Xiaomi 12T Pro vs. Realme 9 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Performance and Battery Life

Both the Xiaomi 12T Pro and Realme 9 Pro+ aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag. However, they take distinctly different approaches. The Xiaomi 12T Pro prioritizes raw performance and incredibly fast charging, while the Realme 9 Pro+ focuses on a balanced experience with a strong emphasis on battery endurance. This comparison will dissect their key differences to help you choose the right phone for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing speed and convenience, the Xiaomi 12T Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and 120W charging are significantly faster than the Realme 9 Pro+'s Dimensity 920 and 60W charging. However, if maximizing battery life is paramount, the Realme 9 Pro+ offers a noticeable advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme 9 Pro+ Xiaomi 12T Pro
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
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 75 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2022, February 162022, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, February 21Available. Released 2022, October 06
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back-
Dimensions160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight182 g (6.42 oz)205 g (7.23 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G68 MC4Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)200 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.22", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.47", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -Tuned by Harman Kardon 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
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-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min120W wired, 100% in 19 min
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited EditionBlack, Silver, Blue
ModelsRMX3392, RMX339322081212UG, 22081212G
Price£ 493.68$ 208.76 / € 167.62
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     0.73 W/kg (body)1.08 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.00 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 91h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 1032185 (v9) GeekBench: 4081 (v5.1) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme 9 Pro+

  • Superior battery life (117h endurance)
  • More affordable price point (likely)
  • Balanced feature set

  • Slower charging speed (60W)
  • Less powerful chipset (Dimensity 920)

Xiaomi 12T Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging (19 min to full)
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Brighter display (913 nits)

  • Shorter battery life (91h endurance)
  • Potentially higher price

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 12T Pro’s display is a clear standout with a measured peak brightness of 913 nits, significantly brighter than the Realme 9 Pro+'s 613 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both feature similar resolutions, the Xiaomi 12T Pro’s ‘Infinite’ (nominal) contrast ratio suggests a superior panel capable of deeper blacks. The Realme 9 Pro+ doesn’t specify contrast ratio, implying a standard IPS-like panel. The brighter display of the 12T Pro will be more enjoyable for media consumption and gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, given Xiaomi’s history of camera innovation, the 12T Pro likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms. The Realme 9 Pro+ may focus on a more natural color profile, while the Xiaomi 12T Pro could lean towards more vibrant, social media-ready images. The absence of detailed camera specs makes this a tie, pending further testing.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 12T Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Realme 9 Pro+'s Dimensity 920 (6nm). The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 features a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.19 GHz, alongside Cortex-A710 performance cores, offering significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance. The 4nm process node also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. While the Dimensity 920 is capable, it will struggle to match the 12T Pro in demanding tasks. The Xiaomi 12T Pro is the better choice for gamers and power users.

Battery Life

The Realme 9 Pro+ boasts an endurance rating of 117 hours, while the Xiaomi 12T Pro manages 91 hours. This indicates the Realme 9 Pro+ offers significantly better battery life. However, the Xiaomi 12T Pro compensates with its blazing-fast 120W charging, achieving a full charge in just 19 minutes, compared to the Realme 9 Pro+'s 44 minutes with its 60W charging. This trade-off is crucial: the 12T Pro sacrifices some endurance for unparalleled charging speed, while the 9 Pro+ prioritizes longevity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you need a phone that will comfortably last a full day and beyond, even with moderate to heavy use, and you value a more balanced feature set. Buy the Xiaomi 12T Pro if you prioritize gaming performance, demand the fastest possible charging speeds, and are willing to trade some battery life for that extra power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Xiaomi 12T Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is known for its improved thermal efficiency compared to previous generations. While some heat generation is inevitable during intense gaming, the 4nm process node and Xiaomi's cooling solutions should mitigate significant throttling, allowing for sustained performance. However, prolonged, demanding games will still likely result in some temperature increase.
❓ How does the 60W charging on the Realme 9 Pro+ compare to other phones in its price range?
60W charging is relatively fast, but it's becoming increasingly common to see 65W or 80W charging in this price segment. While it takes 44 minutes to fully charge, it's still a respectable charging speed and faster than many competitors. The trade-off is the longer battery life, which may be more important to some users.
❓ Is the difference in display brightness between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
Yes, the 290-nit difference in peak brightness is quite noticeable, especially outdoors. The Xiaomi 12T Pro's brighter display will be significantly easier to see in direct sunlight, making it a better choice for users who spend a lot of time outdoors. Indoors, the difference is less pronounced, but the 12T Pro will still offer a more vibrant and punchy image.