 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP.
• Front Camera: 16 MP.
• Battery: 5,000 mAh, 67 W fast charging.
• Operating System: MIUI 14.0.3 - Android 13.

In terms of performance, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 1080. A quick reminder about this chip, Dimensity 1080 is a 5G chip manufactured by MediaTek on an advanced 6nm process with 8 processing cores combined with ARM Mali-G68 GPU. Additionally, this chip is also featured in many other mid-range products such as Galaxy A34, realme 11 Pro, realme 10 Pro+,... Most of these phones have been highly regarded in the mid-range segment. Therefore, you can rest assured to use this device both now and in the coming years.

Furthermore, the RAM capacity of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is up to 16 GB (8 GB primary RAM + 8 GB virtual RAM). Thanks to this, the phone meets multitasking needs, allowing me to open 4 - 5 applications at once without any lag when switching between them.

• Performance rating of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months

To help you visualize the power of Dimensity 1080 on Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G at the current time, I've evaluated the performance of the device using specialized software such as Geekbench 6, 3DMark, and AnTuTu Benchmark. Additionally, I'll compare it to the performance three months ago to provide a more comprehensive overview. Specific conditions include:

• The device battery must be between 90 - 100% (battery below 90% may affect device performance and results).
• Do not charge the battery while benchmarking.
• Conduct 3 consecutive benchmark tests and take the average result after 3 tests.

First, in terms of GeekBench 6 and PCMark software, the performance of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months remains very good. When compared to the performance three months ago, the scores are not significantly different.

- Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G's Geekbench 6 GPU Compute score after 6 months: 2,308 points.

- Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G's Geekbench 6 GPU Compute score after 3 months: 2,293 points.

- Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G's Geekbench 6 single/multi-core scores after 6 months: 787 points/2,145 points.

- Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G's Geekbench 6 single/multi-core scores after 3 months: 812 points/2,193 points.

- Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G's PCMark score after 6 months: 11,648 points.

- Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G's PCMark score after 3 months: 12,331 points.

Next up is the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test to assess the light graphics processing capability of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months. As you can see in the image below, the total score achieved by Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months in this test is 627 with an average frame rate of 3.76 FPS. When comparing this result to 3 months ago (6.32 points/3.8 FPS), the difference is not significant.

In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, the results achieved by Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G at present are not significantly different from when the device was newly launched. This is evidenced by the difference between the highest loop score and the lowest loop score of the two periods, which are 9 points (635 - 626 = 9) and 3 points (634 - 631 = 3) respectively.

Based on the conducted tests, it can be noted that the scores achieved by Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months are slightly lower compared to three months ago. This could be attributed to the device not being fully optimized following the upgrade from Android 12 to Android 13 and the addition of several minor updates, resulting in lower scores. However, this difference is not significant, and in actual usage scenarios, the device still effectively meets all my usage needs.

• Gaming Experience on Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months

In this section, I continued to use familiar games such as Arena of Valor, PUBG Mobile, Honkai: Star Rail, and replaced League of Legends: Speed War with Call Of Duty Mobile to assess the real-world performance of Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G. I have set the graphics settings of these games to the highest level supported by Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G and utilized the Perfdog software to measure FPS for each game. I will provide the relevant results here for reference.

• League of Legends: Mobile

• PUBG Mobile

• Call Of Duty Mobile

• Honkai: Star Rail

Overall, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months remains a solid mid-range gaming phone for me. All popular games provide smooth gameplay and high stability. As for Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact, if you set the graphics to default, which is 30 FPS, the gameplay is very smooth and cool, but when pushed higher like mine, the occurrence of lag is more frequent. This also leads to faster battery drain and device heating. Therefore, everyone should carefully consider before deciding to download these two heavy games to play!

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G battery after 6 months still performs well

Before starting the battery test of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months, I want to note to you all that the results below are for reference only. Because after a long period of using the phone, each person will have different tasks, settings, and conditions of use, so the battery status of the device may not be the same as the initial period.

