iPhone 13 Pro vs Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity): Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The iPhone 13 Pro, despite its age, remains a benchmark for smartphone excellence. The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) aims to disrupt that status with a powerful Mediatek chipset and blazing-fast charging. This comparison dissects these two titans, focusing on where each excels and who benefits most from their strengths.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a seamless ecosystem, long-term software support, and consistently excellent video recording, the iPhone 13 Pro remains the superior choice. However, the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) delivers comparable performance and significantly faster charging at a potentially lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 13 Pro Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2638, A2639, A26401, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2638, A26391, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2636CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, September 142022, July 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 24Available. Released 2022, July 13
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame-
Dimensions146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 in)163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight204 g (7.20 oz)201 g (7.09 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)-
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)Octa-core (1x3.20 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetApple A15 Bionic (5 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)
GPUApple GPU (5-core graphics)Mali-G710 MC10
OSiOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 NVMeUFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBLightning, USB 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support-
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update67W wired, PD3.0, QC4
TypeLi-Ion 3095 mAh (12.11 Wh)Li-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine GreenGray, Blue
ModelsA2638, A2483, A2636, A2639, A2640, iPhone14,22207122MC
Price€ 398.00 / $ 365.86 / £ 300.00About 570 EUR
SAR1.20 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 85h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.9 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 794348 (v9) GeekBench: 4687 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

  • Exceptional video recording quality and cinematic mode.
  • Long-term software support and ecosystem integration.
  • Excellent battery endurance (85h rating).

  • Slower wired charging compared to Xiaomi 12 Pro.
  • Less customizable software experience.
  • Potentially higher price point.

Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)

  • Blazing-fast 67W wired charging.
  • Potentially better thermal management due to 4nm process.
  • Competitive performance with the A15 Bionic.

  • Software support may be shorter than Apple's.
  • Video recording quality may not match the iPhone 13 Pro.
  • Battery endurance is unknown, but likely lower than iPhone 13 Pro.

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1063 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, Xiaomi typically prioritizes vibrant colors. The iPhone’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, delivers deep blacks. The iPhone 13 Pro’s ProMotion technology (LTPO) dynamically adjusts refresh rates up to 120Hz, offering smoother scrolling and animations, a feature likely present on the Xiaomi 12 Pro as well, though its implementation and efficiency aren’t specified. The iPhone 13 Pro’s color accuracy is renowned, crucial for content creators.

Camera Comparison

Both devices excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. The iPhone 13 Pro is celebrated for its cinematic mode and consistently high-quality video recording. While specific sensor details aren’t provided, Apple’s image processing prioritizes natural colors and dynamic range. The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) likely emphasizes computational photography to enhance detail and low-light performance. Without sensor size information for the Xiaomi, it’s difficult to definitively assess its low-light capabilities. The iPhone’s ProRes video recording is a significant advantage for professional videographers, a feature absent on the Xiaomi.

Performance

The Apple A15 Bionic, fabricated on a 5nm process, features a hexa-core CPU with high-performance Avalanche cores clocked at 3.23 GHz. This contrasts with the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 9000+, built on a more efficient 4nm node, and its octa-core configuration featuring a Cortex-X2 prime core at 3.20 GHz. While core count differs, both chips deliver flagship-level performance. The 4nm process of the Dimensity 9000+ *should* translate to better thermal efficiency under sustained load, potentially mitigating throttling. However, Apple’s tight software integration often optimizes performance more effectively. The iPhone 13 Pro benefits from Apple’s custom GPU, while the Xiaomi relies on the Mali-G710 MC10 integrated within the Dimensity 9000+.

Battery Life

The iPhone 13 Pro achieves an endurance rating of 85 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The Xiaomi 12 Pro’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 67W wired charging (PD3.0, QC4) is significantly faster than the iPhone’s 50% charge in 30 minutes via PD2.0. The Xiaomi’s charging speed is a major advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The iPhone 13 Pro offers 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2 (with iOS 17.2), while the Xiaomi’s wireless charging capabilities are not detailed.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro if you need a polished, reliable experience with a strong emphasis on video quality, a mature app ecosystem, and guaranteed software updates for years to come. Buy the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) if you prioritize raw processing power for demanding tasks, incredibly fast 67W charging, and are comfortable with a more customized Android experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ in the Xiaomi 12 Pro get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 9000+’s 4nm process *should* mitigate thermal throttling better than older 5nm chips. However, sustained gaming will inevitably generate heat. Xiaomi’s cooling solutions will play a crucial role, but the iPhone 13 Pro’s optimized software and efficient A15 Bionic may maintain more consistent performance over long periods.
❓ How does the iPhone 13 Pro’s MagSafe wireless charging compare to the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s wireless charging (if available)?
The iPhone 13 Pro’s MagSafe offers a secure connection and 15W charging. While the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s wireless charging specifications aren’t provided, it’s unlikely to match MagSafe’s convenience or speed. The iPhone 13 Pro also gains Qi2 support with iOS 17.2, offering a standardized wireless charging experience.
❓ Is the difference in CPU core count (hexa-core vs octa-core) significant in real-world usage between the A15 Bionic and Dimensity 9000+?
Not necessarily. Core count isn’t the sole determinant of performance. Apple’s A15 Bionic’s architecture and software optimization are highly efficient. While the Dimensity 9000+ has more cores, the A15’s individual core performance and overall system integration are competitive, resulting in a similar user experience for most tasks.