Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro vs. Honor Magic 5 Lite – Which is a better smartphone?

If you are thinking about the next smartphone you are going to buy and are looking for a mid-range one that has a good quality-price ratio, you are in luck! In this article, we have analyzed and compared in detail two of the best-selling mid-range smartphones on Amazon: Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro vs Honor Magic 5 Lite. As a preview, there is one that, not counting economic offers, has a much more interesting quality-price ratio.

To find out, we are going to look, above all, at their differences. One of the most important differences is in the cameras. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro has 4 rear cameras, compared to the 3 rear cameras of the Honor Magic 5 Lite. And not only that, but the resolution is also much higher, which makes the result more professional. On the other hand, the Honor Magic 5 Lite offers better results when it comes to autonomy. The battery life, under similar conditions, is even one day longer. Of course, the Redmi charges a little faster, because the charger capacity is higher.

That said, it’s not all differences, and there’s a reason they are two of the best-selling smartphones in the mid-range segment. For example, the screen is practically the same in both cases: same size, same resolution and very similar brightness. Regarding the sensors, we did not find big differences either, since both have the same variety of sensors. What’s more, both phones are compatible with NFC technology that allows contactless payments, for example.

Therefore, which mobile would we choose between the two of Xiaomi and Honor? We are going to answer you in detail in this article. But first, let us clarify something for you. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro that we have chosen is the version that is not 5G, but 4G, so, when you go to compare them for yourself, pay attention to the version!

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro vs Honor Magic 5 Lite – Comparative table

In the following table, you can see the most important differences between the two mid-range smartphones that we have chosen. This will help you choose which of the two best suits what you are looking for:

Two designs, same screen

We recognize that, aesthetically, we like more the sophistication that the Honor Magic 5 Lite presents thanks to the shiny touch of its curved edges. It is thinner than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro, and that gives it a more delicate and, why not say it, more premium look. In addition, it makes it lighter than its rival, a weight difference of about 30 grams that is noticeable when holding both smartphones. The colors in which we can buy each phone also change, but this is a matter of personal taste.

If we look at the screen, it should be noted that it is practically the same. Both the Xiaomi and the Honor have an AMOLED screen, 6.67 inches in size, and with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. In this sense, they are aligned with the majority of mid-range mobile phones. In terms of brightness, the Honor Magic 5 Lite has a brightness of about 800 nits, which in the case of the Redmi can range between 700 and 1100 nits. As you see, little difference.

The rear cameras are Xiaomi’s big change

Before analyzing this Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro model, we have done the same with other versions, such as the 5G, and we have verified that one of the aspects in which the company has improved the most is in the rear cameras. The Redmi Note 12 Pro that stars in this review has a quad rear camera system, while the Honor Magic 5 Lite has three cameras. The main camera has 108 megapixels, a higher resolution than the 64 megapixels that the Honor’s main camera has.

Additionally, the Redmi Note 12 Pro has an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP depth camera. For its part, the Honor Magic 5 Lite has a 5 MP ultra-wide angle and depth camera and a 2 MP macro. Regarding the selfie camera, in both models it is 16 MP. 

Therefore, the Redmi Note 12 Pro is a smartphone with which photographs achieve slightly higher quality, and with which the sensation of depth is also greater.

The Honor takes advantage in terms of autonomy

Let’s now look at another of the aspects that most concern users, battery life. Here, it should be noted that the two smartphones have a battery of similar capacity, about 5000 mAh. In reality, the Honor reaches up to 5100 mAh, but it is not a difference that can be practically reflected.

However, under similar conditions of use, the Honor Magic 5 Lite lasts a few hours longer than the Redmi Note 12 Pro. Approximately, the latter can last between 24 and 36 hours in a highly optimized manner, while the Honor more easily reaches 48 hours. On the other hand, charging is faster on the Xiaomi.

Is the processor change noticeable?

Both smartphones have a Snapdragon processor, but the version is different. Noticeable? In some things, yes. For example, one of the reasons why the Honor’s battery lasts longer than the Redmi’s when they have practically the same capacity is the processor.

The Snapdragon 695 is an evolution of the 732G, and the chip it has is capable of achieving more efficiency. Thus, with the same capacity, it better optimizes battery life. However, not everything has improved; the newer processor is not capable of recording 4K video, while the 732G can.

Because the Honor’s processor is a newer version, the operating system on which it is based is also newer. In fact, the Redmi Note 12 Pro has its own operating system, but it is based on Android 11. And, in the case of the Honor, the base system is Android 12. 

Connectivity and sensors

Let’s talk, now, about the differences we found regarding connectivity and the set of sensors. The first thing we highlight is that both are compatible with NFC technology to make contactless payments, although there may be differences depending on each country. Likewise, both can be unlocked both by the fingerprint sensor and through facial recognition.

The differences in this sense are basically reduced to two. On the one hand, only the Honor Magic 5 Lite has dual SIM. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro has one more sensor than its rival, an infrared emitter.

Which smartphone is more worth it?

Before deciding whether to stick with the Redmi Note 12 Pro or the Honor Magic 5 Lite, it is important to know what the price of each one is. And, as you can see, they are in the same economic price range. We are not surprised, after having seen that they share many similarities and that the differences are not so notable that we have a clear winner. What’s more, we consider them to be two of the most even smartphones we’ve seen in a long time.

From our point of view, we would stay with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro due to the great improvement it has implemented in its cameras, and because it is one of the components we use the most. Now, if you do not make intensive or professional use of cameras, either of the two is an option to consider.

Therefore, think about which aspects are most important to you and if you consider it worth opting for the one with the best cameras or if you like Honor’s proposal better. Both the Xiaomi and the Honor are two smartphones that have better features than we would expect for their price, so you can rest assured about that.