Xiaomi 12S Pro vs Honor 70 Pro+: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Xiaomi 12S Pro and Honor 70 Pro+ represent compelling options in the flagship smartphone space, particularly as the 12S Pro sees price drops following newer Xiaomi releases. Both devices leverage 4nm fabrication, but diverge in chipset choice – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 versus MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000 – creating a fascinating battle of silicon and implementation. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Xiaomi 12S Pro is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers a slight edge in CPU and GPU performance, coupled with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. However, the Honor 70 Pro+ remains a strong contender, particularly for those valuing a potentially more efficient chipset.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 70 Pro+ Xiaomi 12S Pro
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 bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, May 302022, July 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, June 17Available. Released 2022, July 07
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163.9 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.45 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm or 8.7 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)203 g / 204 g (7.16 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1200 x 2652 pixels (~429 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120HzLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Magic UI 6.1Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLeica lens, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple54 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), AF50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.9, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single50 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR10+
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS (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, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging100W wired, 60% in 15 min 5W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, GoldGray, White, Purple, Green
ModelsHPB-AN002206122SC
PriceAbout 600 EURAbout 670 EUR

Honor 70 Pro+

  • Potentially more efficient Dimensity 9000 chipset
  • 100W fast wired charging
  • Likely refined software experience with MagicOS

  • Slightly lower peak CPU performance
  • No wireless charging support

Xiaomi 12S Pro

  • Faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor
  • 120W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Potentially superior gaming performance

  • Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 can run hotter under sustained load
  • Xiaomi’s MIUI can be resource intensive

Display Comparison

While both phones likely feature high-quality OLED panels, the provided data doesn't detail specifics like resolution or refresh rate. However, the charging capabilities suggest the Xiaomi 12S Pro may prioritize peak power delivery, potentially impacting display brightness. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s image signal processor (ISP) could also contribute to slightly more accurate color reproduction. Without further display specs, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Xiaomi’s history suggests a focus on maximizing display capabilities.

Camera Comparison

The context data lacks camera specifications, making a direct comparison impossible. However, given the flagship positioning, both phones likely feature multi-camera systems with capable main sensors. Xiaomi’s image processing tends towards vibrant, saturated colors, while Honor often aims for a more natural look. The absence of sensor size information is critical; a larger sensor generally captures more light, resulting in better low-light performance. Without this data, we can only speculate that the 12S Pro’s Snapdragon ISP might offer slightly faster image processing speeds.

Performance

The Xiaomi 12S Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (3.19 GHz Cortex-X2) boasts a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed compared to the Honor 70 Pro+'s Dimensity 9000 (3.05 GHz Cortex-X2). Both utilize the same Cortex-A710 and A510 core configuration, but the Snapdragon’s architecture and 4nm process generally translate to superior sustained performance and thermal efficiency. While the Dimensity 9000 is a powerful chip, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is known for its optimized power draw, reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The 12S Pro’s Adreno GPU also provides a performance advantage over the Mali-G710 MC10 in the Honor 70 Pro+.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12S Pro’s charging capabilities are a clear standout. Its 120W wired charging can fully charge the battery in just 19 minutes, a significant advantage over the Honor 70 Pro+'s 100W charging (60% in 15 minutes). Furthermore, the 12S Pro adds 50W wireless charging, a feature absent in the Honor 70 Pro+. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speeds of the 12S Pro mitigate any potential disadvantage from a slightly smaller battery. The 10W reverse wireless charging on both devices is a minor convenience feature.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 70 Pro+ if you prioritize a balanced experience with a focus on efficient power management and a potentially smoother software experience (depending on MagicOS version). Buy the Xiaomi 12S Pro if you demand the highest possible performance for gaming and demanding applications, and value the convenience of incredibly fast wired and wireless charging. The 12S Pro is also the better choice for users heavily invested in the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12S Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is more efficient than its predecessor, it can still experience throttling under sustained heavy load. However, Xiaomi typically implements robust cooling solutions in their flagship devices, mitigating this issue to a degree. Expect some performance dip after extended gaming, but it shouldn't be debilitating.
❓ How does the Dimensity 9000 in the Honor 70 Pro+ handle demanding tasks like video editing or running multiple apps simultaneously?
The Dimensity 9000 is a very capable chipset and handles multitasking and video editing with ease. While it doesn't quite match the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in raw power, it offers excellent performance for everyday tasks and most demanding applications. Its efficiency can also lead to better battery life during these workloads.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the Xiaomi 12S Pro truly faster than comparable wireless charging solutions?
Yes, 50W wireless charging is significantly faster than the more common 15W-30W wireless charging found on many other devices. It can fully charge a phone in around 42 minutes, making it a genuinely convenient alternative to wired charging.
❓ Which phone is likely to receive more software updates and for a longer period?
Historically, Xiaomi has offered a relatively consistent update schedule for its flagship devices, though the longevity of support can vary. Honor's software support has improved in recent years, but Xiaomi generally has a stronger track record for long-term updates. However, this can change with future software policies.