There is an implication that you sacrifice some flagship functionality in return for a lower-priced smartphone. There’s no doubt that the gap has narrowed in recent times. This is thanks to devices such as the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G or the OnePlus Nord CE 2 offering flagship level specs.
Still, there are some exceptions to the rule for smartphone specifications. Usually, there is some flaw in the design somewhere, whether it is a weak camera, an insufficient battery, or a lack of water resistance.
But this particular model proved otherwise.
Xiaomi’s sister brand Redmi’s latest release appears to be free of these flaws. The device features a host of features you’d expect from a flagship device, as well as an astonishing specification sheet.
With the first 200MP camera phone launched just a few months ago, Samsung is reportedly equipping the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with a 200MP sensor, too.
Featuring a 200MP main sensor, the all-new Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition allows you to snap super high resolution images with minimal effort. It is also capable of shooting 50MP pixel-binned images (using four-in-one binning), or 12.5MP snaps (using 16-in-one binning). It is also the first smartphone to make use of Xiaomi’s AI Image Solution, aiding in things like image stabilization and noise reduction.
That, on top of a pretty decent 16MP selfie camera on the front, an 8MP ultrawide sensor and a 2MP macro camera makes this smartphone deliver great value. The Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition price has been set at CNY 2,399 (roughly USD334) for the 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage model. The Discovery Edition handset would cost £286 / $331 / AU$511.
One of the most impressive features of the latest Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition is its extended battery life and fast charging capacity. According to Redmi, the device is fully charged in just nine minutes, powered by 210W wired charging. Everything from an entirely redesigned charging infrastructure to the cable has been optimized to deliver an ultra-rapid charging experience.
This model is available in China with no announcement of launch dates for other countries. Taking reference to the first four Redmi Note 12 phones, which were revealed in China on October 27, 2022, and were on sale from October 31, the launch was pretty much exactly a year on from the arrival of the Redmi Note 11 in October 2021.
The Redmi Note 11 phone took a few months to launch internationally, hitting the European market in early 2022. It’s likely we’ll have a similar wait to see the Note 12 series launch outside of China, perhaps as late as early 2023.