Xiaomi has traditionally been coming up with new flagship models at the turn of the winter. If you follow our website Xiaomi Planet, you must have noticed that both models, Xiaomi 12 a Xiaomi 12 Pro we ordered as soon as they appeared on sale, so that we could bring you an exclusive review among the first in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
In our detailed review, you will learn all the necessary information about new models, there will also be a comparison of performance, endurance and cameras. Last but not least, we will look at whether smartphones without B20 LTE band support are usable in our country as well.
Where to buy new flagships from Xiaomi?
Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro were the first to be included in our offer by our very popular international dealer, TradingShenzhen. Thanks to Global Priority shipping, we did not pay any customs fees and the smartphones were delivered to us within 12 days of shipment. You will find more details about our order and delivery in the mentioned article.
Current stock prices for Xiaomi 12
Current stock prices for Xiaomi 12 Pro
In this review, we tested Chinese versions of smartphones, which have some limitations in the form of incomplete connectivity for Europe and also contain the Chinese version of MIUI with the English language.
Specification comparison: Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 12 Pro
| Xiaomi 12 | Xiaomi 12 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| dimensions | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.16 mm | 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.16 mm |
| Weight | 180 g | 205 g |
| Display | AMOLED | AMOLED LTPO 2.0 |
| 6.28 "| 120 Hz | 6.73 "| 120 Hz | |
| 1080 x 2400 px | 1440 x 3200 px | |
| processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen1 |
| RAM in GB | 6 to 8 GB LPDDR5 | 8 to 12 GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 128 to 256 GB | 128 to 256 GB |
| Primary sensor | 50 MPx | Sony IMX766 | 50 MPx | Sony IMX707 |
| Wide angle sensor | 13 MPx | 50 MPx |
| Macro / Telephoto | 5 MPx | 50 MPx |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes - in the display | Yes - in the display |
| 3.5 mm jack | No | No |
| FM Radio | No | No |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Battery pack | 4500 mAh | 4600 mAh |
| charging | 67 W | 50 W wireless 10 W reverse USB type C | 120 W | 50 W wireless 10 W reverse USB type C |
We already expected quality packaging
At the TradingShenzhen retailer, quality packaging is customary and it is no different this time either. Both smartphones came to us wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap, and the whole thing was still placed in a cardboard box and a dark nylon envelope. There were also gifts in the form of reductions for our drawers, and this time we also found a small Christmas lego in the package.
As for the contents of individual smartphone packages, nothing has changed here in recent years. In the boxes, there is a paper envelope on top with a needle to open the slot for SIM cards, paper documentation and a transparent silicone cover for a smartphone.
Below it is the smartphone itself wrapped in a transparent foil, under which we can find a charging cable and an adapter. In the case of the Xiaomi 12, it is a 67 W adapter, while the Pro model received up to a 120 W adapter. As these are Chinese versions of smartphones, the adapters need a reduction for EU sockets.
Design and quality of workmanship
The latest Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro smartphone models have really succeeded in terms of design. Xiaomi 12 was available in an interesting leather version with the official name Vegan Leather Forest Green. The color is really interesting, the elegant and mild leather structure of the back cover is a great advantage, as it does not slip and is not a magnet for fingerprints.
At first glance, the rear panel with cameras is subtly similar to last year's OnePlus 9, but we like this design more than the previous models in the Xiaomi 11 series. The Xiaomi 12 is also available in blue, black and pink. It is a very compact smartphone with dimensions of only 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.16 mm and a weight of 180 g.
At first glance, the smartphone nowadays has a very pleasant, compact size and fits perfectly even in a smaller hand. If you have a problem with large smartphones, Xiaomi 12 can be an interesting choice.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro is sold in the same color versions as its smaller sibling. We chose black. Fortunately, it is not shiny, so it also does not capture fingerprints. In reality, it is dark gray rather than deep black and the back cover is smooth without a surface texture.
