Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Review: Flagship Features, Mid-Range Price

At a look

Skilled’s Ranking

Professionals

• Nice 200Mp fundamental lens 
• Very good 120W charging 
• Glorious 120Hz show 
• Stable efficiency

Cons

• Underwhelming software program 
• Disappointing ultrawide and macro cameras

Our Verdict

The Observe 12 Professional+ is excellent worth for cash, and it’s simple to disregard a few compromises whenever you’re basically getting a flagship cellphone for beneath £500/€500. So long as Xiaomi’s Android pores and skin isn’t a dealbreaker, that’s.

Xiaomi makes a few of the greatest finances and flagship telephones round, however you shouldn’t ignore what the corporate is doing within the mid-range market. 

Its Redmi sub-brand has existed there for some time, though the Observe 12 Professional+ takes issues to the following degree. For simply £449/€499, you get premium options resembling a 200Mp digicam, 120Hz OLED show and 120W charging. 

Thankfully, all three are genuinely spectacular, whereas the remainder of the cellphone is sweet sufficient to compete with many flagships. Compromises are inevitable at this value level, however they shouldn’t be dealbreakers for most individuals. 

Design & construct

• Glass back and front
• Aspect-mounted fingerprint sensor
• 3.5mm headphone jack

The Observe 12 Professional+ has a glossy, premium design which might simply cross for a tool costing twice the value. 

It begins with Xiaomi’s alternative of supplies: plastic on the edges, however glass on each the back and front. The latter is a pleasing shock, because it’s on no account a normal function on mid-range handsets. A matte coating limits the build-up of fingerprint smudges, permitting the cellphone to shimmer attractively as gentle hits it. 

That’s notably obvious on the ‘Iceberg Blue’ mannequin you see in photographs, however the impact on ‘Arctic White’ and ‘Obsidian Black’ variations is comparable. Whereas there’s no Gorilla Glass safety right here, the again of the 12 Professional+ feels impressively sturdy and grippy. A transparent silicone case is included within the field, however you won’t want it.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Nonetheless, the IP53 ranking is a little bit of a disappointment. It protects towards mud however solely splashes of water, fairly than the submersion afforded by IP68 on flagships. 

Redmi branding and CE info are each seen on the again of the cellphone, but it surely’s the digicam module that dominates. It homes three lenses and a flash, so the slight bump is simple to excuse. However whereas I wouldn’t name the digicam module ugly, it’s removed from the prettiest. 

You’ll discover one of many cellphone’s huge compromises on one aspect, but it surely’s not the plastic used. Somewhat than an in-display fingerprint sensor, the 12 Professional+ has one constructed into the facility button as a substitute. It has a smaller goal space, but stays very dependable and tends to unlock the cellphone faster. 

This doesn’t really feel like a downgrade in any respect, and I’d suggest utilizing it over the much less safe face unlock. 

There’s even nonetheless a 3.5mm headphone jack, an actual standout function in 2023. In the event you nonetheless have nice wired headphones, there’s no must put up with a USB-C adapter right here. 

An in depth evaluation of the show is included within the subsequent part, but it surely’s value mentioning the haptics right here. A sophisticated vibration motor means the delicate haptic suggestions you get right here is great, whether or not it’s unlocking the cellphone, multitasking or reorganising apps. It actually provides to the navigation expertise. 

Display screen & audio system

• Glorious 6.67in OLED show
• Dynamic 120Hz refresh price
• First rate stereo audio system

Let’s speak about that display, then. It’s a big 6.67in OLED panel at 1080×2400. The next decision would’ve been good, however solely fans will have the ability to inform the distinction between this and a 1440p panel. 

In most eventualities, the 12 Professional+’s show is a pleasure to make use of. It delivers deep blacks and wealthy, vibrant colors that basically pop. It’s accentuated by the really useful ‘Vivid’ color scheme, however you’ll be able to change this to ‘Saturated’ or ‘Customary’, and even create your individual.

However for most individuals, that default mode is the one to go for. It means the cellphone excels at content material consumption, whether or not it’s through social media or in films and TV exhibits. For watching movies in your cellphone, the 12 Professional+ is likely one of the greatest within the enterprise.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Navigating the cellphone is simply as spectacular, too, because of a 120Hz refresh price. Scrolling and transitions are satisfyingly fluid, even on the default dynamic mode. This routinely switches between 60Hz and 120Hz, relying on what you’re doing (to assist save battery life), however you’ll be able to manually set it to both when you’d want. 

Xiaomi claims as much as 900 nits of peak brightness, though you’ll wrestle to copy that at house. However even on the 515 nits I recorded, the display stays clearly seen in brilliant outside environments. 

The show is curved on the edges, making it extra snug to carry than many telephones of this measurement. Slim bezels imply nearly 87% of the entrance panel is display, with a small gap punch selfie digicam retaining disruption to a minimal. 

Working in tandem with the show are stereo audio system, as the same old downward-firing grille combines with a second on the highest of the cellphone. Not counting on the earpiece advantages sound high quality, with a depth and element to the audio that you simply don’t typically get on telephones.  

