Realme 10 Pro vs Redmi Note 12 Pro: which sub-Rs 20,000 phone looks better?

Realme and Redmi are the two fiercest rivals in the budget smartphone market. 2022 is not even over and the two brands have already announced their updated numbered and Note lineups to set the tone for 2023. Realme unveiled the Realme 10 Pro series in India, while Redmi made the Redmi Note 12 Pro official in China. The latter is expected to launch in India in the first week of January. One expects the Redmi Note 12 Pro to compete with the Realme 10 Pro in the sub-Rs 20,000 segment once it launches. In this comparison, we’ll look at how the two phones differ from one another in terms of price, design, and specifications.

Realme 10 Pro vs Redmi Note 12 Pro: price, availability

The Realme 10 Pro is available in two variants in the Indian market with the storage fixed at 128GB. The entry-level model comes with 6GB RAM and goes on sale for Rs 18,999, while the 8GB RAM model costs Rs 19,999.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro, in contrast, has been launched in China in four variants: 6GB RAM/128GB storage, 8GB RAM/128GB storage, 8GB RAM/256GB storage, and 12GB RAM/256GB storage. The base 6GB/128GB unit costs RMB 1,699 (approx. Rs 19,500), the 8GB/128GB model costs RMB 1,799 (approx. Rs 20,900), the 8GB/256GB model costs RMB 2,099 (approx. Rs 23,900), and the 12GB/256GB option costs RMB 2,099 (approx. Rs 23,900).

Realme 10 Pro vs Redmi Note 12 Pro: design, display, performance, and camera

Design

Realme has given some attention to the aesthetics of the 10 Pro. Instead of a camera island on the back, the phone has two regular circular camera modules coupled with an LED flash. Realme chose an all-plastic build with a flat frame, which is becoming more popular recently, in order to save cost. Moving to the button placement, the volume sliders and the power button—which doubles as a fingerprint sensor—are still found on the right side of the device. The left side is empty as the speaker unit, SIM tray, USB Type C port, and microphone are on the bottom.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro, in contrast, has a boxy shape with flat sides for greater grip. Compared to the Realme 10 Pro, the Redmi Note 12 Pro has a smaller footprint but weighs a little bit more because of the materials used. Jumping to the rear of the phone reveals a square-shaped camera island with a triple camera system and an LED flash in the upper left corner. The volume rockers and power button, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor, are still on the right side of the device, just like on the 10 Pro. On the bottom, you’ll find the speaker unit, SIM tray, USB Type C port, and microphone. Additionally, the Note 12 Pro has an IR sensor on the top edge, which is common on Xiaomi smartphones.

Display

The Realme 10 Pro features a 6.72-inch FHD+ IPS LCD screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz, a screen-to-body ratio of 93.76 percent, DC dimming, and TUV Rheinland low blue light certification. The screen has a centred punch-hole camera. You’ll see slim bezels on the top and sides of the display.

In contrast, the Redmi Note 12 Pro gets a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 240Hz touch sampling rates, up to 900nits of brightness, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision on all popular OTT platforms. In comparison to the Realme 10 Pro, the Note 12 Pro’s panel technology is far more advanced and is best for viewing content.

Processor, RAM, and storage

The Realme 10 Pro comes powered by the mid-segment Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, which also happens to power its predecessor, the Realme 9 Pro. The handset is offered in two SKUs in the Indian market: 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB of internal storage.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro is powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

The new Realme 10 Pro has Android 13 pre-installed as its operating system, with the Realme UI 4.0 user interface sitting on top. On the other hand, the Redmi Note 12 Pro comes pre-installed with the unique MIUI 13 based on Android 12.

Camera

The Realme 10 Pro packs a dual camera setup on the rear, with the main Samsung HM6 108MP sensor along with a 2MP secondary sensor and a dual-LED flash. There is a 16MP snapper on the front for selfies and video chats.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro, in contrast, sports a triple rear camera setup on the rear with a 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor and OIS support, alongside an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro shooter. A 16MP selfie snapper on the front takes care of selfies and video calling needs.

Battery

These two phones have exactly the same 5,000mAh battery capacities. Due to the availability of more effective components, particularly the OLED display, the Redmi Note 12 Pro offers a longer battery life. Additionally, it charges more quickly because of a 67W fast charger. The Realme 10 Pro’s 5,000mAh battery in contrast is capable of just 33W fast charging.