Xiaomi 12 Pro vs Poco F5 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

Xiaomi continues to deliver impressive smartphones at various price points. The Xiaomi 12 Pro and the Poco F5 Pro both offer flagship-level features, but cater to slightly different audiences. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one is right for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco F5 Pro emerges as the overall winner, offering a more efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, longer battery life, and competitive features at a lower price. While the Xiaomi 12 Pro boasts faster wired charging, the F5 Pro's value proposition is hard to ignore.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12 Pro Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro
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, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
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, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China-
Launch
Announced2021, December 282023, May 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 31Available. Released 2023, May
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)162.8 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight204 g or 205 g (7.20 oz)204 g (7.20 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% 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+, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
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)64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
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, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR10+1080p@30/60fps
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
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE
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), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
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, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual Proximity Sensing-
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 50% in 15 min 30W wireless, 50% in 32 min
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Blue, Purple, GreenBlack, White
Models2201122C, 2201122G23013PC75G
Price€ 317.40 / $ 349.99 / £ 364.66 / ₹ 41,999$ 449.99 / € 241.85
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     1.05 W/kg (body)1.09 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)1.00 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 74h Endurance rating 99h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -29.5 LUFS (Average) -26.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 985226 (v9) GeekBench: 3682 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1057977 (v9) GeekBench: 4001 (v5.1), 4009 (v6) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12 Pro

  • Faster wired charging (120W)
  • Potentially slightly better image processing
  • Premium build quality

  • Less efficient chipset
  • Shorter battery life
  • Higher price

Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro

  • More efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Longer battery life (99h endurance)
  • Excellent value for money
  • Vibrant display

  • Slower wired charging (67W)
  • Potentially slightly less refined image processing

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent AMOLED displays with a peak brightness of around 1050-1059 nits, ensuring great visibility even in direct sunlight. The contrast ratio is listed as 'infinite' for both, indicating deep blacks and vibrant colors. While the difference in brightness is negligible, the Poco F5 Pro might offer slightly better color accuracy depending on calibration.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a complex area. Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the Xiaomi 12 Pro generally has a reputation for slightly better image processing and dynamic range, particularly in well-lit conditions. The Poco F5 Pro's camera is still very capable, offering good detail and vibrant colors. Low-light performance is likely comparable. Video recording capabilities are similar on both devices.

Performance

The Poco F5 Pro holds a significant advantage here. It's powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, a more efficient and powerful chipset than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12 Pro. This translates to smoother performance in demanding games and applications, and better overall power efficiency. Both phones have ample RAM and storage, ensuring a responsive user experience.

Battery Life

The Poco F5 Pro clearly wins in the battery department. Its endurance rating of 99h significantly surpasses the Xiaomi 12 Pro's 74h. This means the F5 Pro will comfortably last a full day, even with heavy usage. While the 12 Pro has faster wired charging (120W vs 67W), the F5 Pro's larger battery capacity provides a longer overall usage time.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi 12 Pro? Users prioritizing ultra-fast wired charging and potentially a slightly more refined software experience (though both are MIUI-based) might lean towards the 12 Pro. Who should buy the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro? Budget-conscious buyers seeking flagship performance, excellent battery life, and a vibrant display will find the F5 Pro a compelling choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Poco F5 Pro worth buying over the Xiaomi 12 Pro?
For most users, the Poco F5 Pro offers a better value proposition due to its superior performance, longer battery life, and lower price. The Xiaomi 12 Pro's faster charging might be a deciding factor for some, but the F5 Pro's overall package is more compelling.
❓ What is the difference between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1?
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a refined version of the 8 Gen 1, offering improved performance and significantly better power efficiency. It's built on a slightly optimized process and features clock speed improvements, resulting in a cooler and more responsive experience.