The audio system get impressively loud, however excessive volumes are the place you’ll discover the actual lack of bass and treble. Distortion is prevented for probably the most half, although. 

Specs & efficiency

• MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chip
• Superb all-round efficiency
• Restricted to 256GB of storage

Somewhat than the Qualcomm chips we see in its flagships, Xiaomi continues to go for MediaTek on many Redmi handsets. The Observe 12 Professional+ is powered by the Dimensity 1080, a 5G chip that’s particularly designed for mid-range telephones.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

That means efficiency is nothing to put in writing house about, but it surely seems to be one of many cellphone’s key strengths. Even with simply 8GB of RAM (the choice for 12GB is unique to China), it excels throughout all on a regular basis duties. 

My typical day contains loads of net searching, messages, taking photographs and watching the occasional video. I additionally typically shortly change between them, making multitasking essential. 

In all these eventualities and lots of extra, the cellphone was simply in a position to sustain. It’s no shock the Dimensity 1080 is used on dearer handsets (such because the Xiaomi 12T Professional) – it’s a really succesful chip. Alongside that 120Hz refresh price, the 12 Professional+ delivers a few of the greatest efficiency of any mid-range cellphone. 

Solely probably the most demanding workloads will push it to the restrict. In the event you’re severe about cell gaming or use different intensive apps frequently, contemplate one thing extra highly effective. However for the overwhelming majority of individuals, the 12 Professional+ has every little thing you want. 

Having stated that, it’s not excellent. There have been some stutters and hesitations throughout my testing time, plus the occasional app crash. However these usually tend to be associated to software program fairly than {hardware}. 

The benchmarks don’t present a real reflection of the efficiency out there right here, though they present that the 12 Professional+ is much from the one highly effective mid-range cellphone you should buy: 

Relating to inner storage, 256GB is your solely choice. With no help for microSD enlargement and round 25GB of that taken up with system recordsdata, energy customers could run near capability. However for most individuals, this gained’t be a difficulty. 

Alongside 5G, you additionally get Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Regardless of not being absolutely the newest variations, they’re nice for nearly each phone-related process you possibly can consider. 

Digital camera & video

• Spectacular 200Mp fundamental lens
• Disappointing 8Mp ultrawide and 2Mp macro
• Nice 16Mp selfie digicam

In the event you’re studying this evaluate, the digicam might be the part you most wish to find out about. The Observe 12 Professional+ is considered one of solely a handful of telephones to function a 200Mp fundamental lens, and it’s spectacular to see this flagship function make it to the mid-range. 

So, how does it carry out? The quick reply may be very effectively, albeit not considerably higher than telephones with a a lot decrease megapixel rely. Particulars and dynamic vary are each glorious, whereas it handles distinction and shadows impressively. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Regardless of most of my testing happening on overcast days, publicity was additionally a pleasing shock. Overcast skies add to the ambiance of many photographs, with out ending up wanting blown out and unrealistic. The primary digicam is a superb level and shoot lens in a wide range of eventualities.

Not like the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Professional, there’s no choice to modify between ‘Vibrant’ and ‘Genuine’ modes throughout the digicam app. By default, the 200Mp lens undoubtedly leans in direction of the latter, producing impressively true to life photographs with little proof of post-processing. In the event you really need one thing extra saturated, turning on AI will normally do the trick.  

I’m additionally very impressed with the way in which it handles low gentle. Throughout sundown or on streets with a number of synthetic lighting, you gained’t even want to show evening mode on to get a terrific shot. However with it activated, there’s a pleasant increase to brightness and element in darker environments.

Nonetheless, it’s value remembering that the 12 Professional+ doesn’t truly shoot in 200Mp by default. As a substitute, it makes use of a course of referred to as pixel binning to basically mix 16 photographs into one increased high quality 12.5Mp photograph. That is primarily to keep away from big recordsdata clogging up your cellphone, but in addition as a result of there’s little or no distinction in uncooked 200Mp stills – the enhancements are minimal and insignificant.

Landscapes and road pictures are an actual energy of the primary lens, so it’s disappointing to see such a drop-off whenever you transfer to the 8Mp ultrawide. It has a helpful 120˚ discipline of view, however element, publicity and color accuracy are all compromised to the extent that I used to be reluctant to make use of it. 

It’s an analogous story for the 2Mp macro lens, though you will get some enticing close-up photographs at instances. 

With no depth sensor, the cellphone depends on software program for its portrait mode. Nonetheless, the all-too-common situation of edge detection makes it irritating to make use of, even when you can alter the quantity of background blur earlier than or after you are taking the shot. 

Portrait selfies utilizing the 16Mp front-facing digicam are way more spectacular, whereas even common photographs do job with pores and skin tones and publicity. Simply ensure you flip off the pre-activated magnificence mode for the perfect outcomes.

The 12 Professional+ can seize video at as much as 4K 30fps, however the default 1080p at 30fps provides loads of element for informal house movies or social media. Optical picture stabilisation (OIS) on the primary lens means it could address a number of motion, too. 

