Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) vs Xiaomi 12: A Detailed Showdown

Xiaomi's flagship lineup often presents compelling choices, and the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) and Xiaomi 12 are no exception. Both offer premium features and impressive specs, but cater to slightly different user needs. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which phone is the right fit for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) generally edges out the Xiaomi 12 thanks to its superior chipset and potentially better camera capabilities. However, the Xiaomi 12 boasts faster wired and wireless charging and a slightly more compact design, making it a strong contender for those prioritizing those features.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) Xiaomi 12
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 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 bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2022, July 042021, December 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 13Available. Released 2021, December 31
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight201 g (7.09 oz)179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.20 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF50 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
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (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-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 or 6e (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual Proximity Sensing
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC467W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5160 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, BlueGray, Blue, Purple, Green
Models2207122MC2201123G, 2201123C
PriceAbout 570 EUR$ 284.99 / € 149.99
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     0.91 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 82h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)

  • Superior Chipset (Dimensity 9000+)
  • Potentially Better Camera
  • Premium Build Quality
  • Likely better sustained performance

  • Potentially larger size
  • Charging speeds not as fast as Xiaomi 12
  • Price may be higher

Xiaomi 12

  • Faster Wired & Wireless Charging
  • More Compact Design
  • Excellent Battery Life (82h endurance)
  • Generally more affordable

  • Slightly less powerful chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
  • Potentially less advanced camera
  • May throttle under heavy load

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent AMOLED displays with vibrant colors and smooth 120Hz refresh rates. The Xiaomi 12 has a measured peak brightness of 896 nits, while the 12 Pro's brightness is likely comparable, though not explicitly stated. The Xiaomi 12's 'infinite' contrast ratio is a nominal value, but suggests excellent blacks. Overall, display quality is very close, with a slight edge to the Xiaomi 12 due to the brightness measurement.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the 12 Pro is expected to have a slight edge due to its potentially larger sensor sizes and more advanced image processing capabilities. The Xiaomi 12's camera is still excellent, capturing detailed photos and videos. Specific camera specs are missing, making a definitive comparison difficult, but the 12 Pro is generally considered to have a more advanced camera system.

Performance

The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) holds a clear advantage here. The Dimensity 9000+ is a powerhouse, generally outperforming the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in sustained performance and efficiency. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is still very capable, it's known to throttle under heavy load. Gamers and power users will appreciate the 12 Pro's consistent performance.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 82h, suggesting excellent battery life. While the 12 Pro's battery capacity isn't explicitly stated, it's likely comparable. The Xiaomi 12 also has significantly faster charging speeds, both wired and wireless, which is a major advantage.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)? Users seeking top-tier performance, a potentially better camera system, and don't mind a slightly larger device. Who should buy the Xiaomi 12? Those prioritizing faster charging speeds, a more compact form factor, and a slightly more affordable price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Dimensity 9000+ better than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1?
Generally, yes. The Dimensity 9000+ often demonstrates better sustained performance and efficiency, especially under heavy load, compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) is likely the better choice for gaming due to its more powerful and efficient chipset, which will result in more consistent frame rates and less throttling.