The Pro model is visibly larger and noticeably heavier. It measures 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.16 mm and weighs 205 g. The design of the back is the same, but the camera module is a bit bigger. Both smartphones have a metal chassis, they hold comfortably in the hand thanks to the rounded edges and generally have a quality impression.
The displays are again at the forefront of the market
The AMOLED display with a high refresh rate of 120 Hz is a matter of course for flagships. Smartphones have slightly different display parameters, although at first glance they look the same.
The common feature is the rounding at the edges and the cutout for the selfie camera in the middle of the upper part of the display. As we have certainly mentioned in other reviews, we personally prefer the selfie camera in one of the corners than in the middle, so we do not perceive this change too positively compared to Xiaomi 11.
Xiaomi 12 has a 6.28 displej display with FHD + 2400 x 1080 px resolution and a density of 419 ppi. The sampling frequency is 480 Hz, the contrast ratio is 5: 000 and the maximum brightness can reach 000 nits.
The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and there is no lack of HDR10 + or Dolby Vision support. The display is from Samsung, it received a rating from DisplayMate A +, but it is not known exactly which panel it is.
Xiaomi 12 Pro has a slightly larger diagonal of 6.73 ″ and higher, 2K resolution 3200 x 1440 px. The refresh and sampling frequencies are the same as the Xiaomi 12, but the contrast ratio is slightly higher, 8: 000, and also the maximum brightness can reach up to 000 rivets.
These values guarantee that it is truly a premium display of the highest class. Specifically, we have a Samsung E5 panel with support for second-generation LTPO technology.
However, both displays can dynamicky to adapt the current refresh rate. In the Pro model, the frequency varies from 1 to 120 Hz, thanks to the new LTPO 2.0 technology. The frequency can be 1, 10, 30, 60, 90 or 120 Hz.
In the case of the basic Xiaomi 12 model, older technology was probably used, but in both cases we added the "Auto" option for automatic setting in the display settings. You can manually choose between 60, 90 and 120 Hz for the Xiaomi 12 Pro model and between 60 and 120 Hz for the Xiaomi 12 model. However, we recommend choosing the automatic setting, which can save energy by adjusting the refresh rate.
The clear winner in the quality of the display based on the parameters is the Xiaomi 12 Pro, but with the ordinary eye it is difficult to tell the difference and the displays seem exactly the same even when directly compared side by side.
Uncompromising performance
In both tested smartphones we find the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which is manufactured using 4 nm technology. It consists of 1 x Cortex-X2 3.0 GHz cores, 3x Cortex-A710 2.5 GHz and 4x Cortex-A510 1.8 GHz. It has 5G support, but smartphones lack support for the 4G LTE band called B20, which is used in Slovakia. But more on that later.
The processor has a 64-bit architecture and is a novelty on the market. He is seconded to the Qualcomm Adreno graphics chip, which can reach a maximum frequency of 818 MHz. The RAM is LPDDR5 with a maximum speed of 6400 Mbps and variants with 8 and 12 GB RAM are available. Internal UFS 3.1 storage can have a capacity of 128 or 256 GB. We tested the Xiaomi 12 in the 8/256 GB version and the Xiaomi 12 Pro in the 12/256 GB version.
In terms of performance, this is currently the best you will find on the market. We have traditionally installed the popular benchmark AnTuTu in version 9 on both smartphones. Xiaomi 12 scored 888 points, while Xiaomi 765 Pro scored an incredible 12 points, which immediately ranks sovereignly at the top of the rankings with a significant lead. Right behind him is Xiaomi 980.
What about 4G support in Chinese versions?
Many Xiaomi fans remained disappointed when we reported on the lack of B20 support in the new flagship models. Last year's models fully supported this band, despite the fact that it was the Chinese version.
