Xiaomi 12S Ultra vs Honor 70 Pro: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera capabilities and sustained performance, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers a performance edge, and the 93-hour endurance rating suggests superior battery life. However, the Honor 70 Pro’s 100W charging is a compelling counterpoint for those who value speed.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor 70 Pro | Xiaomi 12S Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 |
| 5G bands | 1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 30 | 2022, July 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, June 13 | Available. Released 2022, July 09 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.45 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) | 163.2 x 75 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 225 g (7.94 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2652 pixels (~429 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 8000 (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G610 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) | 32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Triple | 54 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@3840fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K, 1080p) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) | 32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired, 60% in 15 min 5W reverse wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 41 min 50W wireless, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4860 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Green, Gold, Silver | Black, Dark Green |
| Models | SDY-AN00 | 2203121C |
| Price | About 520 EUR | $ 288.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 93h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1039412 (v9) GeekBench: 4300 (v5.1) GFXBench: 51fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor 70 Pro
- 100W SuperCharge for incredibly fast wired charging.
- Stylish design and build quality.
- Balanced performance for everyday tasks.
- Dimensity 8000 chipset is outperformed by Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.
- Battery life likely inferior to the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 delivers superior performance.
- Excellent 93-hour battery endurance.
- Faster wireless charging (50W) and reverse wireless charging.
- Wired charging is slower than the Honor 70 Pro (67W vs 100W).
- May run hotter under sustained load.
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra boasts a peak brightness of 1065 nits, suggesting a significantly more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the Honor 70 Pro (brightness data unavailable). While both offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio, the 12S Ultra’s higher peak brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor visibility. The absence of LTPO technology in either device means refresh rate scaling isn’t as efficient as on some competitors, potentially impacting battery life during dynamic content viewing. Bezels and color accuracy are not specified, making a direct comparison impossible, but Xiaomi’s flagship history suggests a high-quality panel.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are marketed as having strong camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra likely features a larger main sensor, given its flagship positioning and emphasis on photography. The 12S Ultra’s image processing is likely tuned for a more natural look, while Honor often favors more vibrant, social media-ready images. Without specific aperture and sensor size data, a definitive camera comparison is difficult. However, the Xiaomi’s focus on ‘Photo/Video’ suggests a more comprehensive camera experience.
Performance
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, fabricated on a 4nm process, demonstrably outperforms the Mediatek Dimensity 8000 (5nm) in the Honor 70 Pro. The 8+ Gen 1’s Cortex-X2 prime core (3.19 GHz) provides a significant single-core performance boost, crucial for responsive UI and app loading. The 12S Ultra’s CPU configuration (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) is architecturally superior to the Honor 70 Pro’s (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). While the 5nm process of the Dimensity 8000 is efficient, the 4nm node of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers better thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during prolonged intensive tasks. The 12S Ultra is the clear winner for demanding users.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s 93-hour endurance rating is a significant advantage, indicating superior battery optimization and potentially a larger battery capacity (though not specified). While the Honor 70 Pro’s 100W wired charging (60% in 15 minutes) is incredibly fast, the 12S Ultra offers 67W wired (100% in 41 minutes) and 50W wireless (100% in 52 minutes) providing more charging flexibility. The Honor 70 Pro’s 5W reverse wired charging is significantly slower than the 12S Ultra’s 10W reverse wireless, making the Xiaomi more useful for topping up accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 70 Pro if you need incredibly fast charging – 60% in 15 minutes is a game-changer for power users. It’s also a strong choice for those who prefer a more stylish design and don’t demand the absolute peak in processing power. Buy the Xiaomi 12S Ultra if you prioritize camera quality, long-lasting battery life (93h endurance), and sustained performance during demanding tasks like gaming or video editing. It’s the better option for content creators and power users.