OPPO A78 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
The Verdict
Both phones share identical 5000 mAh batteries with 33W charging and the same 50 MP main camera, but they diverge significantly in display and processing power. The Redmi Note 12 features a superior 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and exceptional 1200 nits brightness, whereas the OPPO A78 5G offers a smaller 6.56-inch IPS LCD panel at 90Hz with 680 nits. The Xiaomi's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor outperforms OPPO's Dimensity 700 in real-world performance and gaming, delivering noticeably smoother multitasking. However, the OPPO edges ahead with its IPX4 water resistance versus the Redmi's IP53 rating, plus it includes NFC as standard across variants. Storage flexibility favors Xiaomi, offering 64 GB, 128 GB options with multiple RAM configurations starting at 4 GB, while OPPO provides only 128 GB storage. The Redmi Note 12's 13 MP front camera beats OPPO's 8 MP sensor for selfies. At $179 versus $249, the Redmi Note 12 delivers exceptional value with its superior display technology and processor, making it the stronger choice for most users despite being the newer model with better specs overall. The OPPO justifies its premium only if water resistance matters significantly to you.
Who Should Buy
Buy the OPPO A78 5G if…
- →5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price point
- →33W SUPERVOOC fast charging is quick for the price segment
- →5000 mAh battery provides solid two-day endurance
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 if…
- →AMOLED 120Hz display at $179 is exceptional value
- →5G connectivity at ultra-budget pricing
- →33W fast charging for the 5000 mAh battery
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
OPPO A78 5G
Pros
- 5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price point
- 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging is quick for the price segment
- 5000 mAh battery provides solid two-day endurance
- 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling than 60Hz
- IPX4 splash resistance adds basic water protection
Cons
- IPS LCD lacks AMOLED vibrancy and contrast
- Dimensity 700 is basic — struggles with demanding apps
- 2 MP depth sensor is essentially useless
- 8 MP front camera is low resolution for selfies
- ColorOS includes pre-installed bloatware
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
Pros
- AMOLED 120Hz display at $179 is exceptional value
- 5G connectivity at ultra-budget pricing
- 33W fast charging for the 5000 mAh battery
- IP53 splash resistance for basic protection
- Lightweight and slim design at 188 g
Cons
- Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 offers limited performance
- Only a depth sensor as secondary camera — no ultrawide
- 4 GB base RAM is very tight for multitasking
- Video recording capped at 1080p@30fps
- MIUI has ads and bloatware
Full Specifications
| Spec | OPPO A78 5G | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (ColorOS 13) | Android 12 (MIUI 14) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 188 g | 188 g |
| Material | Plastic frame and back | Plastic frame, glass front, plastic back |
| IP rating | IPX4 | IP53 |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 75.1 x 8.0 mm | 165.9 x 76 x 7.98 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF |
| Depth | 2 MP, f/2.4 | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Front camera | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 13 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB / 8 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 33W SUPERVOOC | 33W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.56 inches | 6.67 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 680 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz + 6x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz + 6x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 700 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.1 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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