I can confidently report that the Redmi Note 12 series is now available in Nigeria. Xiaomi Nigeria launched four devices from the Redmi Note 12 series on the 28th of March 2023. These devices include two known devices and two upcoming devices.

The two available devices are the:

  • Redmi Note 12 4G
  • Redmi Note 12 Pro+

The two upcoming devices are the:

  • Redmi Note 12S
  • Redmi Note 12 Pro

Redmi Note 12 4G

The Redmi Note 12 4G is one of those phones that just popped up out of nowhere. Everyone including me was patiently waiting for a Redmi Note 12 spotting the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 and then suddenly the Snapdragon 685 popped up. Thus the Redmi Note 12 4G was born. The key specs of the Redmi Note 12 4G include:

  • SoC: Snapdragon 685
  • GPU: Adreno 610
  • Display: 6.67″ FHD AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000nit
  • Camera: 50MP Samsung JN1
  • Battery: 5,000mAh, 120W fast charge
  • Prices:
  • ₦116,900 (4+128GB)
  • ₦125,900 (6+128GB)
  • ₦134,900 (8+128GB)

The Redmi Note 12 4G is an upgraded version of the Redmi Note 11. It’s got a slightly faster SoC, a bigger display with 120Hz refresh rate and faster 33W charge speeds. The camera and the battery on the other hand remain the same.

The RN12 4G is a lower midrange device that should do very fine with apps, games, social media, photography and videography. It also has a nice display and very good battery life.

However, when compared to it’s predecessor, the gains here aren’t great enough to prompt an upgrade. If you already own a Redmi Note 11, Redmi 10C and the Redmi Note Pros from RN8 Pro, RN9 S/Pro, RN10 5G/S/Pro and RN11 S/Pro, then you should skip this one. If you however have anything from RN10 (and below), RN7 Pro (and below), R9C (and below), then an upgrade should be on the cards for you.

As for prices, the RN12 is one of the more cost friendly devices you’ll find at the lower midrange level.

Redmi Note 12 Pro+

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the more premier device here. It’s one of those devices that has been in the public eye for a while now. The RN12 Pro+ is supposed to be a premium midrange device but some of the specs present here will put many flagship devices to shame.

  • SoC: MediaTek Dimensity 1080
  • GPU: Mali G68 MC4
  • Display: 6.67″ FHD AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000nit
  • Camera: 200MP Samsung HPX
  • Battery: 5,000mAh, 33W fast charge
  • Prices:
  • ₦279,000 (8+256GB)

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is a premium midrange device, the likes that the Redmi line has not seen before. It’s probably the best Redmi phone ever (with the exception of the Redmi K series exclusive to China).

The phone is very powerful and will handle anything (apps, games, social media etc.) thrown at it. The display is good looking, the camera is top of the line and the battery life is good enough.

This is a phone that you can truly call an upgrade regardless of whatever Redmi device you’re on. However it comes at a very steep price of ₦279,000 for the 8+256GB. This is the only memory variant available.

Redmi Note 12S

The Redmi Note 12S is one of those devices that just materialized out of nowhere with zero warning. The RN12S is an upper midrange device that makes it’s debut with the Redmi Note 12 series. The key specs include:

  • SoC: MediaTek Helio G96
  • GPU: Mali G57 MC2
  • Display: 6.67″ FHD AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000nit
  • Camera: 108MP Samsung HM2
  • Battery: 5,000mAh, 33W fast charge
  • Prices: ₦153,000

A quick look at these specs show that the “new” Redmi Note 12S is essentially a rebranded Redmi Note 11S.

The RN12S will slot just above the Redmi Note 12 4G in RN12 series pecking order.

Redmi Note 12 Pro

The Redmi Note 12 Pro is the second one that also just popped up out of the blue. The RN12 Pro is an upper midrange device that also makes its debut with the Redmi Note 12 series. The key specs include:

  • SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G
  • GPU: Adreno 619
  • Display: 6.67″ FHD AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000nit
  • Camera: 108MP Samsung HM2
  • Battery: 5,000mAh, 33W fast charge
  • Prices: ₦177,000

Just like the aforementioned Redmi Note 12S, the Redmi Note 12 Pro is a rebranded Redmi Note 10 Pro.

More on these unnecessary rebrands later. The RN12 Pro sits squarely above the RN12S and RN12 4G in the RN12 series.

Unnecessary rebrands

A lot has has been said about smartphones peaking, the fast disappearing Midrange segment and the refusal of chipset makers to do proper midranger SoCs. None of these however hold true in this case. In my educated opinion, there’s absolutely no need for these rebrands.

What these rebrands amount to are extra devices that Xiaomi would have to support and they might end up not supporting any. They are already struggling to keep up with the sheer number of devices they have to support.

All they had to do was launch and support the RN12 5G device. It is a massive upgrade on all the other Redmi device especially when you look at performance and network connectivity. But Xiaomi in their convoluted wisdom chose to complicate things more by throwing in more devices.

Note, I’m not saying these devices are bad, of course not. On the contrary these are good devices but they’re not necessary. All it shows is that the company’s Midrange offerings have stagnated and their product development team seems to have run out of good ideas.

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