Xiaomi 12 Pro vs Xiaomi 12: A Detailed Showdown

Xiaomi's 12 series brought some serious heat to the flagship market. Both the Xiaomi 12 Pro and the standard Xiaomi 12 offer premium features and impressive performance, but cater to slightly different needs. This comparison will break down the key differences to help you choose the right device for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12 Pro takes the crown for its significantly faster charging, brighter display, and slightly better overall performance due to potentially improved thermal management. However, the Xiaomi 12 offers longer battery life and a more compact design, making it a compelling choice for those prioritizing portability and endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12 Pro 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, 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, 42, 48, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 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
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2021, December 282021, December 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 31Available. Released 2021, December 31
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back, aluminum frameGlass 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
Weight204 g or 205 g (7.20 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)
TypeLTPO 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 (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 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 50 MP, f/1.9, 48mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide)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
Video8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, 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@120fps, HDR10+1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR
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 Kardon24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (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 or 6e (market dependent), 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, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 Virtual Proximity SensingVirtual Proximity Sensing
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Blue, Purple, GreenGray, Blue, Purple, Green
Models2201122C, 2201122G2201123G, 2201123C
Price€ 317.40 / $ 349.99 / £ 364.66 / ₹ 41,999$ 284.99 / € 149.99
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     1.05 W/kg (body)1.09 W/kg (head)     0.91 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 74h Endurance rating 82h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -29.5 LUFS (Average) -25.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 985226 (v9) GeekBench: 3682 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12 Pro

  • Faster 120W Charging
  • Brighter Display (1050 nits)
  • Potentially Better Thermal Management
  • Likely More Versatile Camera System

  • Shorter Battery Life (74h)
  • Larger Size
  • Potentially Higher Price

Xiaomi 12

  • Longer Battery Life (82h)
  • More Compact Design
  • Lower Price
  • Still Flagship Performance

  • Slower 67W Charging
  • Less Bright Display (896 nits)
  • Potentially Less Versatile Camera

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 12 Pro boasts a peak brightness of 1050 nits, significantly brighter than the Xiaomi 12's 896 nits. Both phones feature excellent contrast ratios (Infinite, nominally) and vibrant colors, but the Pro's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The Pro also likely has a slightly larger display, though exact dimensions should be verified.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer excellent camera systems, the Pro typically features a more versatile setup with potentially larger sensors and improved zoom capabilities. Expect slightly better image quality and more creative options from the Pro's camera system. Specific camera specs (sensor sizes, aperture) should be confirmed for a more precise comparison.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, ensuring flagship-level performance. However, the Pro's larger size allows for potentially better heat dissipation, which could translate to sustained performance during demanding tasks. Real-world performance differences are likely to be minimal for most users.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12 surprisingly edges out the Pro in battery endurance, achieving an 82h rating compared to the Pro's 74h. However, the Pro's 120W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in just 18 minutes, while the Xiaomi 12 takes 39 minutes with its 67W charging. Wireless charging speeds are similar.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 12 Pro is ideal for power users who demand the fastest charging speeds, a vibrant display for media consumption, and don't mind a slightly larger footprint. The Xiaomi 12 is perfect for users who value battery life, a more pocketable size, and still want flagship-level performance without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset good?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a flagship-level chipset offering excellent performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications. However, it has been known to have thermal throttling issues in some devices, which is something to consider.
❓ Which phone is better for photography?
The Xiaomi 12 Pro generally offers a more versatile camera system with potentially larger sensors and improved zoom capabilities, making it a better choice for photography enthusiasts. However, both phones capture excellent images in most conditions.