Are you looking for a new Android phone of around 500 euros? Perhaps your eye has already fallen on the Google Pixel 7A and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+. The phones look pretty similar on paper, so…. which one do you choose? NL News Anke tested the two competing phones, so that in addition to the specifications, you can also make a choice based on her user experience.
First about those specifications, then, are they really that close to each other?
Watch and judge for yourself.
| Google Pixel 7A |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ |
|
| display | 6.1 inch, OLED display 2400×1800 pixels |
6.67 inch, AMOLED display, 2400×1080 pixels |
| refresh rate | 90Hz | 120Hz |
| Rear cameras |
Primary Ultra wide angle |
Primary Wide angle lens Macro lens |
| Front cameras | 13MP (f/2.2) 95° | 16MP (f/2.4) |
| Processor | Google Tensor G2 Titan M2 security coprocessor |
MediaTek Dimension 1080 Octocore |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage area | 128GB | 256GB |
| Battery | 4385 mAh, 18W fast charge, can also charge wirelessly at 7.5W | 5000 mAh, 120W fast charging, can not charge wirelessly |
| Size | 15.24 x 7.29 x 0.9 cm | 16.29 x 7.6 x 0.9 cm |
| Weight | 193 grams | 211 grams |
| To colour | Sea, Charcoal, Snow, Coral | Arctic White, Iceberg Blue, Obsidian Black, Trend |
| MSRP | €509,- | €499,- |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ seems more powerful…
If we compare the specifications, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ seems to be the better choice, because: cheaper and yet more powerful than the Google Pixel 7A. But what do numbers really mean? Over the past few weeks I tested the two phones side by side and came to the following conclusions…
Design
There is no arguing about taste (they say), but if I have to follow my personal preference, I still choose the Pixel 7A at the expense of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+. Both phones are made of plastic with a metal finish around the edge and at the cameras. That plastic is not appreciated by everyone, but to be honest I never have that many problems with it. The Pixel 7A is slightly smaller than the other Android phone, both in length and width, and I also like how the Pixel’s screen is integrated into the body. The screen of the Xiaomi phone protrudes a bit, which gives it an angular shape, which makes it less comfortable to hold.
Speed ​​& operating system
The Google and Xiaomi phone work almost equally fast, both run on Android 13, but do not look the same in that respect. Xiaomi has chosen to throw its own sauce over it (as so many phone manufacturers do). Since Android is from Google, the differences are therefore very noticeable. Google has chosen to deliver a very clean phone. That is something that always gets me excited, but if I take a critical look at my own preferences, I must admit that the Android version with Xiaomi skin is actually not that bad either. The operation remains intuitive, you can also simply remove the pre-installed apps (if you don’t like them). Both devices score well in that area.
An important side note is that the phones can get a bit warm when used intensively. Something to think about if you are a hardcore phone user.
Cameras
On paper, the Xiaomi seems supreme to the Google phone. But it is always important to look beyond the number of pixels that a phone has. Does the manufacturer live up to its promise?
Battery
The two phones are both strong enough to last a day on a single charge, sometimes two days were also possible with less intensive use. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the more powerful of the two. You notice that not only in the percentage of battery that you have left at the end of the day, but also in the charging speed of the device. Within 20 minutes you have (almost) completely filled the Xiaomi phone. The Google phone takes about 2 hours to do this, a huge difference. The fact that the Pixel 7A can charge wirelessly and the Xiaomi phone cannot… that doesn’t really matter to me. I’ve never been a fan of wireless charging anyway, because it takes even longer.
Price
The suggested retail price of the Google and Xiaomi phones only differs by a tenner, the actual sales price is much further apart. The Pixel 7A currently (June 11, 2023) still costs around 500 euros. The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has already dropped considerably in terms of price; you pay an average of 350 euros for the telephone. That 150 euros, that can persuade users to choose Xiaomi after all.
Conclusion
Everyone uses their own criteria to make a choice for a particular phone. Do you also find the above criteria important, and do you want to know what I would choose? I think I would go for the Xiaomi phone anyway. A difficult choice, because the design can make or break your user experience… I find the Google Pixel 7A more comfortable to hold. But hey, if that’s to be the deciding factor. What you can do with it is just as important as far as I’m concerned.
Use it to your advantage. I’m curious about your choice!