However, the 800 MHz band for the LTE / 4G network, known as B20, is not the only one used in Slovakia. According to the available information, the operators use the following frequencies for 4G signal propagation:
| Operator | frequency bands for 4G |
|---|---|
| Telekom | B3 - 1800 MHz / B20 - 800 MHz / B7 - 2600 MHz |
| O2 | B3 - 1800 MHz / B20 - 800 MHz |
| Orange | B3 - 1800 MHz / B20 - 800 MHz / B7 - 2600 MHz |
| 4ka | B3 - 1800 MHz / B20 - 800 MHz |
| Swan | B3 - 1800 MHz |
We tested the Xiaomi 12 smartphone with several SIM cards from different operators, but most of the time we used Telekom, as it is our primary operator. However, we also had available SIM cards from operators 4ka and O2.
We have installed the LTE Discovery application on the smartphones so that we know in which frequency band the smartphone is connected. For comparison, we used the global POCO F3, which does not lack B20 band support.
For all three mentioned operators, POCO F3, which is sold exclusively in the global version, has connected to the 800 MHz B20 band in the city (Košice). In the case of Telekom, the Xiaomi 12 smartphone has joined the B7 - 2600 MHz band. We have connected to B4 - 2 MHz for operators 3ka and O1800.
With Telekom and 4ky, 4G internet worked for us in the city without any problems. When using O2 SIM card, however, our connection often switched between 4G and 3G. Sometimes our smartphone connected to the 3G network even with Telekom, but mostly only in the premises of department stores.
Internet speeds and coverage outside the city
As for speeds, we measured them using the Speedtest app at the same location in the city center. In the POCO F3 we are with SIM with a card from Telekom, they measured a speed of up to 219 / 30.8 Mbps (download / upload). With 4ky it was only 11.8 / 9.11 Mbps and with O2 also only 16.7 / 10.4 Mbps.
Speeds measured via the POCO F3 smartphone
Right after that we are SIM they gradually translated the cards into the tested Xiaomi 12 and we measured the following speeds: Telekom 118 / 66.9 Mbps, 4ka 12.5 / 13.6 Mbps and O2 14 / 1.33 Mbps.
As you can see, Telekom was the best, but the speed was almost half compared to the global POCO F3 in the B20 band. Nevertheless, the speed of 118 Mbps is more than sufficient for normal use. For the other operators, the differences were minimal.
Speeds measured via the Xiaomi 12 smartphone
And how is it out of town? The telecom has very good coverage and even in the villages around Košice we had no problem with the internet. The smartphone has not only connected to the 4G network in some villages, but these lack 4G coverage, which is not a problem on the part of the smartphone.
Worse is 4, but it does not have very good coverage outside the cities, so the global POCO F3 did not help us here either. However, we had problems with O2 quite often.
Cameras and their specifications
To begin with, let's look at the parameters of each camera in both the Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro models:
| main widescreen | super widescreen | macro / portrait | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 12 | 50 MPx; Sony IMX766; aperture f / 1.88; OIS | 13 MPx; 123 ° angle of view; aperture f / 2.4 | 5 MPx; equivalent to a 50 mm lens |
| Xiaomi 12 Pro | 50 MPx; Sony IMX707; aperture f / 1.9; OIS | 50 MPx; 115 ° angle of view; aperture f / 2.2 | 50 MPx; aperture f / 1.9; equivalent to a 48 mm lens |
Based on the parameters, we have high expectations especially from the three 50 MPx cameras in the Xiaomi 12 Pro. You will find several comparisons with other flagships on the Internet. We also brought you one of these comparisons on our sister website Xiaomi Planetwhere the photo battle won the iPhone 13 Max. But let's take a look at the differences between the flagship Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro.
In the new flagship models, Xiaomi promises to significantly improve camera speed and output quality. For example, we find a function called CyberFocus, which ensures better output when shooting moving subjects. You can constantly monitor and keep them sharp. Xiaomi 12 Pro also comes with the second generation of the Night Owl algorithm, which can see even in the dark.
The main sensor is the best
As is customary with most smartphones, their main sensor is the best. As you can see in the parameter table, it is not the same in both models. However, it is difficult to say unequivocally which is better. The output is very similar in most cases.
