Xiaomi 14 Civi vs OnePlus 12R Comparison: Which phone should you buy under ₹50,000?

The sub-50K smartphone segment is heating up! With the launch of the Xiaomi 14 Civi (review), the competition is tougher than ever as it challenges the already popular OnePlus 12R (review). The Xiaomi 14 Civi, making its debut in India, is priced at ₹42,999, while the OnePlus 12R starts at ₹39,999. Is the Xiaomi 14 Civi worth the extra ₹3,000? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide. We’ll explore various aspects including build quality, display, performance, cameras, and battery life. Let’s delve into the comparison between the Xiaomi 14 Civi vs OnePlus 12R.

Xiaomi 14 Civi vs OnePlus 12R: Build and Design

Starting with the build, the Xiaomi 14 Civi is notably slimmer and lighter than the OnePlus 12R, offering a more comfortable grip. Its curved screen on all four sides gives it a seamless look, and the matte finish on the rear panel of the Black variant is resistant to fingerprints—a stark contrast to the fingerprint-prone OnePlus 12R. 

While design is subjective, many might find the OnePlus 12R more distinguished. Both phones feature dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, in-display fingerprint sensors, and IR blasters.

One advantage of the OnePlus 12R is its signature alert slider, a unique and satisfying feature. It also boasts an IP64 rating for better splash resistance compared to the Xiaomi 14 Civi’s IP54 rating, which offers less protection against dust. However, due to its slim profile and fingerprint-resistant rear panel, the Xiaomi 14 Civi takes a slight lead in the build and design category.

Xiaomi 14 Civi vs OnePlus 12R: Display

In terms of display, the OnePlus 12R emerges as the winner. Although the Xiaomi 14 Civi has a 12-bit display compared to the OnePlus 12R’s 10-bit display and a slightly higher pixel density, the OnePlus 12R’s bright LTPO panel steals the show. The LTPO technology allows the screen to adjust its refresh rate from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, conserving battery life when static. 

Additionally, the OnePlus 12R’s display is significantly brighter, reaching over 1700 nits compared to the Xiaomi 14 Civi’s 1388 nits.

While the Xiaomi 14 Civi offers a more contrast-heavy colour profile, the OnePlus 12R presents a more natural look, making it a clear winner in this category.

Performance

Performance-wise, both phones pack a punch with powerful chipsets. The Xiaomi 14 Civi is equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, while the OnePlus 12R features the previous year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Despite the OnePlus 12R’s chipset being clocked higher, the Xiaomi 14 Civi’s newer processor excels in synthetic benchmarks like AnTuTu, GeekBench, and PCMark, showcasing superior raw power.

Both phones feature LPDDR5X RAM, but the OnePlus 12R offers a higher capacity with 16 GB. However, the Xiaomi 14 Civi counters with faster UFS 4.0 storage, which outperforms the OnePlus 12R’s UFS 3.1 storage in read and write speeds. This results in quicker app loading and data transfer on the Xiaomi 14 Civi. Gaming performance is smooth on both devices due to robust cooling systems and powerful processors, but the Xiaomi 14 Civi feels slightly snappier in general use, giving it an edge in performance.

Xiaomi 14 Civi vs OnePlus 12R: Cameras

The camera department is where the Xiaomi 14 Civi shines, thanks to its Leica-engineered lenses. It boasts a 50 MP primary camera, a 50 MP 2x optical zoom telephoto lens, and a 13 MP ultrawide lens. For selfies, it features two 32 MP cameras—one primary and one ultrawide. This setup allows for versatile photography options, including Leica filters, multiple focal-length portraits, and Pro LUTs for video.

In comparison, the OnePlus 12R has a 50 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and a 2 MP macro lens. While the OnePlus 12R produces detailed shots, they often appear artificially sharpened. The Xiaomi 14 Civi, on the other hand, delivers more natural and character-rich photos, especially in close-ups and portraits. The Xiaomi 14 Civi’s portraits exhibit better edge detection, skin tone accuracy, and bokeh effect.

Low-light performance is commendable on both phones. The Xiaomi 14 Civi offers better colour accuracy, while the OnePlus 12R excels in detail. Ultrawide shots are slightly better on the Xiaomi 14 Civi due to superior highlight control. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 Civi’s camera capabilities, enhanced by Leica, make it the clear winner in this category.

Xiaomi 14 Civi vs OnePlus 12R: Battery Life

Battery life is a crucial aspect, and the OnePlus 12R outperforms the Xiaomi 14 Civi by a significant margin. The OnePlus 12R’s 5,500 mAh battery provides about a day and a half of runtime, while the Xiaomi 14 Civi’s 4,700 mAh battery often requires a top-up by evening. In a 15-minute session of COD: Mobile, the OnePlus 12R’s battery drops by only 3%, compared to a 5% drop on the Xiaomi 14 Civi.

In our 4K video loop test, the OnePlus 12R lasted an impressive 18 hours and 7 minutes, whereas the Xiaomi 14 Civi lasted 13.5 hours. Charging is also faster on the OnePlus 12R with its 100 W charger, taking just 29 minutes to go from zero to full, compared to the Xiaomi 14 Civi’s 47 minutes with its 67 W charger. This category clearly belongs to the OnePlus 12R.

Which one should you buy?

So, is the Xiaomi 14 Civi worth the extra ₹3,000? If you value a superior camera experience, enhanced by Leica-engineered lenses, the Xiaomi 14 Civi is definitely worth the investment. It offers a professional, high-contrast look to photos, along with versatile camera features that are hard to beat.

For those who prioritise a sleek, lightweight design with a fingerprint-resistant finish, blazing-fast performance from the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, and a superior camera experience, the Xiaomi 14 Civi is a compelling choice. However, if you lean towards a brighter, adaptive LTPO display and outstanding battery life with faster charging, the OnePlus 12R is an excellent alternative.

In conclusion, while the OnePlus 12R has its strengths, particularly in display and battery life, the Xiaomi 14 Civi takes the lead in build quality, performance, and camera capabilities. For an extra ₹3,000, the Xiaomi 14 Civi offers features and performance that justify the price difference, making it a strong contender in the sub-50K smartphone market.