Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 12T: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi 12T emerges as the clear winner thanks to its significantly faster charging, improved battery life, and competitive performance. While the Xiaomi 12 boasts a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the 12T's 120W charging and longer endurance make it a more practical choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi 12 | Xiaomi 12T |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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, 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, October 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 31 | Available. Released 2022, October 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in) | 163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density) | 1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 8100 Ultra (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Mali-G610 MC6 |
| OS | Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, MIUI 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm | - |
| 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/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 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@30/60/120/240fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.47", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR | 1080p@30/60fps, HDR |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| 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+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| 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, proximity, compass |
| Virtual Proximity Sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless | 120W wired, 100% in 19 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue, Purple, Green | Black, Silver, Blue |
| Models | 2201123G, 2201123C | 22071212AG |
| Price | $ 284.99 / € 149.99 | € 181.96 / £ 283.32 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body) | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.60 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 82h | Endurance rating 104h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) | -25.0 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 780204 (v9) GeekBench: 3756 (v5.1) |
Xiaomi 12
- Compact design
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
- Refined image processing (potentially)
- Shorter battery life
- Slower charging speed
- Can run hotter under load
Xiaomi 12T
- Exceptional battery life
- Blazing-fast 120W charging
- Excellent value for money
- Good performance with Dimensity 8100 Ultra
- Potentially less refined camera processing
- Larger size compared to the 12
Display Comparison
Both phones feature excellent AMOLED displays with vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Xiaomi 12T edges out the 12 with a slightly higher peak brightness of 954 nits compared to the 12's 896 nits, making it a bit easier to see in direct sunlight. Both have a nominal infinite contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels. Resolution is likely similar (FHD+), and refresh rates are likely 120Hz on both.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a complex area. The Xiaomi 12 likely has a more refined image processing pipeline due to its longer presence in the market. Both phones feature versatile camera systems with main, ultrawide, and potentially telephoto lenses. Expect good image quality in well-lit conditions from both, but low-light performance might vary. Video recording capabilities are likely comparable, supporting 4K at various frame rates.
Performance
The Xiaomi 12 utilizes the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, known for its raw processing power. However, the Dimensity 8100 Ultra in the 12T is no slouch, offering excellent performance and efficiency. While the Snapdragon might have a slight edge in certain demanding tasks, the Dimensity 8100 Ultra provides a smoother, more consistent experience in everyday use, and generally better thermal management. Both phones offer ample RAM and storage options.
Battery Life
This is where the Xiaomi 12T truly shines. Its endurance rating of 104h significantly surpasses the Xiaomi 12's 82h. Coupled with its incredible 120W wired charging (fully charging in just 19 minutes), the 12T offers a vastly superior battery experience. The Xiaomi 12's 67W charging is still fast, but not nearly as impressive.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Xiaomi 12? Users prioritizing a slightly more compact design and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1's raw power, even if it means sacrificing battery life and charging speed. Who should buy the Xiaomi 12T? Those seeking exceptional value, blazing-fast charging, and extended battery life without breaking the bank.