However, when we compared the photos in more detail, we noticed that the Xiaomi 12 often has a warmer color design with higher contrast. On the other hand, photos from the Xiaomi 12 Pro model have paler, but more realistic colors. The higher Pro model, which suppresses unwanted solar artifacts better, handles direct sunlight better.
In the photos of the interior, under good lighting during the day, you can see similar color differences as we mentioned above. However, in poorer light during a cloudy day, the card turns and the Pro model offers richer colors, which can be seen, for example, on the plant next to the TV in the attached photos. The differences are not great, but in both cases the shadows are too dark - for example around the sound bar and subwoofer.
We have a clear winner for wide-angle shots
If we compare shots from ultra-wide-angle lenses (13 MPx vs 50 MPx), the Xiaomi 12 Pro clearly wins, especially in poor lighting conditions.
The pro model copes better with the backlight, where you can see higher sharpness, contrast, better colornamiwide range but also more beautiful colors. These are warmer this time in the higher model, which makes the photos from the classic Xiaomi 12 sometimes more realistic in color, but the sharpness is significantly better in the Xiaomi 12 Pro.
Double zoom
The telephoto lens only has a Xiaomi 12 Pro, while the Xiaomi 12 uses a master sensor for close-ups. In both cases, only 2x zoom is available without loss of quality. Higher zoom is only digital, where you can see significantly lower quality.
Here, however, the higher model Xiaomi 12 Pro disappointed us, as the colors when shooting with 2x zoom are often a bit strange, with a strong hint of yellow to yellow-green. However, they are understandably sharper, which you can see especially after the additional zooming of photos on the computer.
Selfie, portrait and macro
With the Xiaomi 12 smartphone, the second lens is called tele-macro, but macro mode is missing in both smartphones. We only found it in Pro mode on the Xiaomi 12 smartphone. In the Xiaomi 12 Pro, the manufacturer refers to the second lens as portrait.
The portrait mode in Xiaomi 12 Pro is very good, although the colors could be a bit cooler. Compared to the portrait mode in Xiaomi 12, where the main sensor is used, it is really visible. The difference is not only in focal length, but also in sharpness and detail. However, the bokeh effect is good for both.
As we mentioned above, we only have a macro in Xiaomi 12. It can focus at a minimum distance of 3 - 7 cm and is quite good. Selfie cameras have 32 MPx in both smartphones and are identical, as are their outputs.
Xiaomi 12 Pro also offers the only mode, which is Supermoon. However, due to bad weather, we did not have the opportunity to test it.
Video and other modes
Both smartphones support a maximum resolution of 8K at 24 fps. Other available resolutions are 4K at 30/60 fps, 1080p at 30/60 fps and 720p at 30 fps. Optical stabilization is also available using the main 50 MPx sensor. The manufacturer has finally improved the stabilization to such a level that its activity can no longer be seen so significantly in the video. It's not a total of 100 percent, but the improvement is visible.
Sample video recorded during the day with the Xiaomi 12 smartphone:
Xiaomi 12Pro:
There are also interesting video modes such as VLOG, short video, time-lapse, movie effects and dual video, which we already know from older smartphones. However, the function of tracking a moving object has been added, which you can simply select by double-tapping, and the smartphone then keeps the object sharp even when it is moving. Unfortunately, this feature is only available at 1080p at 30 fps, which is no win.
Night video filmed on Xiaomi 12:
Xiaomi 12Pro:
Night mode
Automatic night mode is a matter of course in this class. When comparing the two smartphones, there are the same differences as when taking photos during the day. The night mode brightens the photo slightly, the details stand out better, but the Xiaomi 12 Pro offers warmer colors compared to the standard version.
If we compare evening photos without night mode, the higher Pro model produces sharper photos, but the worse it can handle the glow from strong lighting.
Model Pro also received the support of the second generation of so-called Night Owl mode, which can bring light into a photo taken in complete darkness. For comparison, see the following photos, which were taken in an almost unlit place.
Battery, endurance and charging
Although the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a significantly larger smartphone than the Xiaomi 12, their batteries have almost the same capacity. In the case of the Xiaomi 12 it is 4500 mAh and in the case of the Xiaomi 12 Pro the battery has 4600 mAh. In terms of charging, the Xiaomi 12 has 67 W charging support, while the Pro model supports up to 120 W charging.
