Honor 500 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Elite) vs Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity 9000+): A Performance and Charging Showdown

The Honor 500 Pro, a China-exclusive powerhouse, enters the arena with Qualcomm’s cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite, while the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity variant) champions MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000+. This comparison isn’t about brand loyalty; it’s about dissecting two distinct approaches to flagship performance and identifying which device delivers the best experience for demanding users.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw CPU performance and the fastest charging speeds, the Honor 500 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite, built on a 3nm process, offers a significant architectural advantage. However, the Xiaomi 12 Pro remains a compelling option for those seeking a more globally available device with a refined software experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 500 Pro (China) Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2025, November 242022, July 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, November 27Available. Released 2022, July 13
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame-
Dimensions155.8 x 74.2 x 7.8 mm (6.13 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight201 g (7.09 oz)201 g (7.09 oz)
Display
ProtectionAluminosilicate glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1264 x 2736 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 6000 nits (peak)LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.20 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Mali-G710 MC10
OSAndroid 16, MagicOS 10Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple200 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.4, 68mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), AF50 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, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single50 MP, f/2.0, (wide)32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 5, Auracast, ASHA5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L1+L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display), accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity (ultrasound)Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging80W wired 50W wireless, 28% in 15 min 5W reverse wired Reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 8000 mAhLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, Blue, PinkGray, Blue
ModelsMEP-AN002207122MC
PriceAbout 440 EURAbout 570 EUR

Honor 500 Pro (China)

  • Unmatched CPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Industry-leading 80W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Potentially superior image processing from Snapdragon ISP

  • China-exclusive availability limits access
  • Software experience may be less refined than Xiaomi’s

Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)

  • Globally available and widely supported
  • Refined MIUI software experience
  • Competitive performance from Dimensity 9000+

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Honor 500 Pro
  • Less efficient 4nm process may lead to more throttling

Display Comparison

While both devices are expected to feature high-quality AMOLED displays, the provided data focuses on internal components. We can infer that the Xiaomi 12 Pro, given its flagship positioning, likely incorporates LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, potentially offering better power efficiency. However, without specific display specs for the Honor 500 Pro, a direct comparison is impossible. Both are likely to target 120Hz refresh rates and excellent color accuracy, but the Honor's display details remain unknown.

Camera Comparison

The provided data doesn’t offer camera specifics. However, given their flagship status, both devices likely feature multi-camera systems with a primary sensor exceeding 50MP. The Honor 500 Pro, benefiting from the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s advanced ISP, may offer superior image processing capabilities, particularly in low-light conditions. The Xiaomi 12 Pro’s image processing is known for its vibrant, saturated colors, while Honor’s tends towards a more natural look. Without sensor size and aperture details, a definitive camera comparison is impossible, but the Snapdragon’s ISP gives the Honor an edge in potential image quality.

Performance

The core of this comparison lies in the chipsets. The Honor 500 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, fabricated on a 3nm process, represents a significant leap in efficiency and density compared to the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s Dimensity 9000+ (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Oryon V2 Phoenix CPU architecture – with its 2x4.32 GHz ‘Phoenix L’ and 6x3.53 GHz ‘Phoenix M’ cores – is designed for sustained peak performance. This contrasts with the Dimensity 9000+'s more traditional Cortex-X2/A710/A510 configuration. The 3nm node allows the Snapdragon 8 Elite to deliver more performance at lower power consumption, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Snapdragon's architecture is also expected to offer better single-core performance, crucial for responsive UI and app loading.

Battery Life

The Honor 500 Pro’s charging capabilities are a clear standout. Its 80W wired charging, coupled with 50W wireless charging and 28% charge in 15 minutes, significantly outpaces the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s 67W wired charging (with PD3.0 and QC4 support). While the Xiaomi 12 Pro offers respectable charging speeds, the Honor 500 Pro provides a much faster top-up experience. The impact of battery size isn’t specified, but the faster charging of the Honor 500 Pro mitigates concerns about a potentially smaller battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 500 Pro (China) if you need uncompromising CPU performance for demanding tasks like video editing or emulation, and if you value the fastest possible charging – both wired and wireless. Buy the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) if you prefer a more established brand with wider availability, a potentially more polished software experience, and a slightly more conservative approach to thermal management.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Honor 500 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 3nm process and advanced thermal management features are designed to mitigate overheating. While all high-performance chips generate heat, the 3nm node allows for greater efficiency, reducing the likelihood of significant throttling compared to the 4nm Dimensity 9000+ under sustained load.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) support high frame rate gaming like 90fps or 120fps in demanding titles like PUBG Mobile?
The Dimensity 9000+ is capable of supporting high frame rates in PUBG Mobile and other demanding games. However, achieving consistently high frame rates will depend on the game’s optimization and the device’s thermal management. Expect to be able to run at 90fps with balanced graphics settings, but sustained 120fps may require lower settings.
❓ Is the Honor 500 Pro’s software experience significantly different from Xiaomi’s MIUI?
Yes, the Honor 500 Pro runs on a different software skin than Xiaomi’s MIUI. Honor’s MagicOS is generally considered to be closer to stock Android, offering a cleaner and less cluttered experience. MIUI is known for its extensive customization options and feature set, but some users find it to be overly complex.