To give you a more comprehensive overview of the battery life of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G after 6 months, I will conduct a battery test (based on the standards of The Gioi Di Dong) under the following specific conditions:

• Experience 4 rotating tasks including: Playing Liên Quân Mobile (graphics settings as shown below), watching YouTube, browsing Facebook, and using Google Chrome.

• Each task lasts for 1 hour.
• Screen brightness 100%, refresh rate 120 Hz.
• External speaker on with 50% volume.
• Wi-Fi and social media notifications enabled.
• No battery saver, adaptive brightness, GPS, and Bluetooth.
• Test conducted from 100% to 0%.

Here are the results that I obtained:

After 6 months of usage, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G yielded a specific result of 6 hours and 54 minutes. Compared to 8 hours and 37 minutes from 3 months ago, there's a relatively significant difference. As mentioned earlier, the phone's battery life isn't as long as before due to continuous usage with various tasks and simultaneous gaming while charging.

Despite the battery test result of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G not being as good as before, in real-world usage, this phone still meets my daily needs effectively. Just like before, I start using it around 8 AM and need to charge it around 7-8 PM after a mix of various tasks such as texting, calling, watching YouTube, reading on Google Chrome, and playing Liên Quân Mobile at noon. If not gaming, the battery lasts even longer, so everyone can rest assured about the phone's usage time.

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G camera meets my basic photography needs well

As usual, let's quickly review the camera specifications of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G for easy reference.

• Main Camera: 50 MP resolution, f/1.8 aperture, OIS stabilization support.
• Ultra-wide Camera: 8 MP resolution, 119-degree field of view.
• Macro Camera: 2 MP resolution.
• Front Camera: 16 MP resolution.

Speaking of the camera on the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, I've discussed it in previous reviews. In summary, this phone is equipped with a good camera setup in its segment, but whether it stands out or not, my answer is no. The photos taken by the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G exhibit clear details in both bright and low light conditions, harmonious colors, decent contrast, but there's nothing particularly outstanding compared to dozens of other devices in the same segment on the market.

So, for someone not too experienced in photography like me, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is a good phone. Especially noteworthy is its portrait photography feature, which I find to be excellent. The device naturally separates the subject from the background with minimal blending. This allows me to confidently use this phone to take pictures of loved ones without worrying about blurring.

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G offers a sturdy design that provides a comfortable grip

Crafted around a plastic frame with a familiar square design commonly seen in mid-range devices, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G boasts a remarkably robust and solid build. Despite a few accidental drops during usage, the product remains unscathed, without a single dent. Therefore, I highly commend the quality of its finish.

Furthermore, the overall dimensions of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G (162.9 x 76 x 7.9 mm) provide a very comfortable grip, whether held vertically or horizontally. Thanks to its subtly curved frame, both at the corners and edges, I never feel any discomfort or pressure on my hand or when slipping it into my pocket.

Moreover, the back panel of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is both appealing and somewhat problematic for me. Its glossy finish provides a sleek appearance, but it tends to attract sweat and fingerprints. As someone who prefers using devices without covers, I've learned to accept this and regularly wipe the surface to maintain its sheen.

The display of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is noteworthy, boasting a 6.67-inch screen size that offers ample space for browsing, watching movies, and gaming comfortably. Additionally, with a Full HD+ resolution (1,080 x 2,400 Pixels) and a 120 Hz refresh rate, the content is displayed sharply and smoothly. Furthermore, the AMOLED panel delivers vibrant and captivating colors.

Conclusion

Overall, after 6 months, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G remains a solid and worthwhile smartphone from Xiaomi in the mid-range segment. Despite a slight decrease in battery life, it still performs well in normal usage scenarios. Although the delayed notifications persist, it doesn't significantly impact my personal experience.

Currently, the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is priced at 9.49 million VND at Mytour (prices may vary depending on timing and promotional offers). In my opinion, this price is well justified considering the features and user experience that this device offers.

What do you think about the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G? Leave your comments below to let us know! Thank you for reading through our article.

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