Xiaomi 12 Lite vs Xiaomi 12: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi 12 takes the crown with its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and faster charging, including wireless options. However, the Xiaomi 12 Lite offers a more budget-friendly option with a vibrant display and impressive battery life, making it a strong contender for value-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi 12 Lite | Xiaomi 12 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 | 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 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 09 | 2021, December 28 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 11 | Available. Released 2021, December 31 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 73.7 x 7.3 mm (6.27 x 2.90 x 0.29 in) | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 173 g (6.10 oz) | 179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 950 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.2 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Triple | 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) | 50 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 |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual Proximity Sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 50% in 13 min | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4300 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Lite Green, Lite Pink | Gray, Blue, Purple, Green |
| Models | 2203129G | 2201123G, 2201123C |
| Price | € 119.80 / $ 269.00 / £ 121.15 | $ 284.99 / € 149.99 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body) | 1.09 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.60 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | 0.60 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 100h | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 528905 (v9) GeekBench: 2943 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi 12 Lite
- Excellent battery life
- Stylish design
- Vibrant AMOLED display
- Fast 67W charging
- Good value for money
- Less powerful chipset
- No wireless charging
- Camera not as refined as the 12
Xiaomi 12
- Flagship performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
- Faster charging (wired & wireless)
- Premium build quality
- Slightly better camera
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
- Shorter battery life compared to the 12 Lite
- Higher price point
- Can get warm under heavy load
Display Comparison
Both phones boast vibrant displays with excellent contrast ratios. The Xiaomi 12 edges out the 12 Lite with a slightly higher peak brightness of 896 nits compared to 824 nits, resulting in better visibility in direct sunlight. Both utilize AMOLED technology, ensuring rich colors and deep blacks.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable camera systems, the Xiaomi 12 generally produces better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The 12's processing tends to be more refined, resulting in more detailed and vibrant photos. Both offer video recording capabilities, but the 12's hardware provides a slight edge in video quality and stabilization.
Performance
The Xiaomi 12's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a substantial upgrade over the 12 Lite's Snapdragon 778G. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a much better experience with demanding games. The 12 Lite is still capable, but the 12 offers a flagship-level performance.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 12 Lite surprisingly boasts a slightly better endurance rating (100h) compared to the Xiaomi 12 (82h). However, the Xiaomi 12's 67W wired charging is significantly faster, and the addition of 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging provides greater flexibility.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi 12 Lite is ideal for users prioritizing a stylish design, excellent battery life, and a smooth experience for everyday tasks and casual gaming. The Xiaomi 12 is for power users, gamers, and those who demand top-tier performance, faster charging, and a more premium feel.