Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 12 Lite: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Xiaomi's 12 series offers compelling options, but deciding between the flagship 12 and the more budget-friendly 12 Lite can be tricky. Both phones boast sleek designs and impressive features, but cater to different user needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you make the right choice.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12 offers superior performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, while the 12 Lite shines with longer battery life and a more attractive price. If raw power is your priority, the 12 wins. For everyday use and extended battery, the 12 Lite is the better pick.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi 12	Xiaomi 12 Lite

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China	-

Launch
Announced	2021, December 28	2022, July 09
Status	Available. Released 2021, December 31	Available. Released 2022, July 11

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions	152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in)	159.3 x 73.7 x 7.3 mm (6.27 x 2.90 x 0.29 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz)	173 g (6.10 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size	6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 950 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Adreno 642L
OS	Android 12, MIUI 13	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Features	Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm	32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF
Triple	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	108 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)
Video	8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR, panorama
Single	32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm	32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF
Video	1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR	1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with dual speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 or 6e (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
	Virtual Proximity Sensing	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 50% in 13 min
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4300 mAh

Misc
Colors	Gray, Blue, Purple, Green	Black, Lite Green, Lite Pink
Models	2201123G, 2201123C	2203129G
Price	$ 284.99 / € 149.99	€ 119.80 / $ 269.00 / £ 121.15
SAR	1.09 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body)	1.09 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.60 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)	0.60 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 82h	Endurance rating 100h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-25.3 LUFS (Very good)	-25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 528905 (v9) GeekBench: 2943 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
Brighter Display
Potentially Higher Refresh Rate
Generally Better Camera System

Shorter Battery Life
Higher Price
Can run hotter under load

Xiaomi 12 Lite

Longer Battery Life
More Affordable
Stylish Design
Fast Charging

Less Powerful Processor
Dimmer Display
Potentially Lower Refresh Rate
Less Advanced Camera

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 12 boasts a slightly brighter display at 896 nits compared to the 12 Lite's 824 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (Infinite, nominally), resulting in vibrant colors and deep blacks. However, the 12 often features a higher refresh rate (typically 120Hz) for smoother scrolling and animations, a feature often absent in the Lite model. The 12 Lite's display is still very good, but the 12 has a slight edge.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Xiaomi 12 generally has a more advanced setup. While both have Photo/Video capabilities, the 12 often features larger sensors and more sophisticated image processing algorithms, resulting in better low-light performance and more detailed photos. The 12 Lite's camera is still very good for everyday photography, but the 12 offers a noticeable upgrade.

Performance

This is where the Xiaomi 12 truly shines. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset provides significantly faster processing speeds and better graphics performance than the 12 Lite's Snapdragon 778G 5G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more enjoyable gaming experience on the 12. The 12 Lite is still capable, but it won't handle demanding tasks as effortlessly.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12 Lite takes the lead in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 100 hours compared to the Xiaomi 12's 82 hours. While both support fast charging (67W wired), the 12 Lite's larger battery capacity provides more runtime between charges. This is a significant advantage for users who prioritize all-day battery life.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 12 is ideal for power users, gamers, and those who demand the best performance and camera capabilities. The Xiaomi 12 Lite is perfect for budget-conscious buyers, students, and anyone prioritizing battery life and a stylish design without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi 12 Lite worth buying if I'm on a budget?

Absolutely! The Xiaomi 12 Lite offers excellent value for money, providing a stylish design, long battery life, and a capable camera at a more affordable price point.

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?

The Xiaomi 12 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. It will handle demanding games with higher frame rates and smoother performance.