Xiaomi 12 Lite vs vivo V23e 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Contenders

The Xiaomi 12 Lite and vivo V23e 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. Both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, but they take different approaches. The Xiaomi 12 Lite leans on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G for performance, while the vivo V23e 5G opts for MediaTek’s Dimensity 810. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi 12 Lite emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset provides a noticeable performance edge, particularly in sustained workloads, and its 67W charging significantly reduces downtime. While the V23e 5G offers respectable performance, the 12 Lite’s overall package is more compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo V23e 5G	Xiaomi 12 Lite

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	CDMA 800	-

Launch
Announced	2021, November 23	2022, July 09
Status	Available. Released 2021, December 01	Available. Released 2022, July 11

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions	160.9 x 74.3 x 7.4 mm (6.33 x 2.93 x 0.29 in)	159.3 x 73.7 x 7.3 mm (6.27 x 2.90 x 0.29 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	172 g (6.07 oz)	173 g (6.10 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size	6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED	AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 950 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Adreno 642L
OS	Android 11, Funtouch 12	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	44 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF	32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)	108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	44 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF	32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with dual speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	44W wired, 69% in 30 min	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 50% in 13 min
Type	4050 mAh	Li-Po 4300 mAh

Misc
Colors	Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Gold), Moonlight Shadow (Midnight Blue)	Black, Lite Green, Lite Pink
Models	V2126	2203129G
Price	About 350 EUR	€ 119.80 / $ 269.00 / £ 121.15
SAR	-	1.09 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.60 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 100h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 528905 (v9) GeekBench: 2943 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo V23e 5G

Faster Snapdragon 778G processor
Significantly faster 67W charging
Brighter and more vibrant display

Potentially higher price point
Design may be less distinctive

Xiaomi 12 Lite

Potentially lighter and more compact design
Competitive price
Respectable performance for everyday tasks

Slower Dimensity 810 processor
Slower 44W charging
Display likely less bright

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 12 Lite boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 824 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the V23e 5G. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels (based on market segment), the 12 Lite’s higher brightness and infinite contrast ratio suggest a more visually immersive experience. The absence of refresh rate data for the V23e 5G puts the 12 Lite ahead, assuming it offers a standard 120Hz panel common in this price bracket.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the V23e 5G. The Xiaomi 12 Lite likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP), known for its excellent dynamic range and noise reduction. Without specific details on the V23e 5G’s main sensor size and aperture, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the 12 Lite’s likely larger sensor and more advanced ISP will result in better low-light performance and overall image quality. We can assume both phones include standard features like portrait mode and night mode, but the 12 Lite’s processing will likely be more refined.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 12 Lite’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) features a 1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core, complemented by 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. This configuration, built on a more refined architecture than the vivo V23e 5G’s Dimensity 810, delivers superior multi-core and single-core performance. The Dimensity 810 (6nm) uses 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. While both are 6nm chips, the Snapdragon 778G’s core design and Adreno 642L GPU provide a more substantial boost for gaming and graphically intensive applications. The 12 Lite is likely to exhibit less throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

Both devices share an endurance rating of 100 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Xiaomi 12 Lite’s 67W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC4, can replenish 50% of the battery in just 13 minutes. The vivo V23e 5G’s 44W charging takes 30 minutes to reach 69%. This significant difference in charging speed gives the 12 Lite a clear advantage for users who prioritize minimizing downtime. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging of the 12 Lite effectively mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo V23e 5G if you prioritize a lighter design and are primarily focused on everyday tasks like social media, browsing, and casual photography. Buy the Xiaomi 12 Lite if you value smoother performance for gaming and demanding apps, faster charging speeds, and a brighter, more vibrant display. The 12 Lite is the better option for power users and those who frequently multitask.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G in the Xiaomi 12 Lite handle demanding games like Genshin Impact well?

Yes, the Snapdragon 778G is a capable chipset for gaming. While it won't deliver flagship-level performance, it can run Genshin Impact at medium settings with stable frame rates. The improved thermal management compared to the Dimensity 810 also helps prevent throttling during extended gaming sessions.

❓ How does the 67W charging on the Xiaomi 12 Lite compare to standard fast charging?

67W charging is significantly faster than typical fast charging solutions. It can replenish a substantial portion of the battery in a very short time – 50% in just 13 minutes. This is a major convenience for users who are always on the go and need to quickly top up their battery.

❓ Is the camera on the vivo V23e 5G good enough for casual social media use?

The vivo V23e 5G’s camera is likely sufficient for casual social media photography in good lighting conditions. However, the Xiaomi 12 Lite’s superior image processing and potentially larger sensor will deliver noticeably better results, especially in low-light scenarios.

❓ Does the Xiaomi 12 Lite support 5G connectivity on all networks?

The Xiaomi 12 Lite supports 5G connectivity, but compatibility depends on your carrier and region. It supports a wide range of 5G bands, but it’s essential to check with your carrier to ensure compatibility with their network.