Xiaomi 12 Lite vs. Poco F4: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Xiaomi offers a plethora of smartphones, and the 12 Lite and Poco F4 are two compelling mid-range options. Both boast attractive designs and competitive features, but cater to slightly different users. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right choice.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco F4 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset and brighter display. While the 12 Lite offers a sleek design and good value, the F4's performance advantage makes it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12 Lite Xiaomi Poco F4
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2022, July 092022, June 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 11Available. Released 2022, June 27
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back
Dimensions159.3 x 73.7 x 7.3 mm (6.27 x 2.90 x 0.29 in)163.2 x 76 x 7.7 mm (6.43 x 2.99 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight173 g (6.10 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 950 nits (peak)AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 650
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14.2 for POCO
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF-
Triple108 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)64 MP, f/1.8, (wide) 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panorama-
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+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-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 50% in 13 min67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 38 min
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Lite Green, Lite PinkMoonlight Silver, Night Black, Nebula Green
Models2203129G22021211RG, 22021211RI
Price€ 119.80 / $ 269.00 / £ 121.15₹ 16,999
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     0.73 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 100h Endurance rating 101h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.2 LUFS (Very good) -26.1 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 528905 (v9) GeekBench: 2943 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 590961 (v8), 698586 (v9) GeekBench: 3190 (v5.1) GFXBench: 49fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12 Lite

  • Sleek and stylish design
  • Compact form factor
  • Good value for money
  • Smooth everyday performance

  • Less powerful chipset
  • Lower peak brightness display
  • Slower charging

Xiaomi Poco F4

  • Powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset
  • Brighter display
  • Faster charging
  • Excellent gaming performance

  • Design less refined than 12 Lite
  • Potentially larger size

Display Comparison

The Poco F4 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1003 nits compared to the 12 Lite's 824 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the F4's higher brightness makes it more visible in direct sunlight. Both utilize AMOLED panels, ensuring vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. Generally, the Poco F4 is expected to offer slightly better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, due to its more powerful processor assisting image processing. Both likely feature similar primary sensor resolutions, but the F4's processing advantage gives it an edge.

Performance

Here's where the Poco F4 truly shines. Its Snapdragon 870 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the 12 Lite's Snapdragon 778G. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance on the F4. The 870 is a flagship-level chip from a previous generation, still holding up exceptionally well.

Battery Life

Both devices offer very similar battery endurance ratings (100h vs 101h), suggesting comparable real-world battery life. The Poco F4's faster charging (100% in 38 minutes vs 50% in 13 minutes for the 12 Lite) is a significant advantage, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 12 Lite is ideal for users prioritizing a stylish design, a smooth user experience for everyday tasks, and a slightly more compact form factor. The Xiaomi Poco F4 is perfect for gamers, power users, and those who demand top-tier performance in a mid-range price bracket.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi 12 Lite good for gaming?
It's decent for casual gaming, but the Poco F4 offers a significantly better gaming experience due to its more powerful processor and better cooling.
❓ Which phone has better camera quality?
While both have capable cameras, the Poco F4 is expected to deliver slightly better image quality, especially in low light, thanks to its more powerful chipset assisting image processing.