Both smartphones also support wireless, 50 W charging and 10 W reverse charging, which you can use to charge another smartphone.
Too bad even the higher model Pro didn't get a 5000 mAh battery this time. However, this compensates for extremely fast charging. Don't expect any smartphone to last longer than one day in normal use. They last about the same. We did not notice any significant differences in endurance.
You can see the charging process in the table below:
| 18 - 50% | 75% | 90% | 100% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 12 | 10 minutes and 28 seconds | 19 minutes and 12 seconds | 26 minutes and 30 seconds | 36 minutes and 25 seconds |
| Xiaomi 12 Pro | 4 minutes and 53 seconds | 10 minutes and 54 seconds | 14 minutes and 58 seconds | 18 minutes |
Speakers and sound quality
Cooperation between Xiaomi and Harman Kardon continues on this year's models. Stereo speakers are a matter of course, at the bottom and top of the smartphones. The sound output grilles have been slightly redesigned, but in terms of sound quality, we don't think these smartphones have moved anywhere.
The sound is good, but it could be better. Stronger bass is still missing, and in direct comparison we would say that the lower model Xiaomi 12 has a slightly clearer sound at maximum volume.
New MIUI 13
The Xiaomi 12 series smartphones received the Android operating system in version 12 with a new version of the MIUI 13 superstructure. The environment underwent a subtle design change in the form of small graphic modifications and a new font. However, major changes have taken place in the background and relate to better optimization of the entire system.
Liquid Storage technology ensures higher storage efficiency, while write and read speeds should be reduced by only 36% in 5 months of use. The work with RAM memory using the Atomized Memory algorithm was also optimized.
The system's response should also be better thanks to improved prioritization of currently running applications over those running in the background. Last but not least, we also have a new Smart Balance algorithm, which improves the ratio between power and energy consumption.
During our testing, we used the Chinese version of MIUI, as a modified version from Xiaomi.eu, resp. Miuios.cz. The fluidity of the system was excellent, almost everything went like clockwork, except for minor problems with the installation of applications.
We had problems installing Google Chrome on both smartphones through the official Play Store, so we had to download the .apk file and install the browser this way. After a few days, the Xiaomi 12 Pro smartphone also had occasional spontaneous restarts for unknown reasons.
The environment offers a number of settings, thanks to which you can customize MIUI. It allows you to set the layout of applications in a 4 x 7 or 5 x 7 grid, new dial designs have been added for the always-on display, new wallpapers, and also widgets, which, however, are in many cases in the Chinese version of course in Chinese. If you would like to know more details about the new MIUI 13, we recommend that you read our review.
Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro: final evaluation
Xiaomi's flagships for 2022 brought the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which delivers tremendous performance. With the Xiaomi 12 Pro model, we have almost reached the magic million point mark in the popular AnTuT benchmark. However, the standard version of the Xiaomi 12 does not lag far behind and will please those who are looking for a powerful but compact smartphone, which is hard to find today.
The displays are once again the top of the market and there is no shortage of themnamick refresh rate that adapts to current needs. In the field of photography, both smartphones have an excellent main sensor. However, the Xiaomi 12 Pro also delights with a high-quality ultra-wide-angle sensor that complements the portrait sensor. Compared to last year, we have finally seen an improvement in the video, in which you can see less of the image stabilization.
The Chinese version is slightly frozen by the absence of the most used 4G LTE band with a frequency of 800 MHz, which is also known as B20. Nevertheless, with the smartphones we were able to work without problems with our primary operator, which is Telekom, thanks to good coverage in other frequency bands.
Although 4G Internet speeds are lower compared to global smartphones with B20 bandwidth support, they are still sufficient for the average user. If you do not want to compromise on connectivity or install a customized system, be sure to wait for the introduction of the global versions, which should take place in March 2022. However, much higher prices should be expected.
