Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G vs. Infinix Note 12i: A Detailed Comparison of Budget 5G Contenders

The sub-$250 smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Infinix Note 12i and Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G represent compelling options. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity and a modern feature set at an accessible price, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this, particularly in chipset choice and charging technology. This comparison dissects these differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, built on a more efficient 6nm process, offers a noticeable performance advantage and better thermal management compared to the Infinix Note 12i’s Helio G85. The significantly faster 67W charging further solidifies its position.

PHONES
Phone Names Infinix Note 12i Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G
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 - Global
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 401, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 411, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2022, May 112022, February 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, May 11Available. Released 2022, March 23
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions170.7 x 77.4 x 8.3 mm (6.72 x 3.05 x 0.33 in)164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)205 g (7.23 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90HzSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUMali-G52 MC2Adreno 619
OSAndroid 12, XOS 10.6Android 11, MIUI 13 for POCO
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesQuad-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single8 MP16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.64µm, PDAF Auxiliary lenses108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF - Global version 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF - India version 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video1440p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flashHDR, panorama
Single8 MP16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
BluetoothYes5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 70% in 22 min, 100% in 41 min
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsForce Black, SnowfallLaser Black, Laser Blue, Poco Yellow
ModelsX68192201116PG
PriceAbout 170 EUR€ 160.40 / $ 419.99 / £ 255.00 / ₹ 12,940
SAR-1.06 W/kg (head)     1.09 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.60 W/kg (head)     0.96 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.8 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 335353 (v8), 384646 (v9) GeekBench: 2063 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Infinix Note 12i

  • Lower upfront cost
  • Decent performance for basic tasks
  • Acceptable battery life

  • Less efficient Helio G85 chipset
  • Slower 33W charging
  • Potentially lower camera quality

Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G

  • More efficient Snapdragon 695 5G chipset
  • Significantly faster 67W charging
  • Likely better camera performance

  • Higher price point
  • May not offer substantial gaming improvements for casual users
  • Similar battery endurance to the Note 12i

Display Comparison

Both devices share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting typical IPS LCD characteristics. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given the Poco X4 Pro 5G’s positioning, it likely benefits from a slightly more refined panel. The absence of high refresh rate information on either device suggests a standard 60Hz experience, which is common in this price bracket. Bezels are likely comparable, focusing on maximizing screen real estate within their respective budgets.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specific details are lacking. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the market positioning suggests the Poco X4 Pro 5G likely incorporates a more capable primary sensor. The inclusion of features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) – common in Poco’s mid-range offerings – would further differentiate it. The 2MP macro cameras often found on both devices are generally of limited utility, offering minimal detail and image quality.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Poco X4 Pro 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) boasts a more modern architecture and a smaller fabrication process than the Infinix Note 12i’s MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm). This translates to improved power efficiency and sustained performance. The Snapdragon 695’s Kryo 660 Gold cores, clocked at 2.2 GHz, offer a slight clock speed advantage over the Helio G85’s Cortex-A75 cores (2.0 GHz). While both are octa-core CPUs, the Snapdragon’s architecture and process node provide a clear edge in demanding tasks and gaming. The 6nm process also means less heat generation, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during extended use.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 119 hours, indicating similar overall battery life under typical usage. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Poco X4 Pro 5G’s 67W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC3, is a significant advantage, achieving 70% charge in 22 minutes and 100% in 41 minutes. The Infinix Note 12i’s 33W charging is considerably slower. This means the Poco X4 Pro 5G can quickly top up its battery, minimizing downtime, even if the actual battery capacity isn’t significantly larger.

Buying Guide

Buy the Infinix Note 12i if you prioritize a lower upfront cost and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G if you value smoother multitasking, occasional gaming, faster charging speeds, and the benefits of a more power-efficient 5G chipset, even if it means spending a bit more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 695 in the Poco X4 Pro 5G get hot during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 695, built on a 6nm process, is generally more thermally efficient than the Helio G85. While it will get warm during extended gaming, it's less prone to significant throttling, maintaining a more consistent frame rate compared to the Infinix Note 12i.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Infinix Note 12i slow enough to be a major inconvenience?
Yes, the 33W charging is noticeably slower than the 67W charging on the Poco X4 Pro 5G. Expect significantly longer charging times, potentially requiring overnight charging to fully replenish the battery, especially with heavy usage.
❓ Will I notice a significant performance difference between the Helio G85 and Snapdragon 695 for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
For basic tasks, the difference will be subtle. However, the Snapdragon 695 will provide smoother multitasking and faster app loading times, especially when switching between multiple applications. The Helio G85 may exhibit occasional lag with numerous apps open.
❓ How does the 5G performance compare between the two devices?
Both devices support 5G, but the Snapdragon 695 generally offers more robust 5G connectivity and wider band support, potentially resulting in more stable and faster 5G speeds depending on your carrier and location.