Battery & charging

• 5000mAh battery
• Comfortably lasts a full day
• Tremendous-fast 120W charging

The Redmi Observe 12 Professional+ has a 5,000mAh battery. That’s a reasonably normal capability for a contemporary smartphone, and it means battery life is strong, however nothing spectacular.

With the brightness set to 200 nits, I recorded precisely 11 hours on PCMark’s battery take a look at. That goals to replicate real-world utilization by simulating frequent duties, though you’ll wrestle to get something shut by way of precise display on time.

Even so, the 12 Professional+ can normally final a full day with cost to spare. Even on these days the place you’re utilizing GPS, taking a number of photographs and retaining brightness excessive, you shouldn’t want to hook up with the facility till later within the day. 

Gaming is maybe the one exception to this rule, the place a couple of hours working a demanding recreation will deplete the battery way more shortly. 

However with a few of the quickest charging round, working low on battery is far much less of a priority. The 120W adapter included within the field doesn’t fairly hit Xiaomi’s claims of a full battery in 19 minutes, however you’ll be able to hit 58% in quarter-hour and 100% earlier than half an hour has handed. Most individuals will have the ability to plug of their cellphone after they get up and have it absolutely charged lengthy earlier than needing to go away house.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

There’s no wi-fi charging, however I’d a lot fairly have the quick wired model. 

Software program & updates

• MIUI 14 over Android 13
• Underwhelming however usable software program
• Will get three Android model updates

As a Xiaomi-owned model, the Redmi Observe 12 Professional+ makes use of the MIUI software program pores and skin. It’s model 14 right here, which is predicated on Android 13 however completely different in a number of vital methods. 

Undoubtedly, probably the most annoying of those is bloatware. Xiaomi has added its personal apps for the likes of net searching, managing recordsdata, taking notes, viewing photographs and many extra – none of which will be uninstalled. It feels very jarring when the Google model is already sitting there. 

Nonetheless, that’s solely the tip of the iceberg in relation to pre-installed software program. Dozens of different instruments, well-liked apps and video games have been downloaded for you. The method of eradicating them is tedious, however at the very least it’s attainable. 

Most of those apps have brilliant, vibrant icons, making it simple to determine them. However alongside some vibrant wallpapers and crowd pleasing widgets, the house screens can shortly change into cluttered and distracting when you’re not cautious. 

Separating notifications and fast settings (relying on the place you swipe down from the highest of the display) is ok, however Android 13 already does job of together with each on the identical display. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Usually, MIUI’s tweaks to the acquainted Android consumer expertise make it extra irritating and fewer intuitive. It’s nonetheless very usable, and shouldn’t be a dealbreaker at this value level, however I want Xiaomi had extra of a light-weight contact strategy to software program. So-called ‘inventory’ Android would work very properly on such premium {hardware}. 

Like all Xiaomi telephones, you’ll be able to count on three years of Android model updates and 4 years of safety patches on the 12 Professional+. The MIUI equal of Android 14, 15 and 16 and updates till 2027 ought to all be on the way in which.

Worth & availability

Just one mannequin of the Redmi Observe 12 Professional+ is out there outdoors of China and India.  

It will get you 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and prices £449/€499. You should purchase one now from the Xiaomi web site within the UK and Europe, though there aren’t any different retailers or networks providing the machine on contract. 

As we’ve come to count on from Xiaomi telephones, it gained’t be offered in North America. 

It places the 12 Professional+ firmly in mid-range cellphone territory, with the Google Pixel 6a, OnePlus Nord 2T and Nothing Telephone (1) all priced equally. 

The 200Mp digicam helps the cellphone stand out from the competitors, though loads of flagship options elsewhere imply it represents glorious worth for cash. Individuals could want a few of the mid-range options, but it surely’s onerous to argue with the 12 Professional+ on pure specs. 

Verdict

The Observe 12 Professional+ elevates Xiaomi’s Redmi model from aggressive mid-ranger to potential flagship killer. 

Its headlining 200Mp digicam is a bona fide premium function, whereas efficiency and show are among the many greatest you’ll discover at this value level. Battery life is strong too, whereas the 120W quick charging is great. 

In consequence, the 12 Professional+ is simple to suggest. The polarising MIUI software program and poor supporting rear cameras may make you look elsewhere, however you definitely shouldn’t rule out this cellphone.

Specs

• Android 13 w/ MIUI 14  
• 6.67in OLED 120Hz curved show, 20:9, HDR10+, Dolby Imaginative and prescient  
• Aspect-mounted fingerprint sensor 
• Gorilla Glass 5 (entrance solely)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2  
• 8GB RAM 
• 256GB UFS 2.2 non-expandable storage 
• 200Mp, f/1.7 fundamental digicam with OIS  
• 8Mp, f/2.2 120˚  ultrawide digicam  
• 2Mp, f/2.4 macro digicam 
• 16Mp, f/2.5 front-facing digicam  
• Twin stereo audio system 
• Twin-SIM  
• 5G  
• Wi-Fi 6 
• Bluetooth 5.2 
• IP53 
• USB-C  
• 5000mAh battery  
• 120W wired charging  
• 162.9 x 76 x 8.9mm  
• 210.5g  
• Black, white or blue color choices