Comparing the Xiaomi 12S Ultra to the O2 XDA Trion isn't about choosing between competitors; it's about witnessing the evolution of mobile technology. The Trion, representing an earlier generation of smartphone design, contrasts sharply with the 12S Ultra’s modern features and processing power. This comparison highlights the dramatic advancements made in the intervening years, and who might still find value in the older device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the vast majority of users, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, rapid 67W charging, and high-brightness display offer a user experience the O2 XDA Trion simply cannot match. The Trion’s value lies solely in niche historical interest or specific legacy software needs.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | UMTS 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | Yes, 384 kbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / UMTS | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2006, May | 2022, July 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, July 09 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 113 x 58 x 22 mm (4.45 x 2.28 x 0.87 in) | 163.2 x 75 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.36 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 160 g (5.64 oz) | 225 g (7.94 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~143 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.8 inches, 42 x 57 mm, 24.3 cm2 (~37.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colors | LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) |
| | Handwriting recognition
| - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 400 MHz Samsung | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSD (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 2 MP | 32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Triple | - | 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 | Yes | 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, panorama |
| Single | QCIF videocall camera | 32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Tuned by Harman Kardon |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.0 | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Proprietary | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE) | - |
| Sensors | - | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| | Pocket Office
Voice memo
MP3/AAC player | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 41 min
50W wireless, 100% in 52 min
10W reverse wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 300 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 5 h | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1350 mAh battery | Li-Po 4860 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver | Black, Dark Green |
| Models | - | 2203121C |
| Price | About 360 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) |
O2 XDA Trion
- Historical significance and collector's value
- Runs legacy Windows Mobile applications
- Potentially simpler user interface for specific tasks
- Extremely limited processing power
- Outdated display technology
- Poor camera performance
- Limited battery life and slow charging
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
- Exceptional performance with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- Fast 67W wired and 50W wireless charging
- High-brightness, high-contrast display
- Excellent battery life (93h endurance)
- Modern camera system
- May be more expensive than older devices
- Requires software updates for security
- Potentially larger and heavier than older devices
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra boasts a significantly more advanced display, achieving a measured peak brightness of 1065 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a feature entirely absent from the O2 XDA Trion’s specifications. While the Trion’s display details are unavailable, it’s safe to assume it lacks the color accuracy and contrast ratio (infinite, nominal on the 12S Ultra) of a modern panel. The 12S Ultra’s display technology likely incorporates features like LTPO for variable refresh rates, further enhancing efficiency and smoothness, a feature unavailable on the older device.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but the Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s camera system is on a different level. While specific sensor details are missing, the 12S Ultra benefits from modern image processing algorithms and likely a much larger sensor size. The O2 XDA Trion’s camera, given its age, will produce significantly lower-resolution images with limited dynamic range and poor low-light performance. The 12S Ultra’s advanced features, such as optical image stabilization (OIS), are also absent on the Trion.
Performance
The performance disparity is immense. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is an octa-core powerhouse, featuring a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.19 GHz, alongside Cortex-A710 and A510 cores. This architecture delivers substantial processing power for demanding applications and gaming. In contrast, the O2 XDA Trion’s 400 MHz Samsung processor is severely limited by today’s standards. The 4nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 also provides superior thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads. The Trion’s older architecture will struggle with even basic tasks.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s endurance rating of 93 hours indicates excellent battery life, supported by its efficient Snapdragon chipset and optimized software. Furthermore, its charging capabilities are revolutionary compared to the Trion. 67W wired charging (PD3.0, QC4) delivers a full charge in just 41 minutes, while 50W wireless charging takes 52 minutes. The inclusion of 10W reverse wireless charging adds further convenience. The O2 XDA Trion’s battery capacity and charging speed are unknown, but are almost certainly far inferior, requiring significantly longer charging times and offering limited runtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the O2 XDA Trion if you require a device running a specific legacy Windows Mobile application, or are a collector of early smartphone technology. Its limited capabilities are offset by its historical significance. Buy the Xiaomi 12S Ultra if you prioritize performance, camera quality, battery life, and modern connectivity. It’s designed for everyday use, demanding tasks, and content creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can the Xiaomi 12S Ultra handle demanding mobile games like Genshin Impact at high settings?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is more than capable of running Genshin Impact and other graphically intensive games at high settings. The 4nm process and advanced cooling solutions help prevent throttling, ensuring consistent performance during extended gaming sessions.
❓ Is the O2 XDA Trion still usable for basic tasks like making calls and sending texts?
While technically possible, using the O2 XDA Trion for basic tasks will be a frustrating experience. Its slow processor and outdated operating system will result in significant lag and limited functionality. Modern apps are unlikely to be compatible, and network compatibility may also be an issue.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 12S Ultra support 5G connectivity?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 includes an integrated 5G modem, allowing the Xiaomi 12S Ultra to connect to 5G networks where available. This provides significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to older 4G networks.
