Realme 12 Pro vs. Redmi Note 13 Pro: Which Should You Buy?

If you’re in Nigeria and planning to buy a mid-range smartphone this year, chances are you’ve come across the Realme 12 Pro+ 5G and the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G. Both phones fall in that sweet spot of being not overly expensive, but still containing features you’d usually expect on pricier devices.

But which one actually gives you better value for money? Let’s break it down, starting with the Realme 12 Pro and then moving on to the Redmi Note 13 Pro.

Upon picking up the Realme 12 Pro Plus, your first thought might be “this feels expensive.” It comes in a Submarine Blue colour with gold accents and a leather back instead of the usual plastic many phones use. The camera module, inspired by luxury watches, sits at the back with a golden ring around the lenses. It’s little details like these that make this phone stand out in a crowded mid-range market.

It has curves on the back and a lightweight body (190g), meaning you can hold and use it all day without strain. If you’re someone who loves phones that look and feel premium, Realme really nailed it here.

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The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen is where you notice the difference. AMOLED is a type of screen that shows deeper blacks and richer colours than regular LCDs. With a 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling feels fluid, gaming looks smooth, and colours pop beautifully. (120Hz simply means the screen refreshes 120 times in a second, which moves smoother than older 60Hz screens.)

Brightness tops out at 950 nits peak. A “nit” is just a measure of brightness, and the higher the number, the better the phone handles outdoor sunlight. At 950 nits, you won’t struggle to see the screen even under the hot midday sun.

One clever detail is the 2160Hz PWM dimming. PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is how phones adjust brightness. At lower levels, cheaper phones sometimes cause screen flicker, which strains the eyes at night. A higher number here means less flicker and much more comfort when binge-watching YouTube or Netflix in bed.

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If there’s one thing Realme really wants you to notice, it’s the cameras. The setup includes:

• Main camera: 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor with OIS. OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) is like a tiny shock absorber built into the lens, as it reduces blur from shaky hands. Day or night, shots look detailed and natural.
  

• Periscope telephoto: 64MP with 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, and up to 120x digital zoom. “Optical” means it zooms in without losing quality, while “digital” is more like cropping the photo. The sweet spot here is 3–6x, which is rare in a mid-range phone and is just what you need for snapping distant landmarks.
  

• Ultra-wide: 8MP for wide group shots and landscapes.

Realme also added cinematic film filters called Journey, Maverick, and Memory. These give photos a movie-like aesthetic. The Realme 12 Pro Plus handles daytime shots with natural colours well, unlike some rivals that oversaturate greens or add too much sharpening. Night shots came out clear, too, because both the main and telephoto cameras have OIS.

For videos, you can shoot in 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 30/60/120fps. (fps means frames per second, so the higher the number, the smoother the video looks). It also has gyro-EIS, which uses software to smooth out shaky footage.

The Realme 12 Pro Plus runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset. It’s built on a 4nm process (basically, a modern, efficient way to make processors), and it’s a bit faster than the older Snapdragon 778.

Every day tasks like browsing, WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok run smoothly. With 12GB RAM (expandable virtually to 24GB), multitasking is snappy. Gaming is decent too, as PUBG and Genshin Impact run well on medium to high settings. That said, some rival phones in this price range have faster chips, so Realme is clearly focusing more on the camera experience than raw power.

The 5,000mAh battery is generous and lasts all day with moderate use. Charging is where Realme shines: it supports 67W SuperVOOC fast charging, which takes the phone from 0% to 100% in about 48 minutes.

Even in areas with lower voltage (100–130V), charging is still fairly quick at 55W. For people constantly on the move, this removes the stress of looking for a charger halfway through the day.

The phone runs Android 14 with Realme UI 5.0. The interface is straightforward, with an under-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, and support for 5G, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and GPS.

The only omission is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. For many users, that’s fine, as most people now use wireless earbuds, but if you still love wired headphones, you’ll need a USB-C adapter.

When Xiaomi released the Redmi Note 13 Pro, fans immediately wondered: Is it better than the Note 12 Pro or even the legendary Note 10 Pro? In many ways, yes, although there are still some compromises, especially with the processor.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro looks more refined than its predecessor. Xiaomi opted for a flat rear panel and frame, giving it a minimalist feel. The back has a frosted finish (likely plastic), which avoids the fingerprint smudges common on glossy phones.

Colour options include Forest Green, Midnight Black, Aurora Purple, and Ocean Teal. The camera lenses sit individually with chrome rings, which give them a neat and modern look.

Another welcome touch is that it has IP54 dust and splash resistance. This won’t survive being dunked in water, but it still protects the phone from rain or accidental splashes.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro packs a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 1220 x 2712 resolution, which means sharp, detailed visuals. It supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, both of which improve colour and contrast in supported content (like Netflix shows).

The display brightness peaks at 1330 nits (remember, that’s the brightness rating. A higher amount of nits means it’s easier to see the screen outdoors). 

There are two versions:

• The 4G version uses a MediaTek Helio G99 Ultra, which is efficient and handles apps well.
  

• The 5G version has the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, the same as the Realme 12 Pro Plus.

For everyday use like browsing, chatting, and streaming, both chips are fine. But in gaming, they do show their limits. Call of Duty Mobile runs well on medium settings, but if it’s on ultra graphics, it might cause some hanging. 

Storage options range from 128GB to 512GB, with 8GB RAM (expandable). You also get a hybrid SD card slot, which lets you use two SIMs or swap one SIM for more storage, which is handy for photo and video hoarders.

The highlight here is the 200MP main sensor, supported by an 8MP ultra-wide and a basic 2MP macro lens.

• Daytime photos are sharp and colourful, with plenty of detail.
  

• The 200MP mode captures even more detail in good lighting, though the difference isn’t huge.
  

• Night shots are surprisingly decent, with good colour and contrast.
  

• The ultra-wide is weaker, especially in low light, and the macro is only useful occasionally.

Videos top out at 1080p 60fps on the 4G model (that’s full HD at smooth speed). It uses EIS (Electronic Image Stabilisation) to reduce shakiness, though it’s not as good as OIS.

Selfies are handled by a 16MP front camera, which does well in daylight but struggles in low light.

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The Redmi Note 13 Pro runs MIUI 14 on Android 13, with updates planned to HyperOS. The interface is smooth but comes with Xiaomi’s usual pre-installed apps (“bloatware”).

You get an under-display fingerprint sensor, face unlock, and plenty of customisation options.

The 5100mAh battery is slightly bigger than Realme’s and supports 67W charging by topping up from 0 - 100% in about 44 minutes.

Both phones give excellent value for their price. Here’s how they compare:

• Design: Realme’s luxury-inspired design feels more premium, while Redmi’s flat, frosted back is sleek and practical.

• Display: Both are excellent AMOLEDs, but Redmi’s is slightly brighter (1330 nits vs 950 nits).

• Performance: Very close if you get the Snapdragon versions, though neither is built for heavy gamers.

• Cameras: Realme is better when it comes to its zoom with its periscope lens, while Redmi takes the lead with its sheer megapixels (200MP main sensor).

• Battery & Charging: Both last all day and charge quickly, but Redmi edges out with a slightly bigger battery.

• The Realme 12 Pro

• The Redmi Note 13 Pro

If you love photography and premium design, the Realme 12 Pro Plus is the better pick, and if you want a sharper display and a huge main camera sensor, go for the Redmi Note 13 Pro.

At the end of the day, both are strong mid-range options, and it just depends on whether you value zoom and design (Realme) or display and megapixels (Redmi).