Motorola Edge X30 vs Xiaomi 12: A Clash of Flagship Titans

Both the Motorola Edge X30 and the Xiaomi 12 pack the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, promising blazing-fast performance. But beyond the shared silicon, these phones offer distinct experiences. This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features to help you decide which one deserves your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12 edges out the Edge X30 thanks to its superior display, faster wireless charging, and generally more polished software experience. However, the Edge X30 offers excellent value with its competitive price and impressive charging speed. It's a close call, but Xiaomi takes the crown.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge X30 Xiaomi 12
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2021, December 092021, December 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 15Available. Released 2021, December 31
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5)Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.6 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.44 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight194 g (6.84 oz)179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz)
 Water-repellent design-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 700 nits (HBM)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, MYUI 3.0Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm or 60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm, under display32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 or 6e (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 Ready For supportVirtual Proximity Sensing
Battery
Charging68W wired, 100% in 35 min67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5000 mAh (regular version)· Li-Po 4800 mAh (under screen camera version)Li-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsWhite, BlackGray, Blue, Purple, Green
ModelsXT2201-2, XT2201-62201123G, 2201123C
PriceAbout 420 EUR$ 284.99 / € 149.99
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     0.91 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 82h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge X30

  • Excellent value for money
  • Blazing-fast 68W wired charging
  • Clean Android experience
  • Competitive performance

  • Less bright display than Xiaomi 12
  • No wireless charging
  • Camera not as versatile as Xiaomi 12
  • Potential thermal throttling

Xiaomi 12

  • Brighter and higher-quality display
  • Versatile camera system
  • 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
  • Refined software experience
  • Excellent battery life

  • Higher price than Edge X30
  • Potential for software bloat (depending on region)
  • Thermal throttling possible

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 12 boasts a significantly brighter display (896 nits vs. Edge X30's estimated 700-800 nits) and an 'infinite' contrast ratio, resulting in more vibrant colors and deeper blacks. While the Edge X30's display is good, the Xiaomi 12's is noticeably superior. Both offer smooth 120Hz refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 12 generally has a more versatile camera system, likely featuring a higher-resolution primary sensor and potentially improved image processing. While the Edge X30's camera is capable, the Xiaomi 12 is expected to deliver better overall image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Both offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both phones share the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, so expect similar performance in most tasks. However, Xiaomi's software optimization might lead to slightly more consistent performance under sustained load. Thermals could be a factor on both, as the 8 Gen 1 is known to run hot.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12 claims an impressive endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Edge X30's battery life is likely good, but not quite as exceptional. The Xiaomi 12 also offers 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Edge X30.

Buying Guide

The Motorola Edge X30 is ideal for users prioritizing value and fast-wired charging. It's a great choice for those who want flagship performance without breaking the bank. The Xiaomi 12 is better suited for users who demand a premium display, versatile charging options (including wireless), and a more refined software experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset good?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a flagship-level chipset offering excellent performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications. However, it's known to run hot under sustained load.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Xiaomi generally offers more frequent software updates and features, although this can vary by region. Motorola's software is cleaner but may receive updates less frequently.