Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. Today, we're pitting the budget-conscious vivo Y21e against the powerhouse Xiaomi 12 Pro. This comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses, helping you determine which device best suits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi 12 Pro utterly dominates in almost every category – performance, display, camera, and charging. However, its premium price tag makes the vivo Y21e a compelling option for those prioritizing affordability and basic functionality. It's a clear win for Xiaomi, but with a significant price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40 | 1, 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 bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, January 14 | 2021, December 28 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, January 14 | Available. Released 2021, December 31 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) | 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 182 g (6.42 oz) | 204 g or 205 g (7.20 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.51 inches, 102.3 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 11, Funtouch 12 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | LED flash | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/1.9, 48mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom
50 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR10+ |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Tuned by Harman Kardon |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, 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+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, 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 or 6e (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| | - | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired
2.5W reverse wired | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min
50W wireless, 100% in 42 min
10W reverse wireless |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4600 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Blue, Diamond Glow | Gray, Blue, Purple, Green |
| Models | V2140 | 2201122C, 2201122G |
| Price | About 150 EUR | € 317.40 / $ 349.99 / £ 364.66 / ₹ 41,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 74h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.5 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 985226 (v9)
GeekBench: 3682 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo Y21e
- Affordable
- Decent battery life
- Reverse wired charging
- Lower performance
- Basic camera
- Less vibrant display
Xiaomi 12 Pro
- Exceptional performance
- Stunning display
- Flagship camera
- Ultra-fast charging
- Expensive
- Can get warm under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 12 Pro boasts a stunning 1050 nits peak brightness and an infinite contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and exceptional clarity. The vivo Y21e's display is adequate for its price range but lacks the same level of visual fidelity. The Xiaomi's display is a clear winner.
Camera Comparison
The Xiaomi 12 Pro's camera system is significantly more advanced, offering superior image quality, more features, and better low-light performance. While the vivo Y21e's camera is capable, it can't compete with the Xiaomi's flagship-level capabilities. Xiaomi takes the camera crown.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12 Pro delivers blazing-fast performance, easily handling demanding games and multitasking. The vivo Y21e's Snapdragon 680 is sufficient for everyday tasks but struggles with more intensive applications. The Xiaomi 12 Pro's chipset is in a different league.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive endurance ratings (74h). However, the Xiaomi 12 Pro's 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging provide significantly faster charging speeds compared to the vivo Y21e's 18W wired charging and 2.5W reverse wired charging. Xiaomi wins on charging speed and convenience.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the vivo Y21e? Users on a tight budget who need a reliable phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Who should buy the Xiaomi 12 Pro? Power users, photography enthusiasts, and anyone who demands top-tier performance and features, regardless of price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the vivo Y21e good for gaming?
The vivo Y21e can handle casual games, but it will struggle with demanding titles. The Xiaomi 12 Pro is a much better choice for serious mobile gaming.
❓ How much does the Xiaomi 12 Pro cost?
The Xiaomi 12 Pro is a flagship phone and typically costs significantly more than the vivo Y21e, often in the $700 - $900 range depending on storage configuration and region.
