Xiaomi 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: The Ultimate Flagship Showdown

The Xiaomi 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra represent the pinnacle of smartphone technology, each boasting impressive features and performance. Choosing between them can be tough, so we've broken down every aspect to help you decide which flagship best suits your needs. This comprehensive comparison will cover everything from display quality to camera capabilities and battery life.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes the crown with its superior battery life, versatile camera system, and integrated S Pen. While the Xiaomi 12 Pro offers blazing-fast charging and a vibrant display, the S22 Ultra's overall package and software support make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12 Pro Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 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, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2021, December 282022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 31Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight204 g or 205 g (7.20 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 730Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm-
Triple50 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)-
Video8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 or 6e (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual Proximity SensingSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wireless45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Blue, Purple, GreenPhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
Models2201122C, 2201122GSM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
Price€ 317.40 / $ 349.99 / £ 364.66 / ₹ 41,999€ 397.07 / $ 269.98 / £ 304.99 / ₹ 63,899
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     1.05 W/kg (body)1.18 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)1.05 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 74h Endurance rating 108h
Camera Photo / VideoPhoto / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -29.5 LUFS (Average) -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 985226 (v9) GeekBench: 3682 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)AnTuTu: 968359 (v9) GeekBench: 3657 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Excellent performance
  • Compact and premium design
  • Competitive price (compared to S22 Ultra)

  • Shorter battery life
  • Less versatile camera system
  • Software support may not be as long-lasting as Samsung's

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Versatile and powerful camera system with incredible zoom
  • Integrated S Pen for productivity
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Long-term software support

  • Higher price
  • Larger and heavier design
  • Charging speed is slower than Xiaomi 12 Pro (Exynos variant can have thermal throttling)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature stunning displays. The S22 Ultra edges out the 12 Pro with a slightly higher peak brightness (1266 nits vs 1050 nits), resulting in better outdoor visibility. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal) and vibrant colors. The S22 Ultra's larger size also provides more screen real estate.

Camera Comparison

The S22 Ultra's camera system is significantly more versatile, featuring a 108MP main sensor, ultrawide, 3x telephoto, and a groundbreaking 10x periscope telephoto lens. It excels in zoom capabilities and low-light photography. The Xiaomi 12 Pro's camera is still excellent, but lacks the S22 Ultra's zoom range and overall versatility. Video recording is strong on both devices.

Performance

The Xiaomi 12 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 delivers exceptional performance, particularly in gaming. However, the S22 Ultra, depending on the region (Exynos or Snapdragon), offers competitive performance. The Snapdragon variant of the S22 Ultra is generally considered to have a slight edge in sustained performance due to better thermal management. Both phones handle demanding tasks with ease.

Battery Life

The S22 Ultra boasts a significantly larger battery and superior battery optimization, resulting in a much longer endurance rating (108h vs 74h). While the Xiaomi 12 Pro's 120W charging is incredibly fast, the S22 Ultra's longer battery life ultimately provides a better user experience.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 12 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging, a bright display, and a more compact form factor. It's a great option for those who value raw performance and don't need the extra features of a larger device. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is perfect for power users who demand a long-lasting battery, a versatile camera system with incredible zoom capabilities, and the productivity benefits of the S Pen. It's a premium all-rounder.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better video recording?
Both phones record excellent video, but the S22 Ultra offers more advanced features and stabilization.
❓ Is the S Pen worth it?
If you value productivity and note-taking, the S Pen is a significant advantage of the S22 Ultra.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
The S22 Ultra generally offers better durability with Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an IP68 rating.
❓ Does the Exynos version of the S22 Ultra perform as well as the Snapdragon version?
The Snapdragon version generally performs better and manages heat more effectively than the Exynos version.