Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 12T Pro: A Detailed Showdown

Xiaomi's flagship lineup continues to impress, but choosing between the Xiaomi 12 and the newer 12T Pro can be tricky. Both offer premium features, but cater to slightly different priorities. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which phone is the right fit for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12T Pro emerges as the clear winner thanks to its significantly faster charging, improved chipset, and slightly better battery endurance. However, the Xiaomi 12 remains a compelling option, especially if you prioritize a more compact design and a slightly more refined overall experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12 Xiaomi 12T 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, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 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, 66, 77, 78, 75 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China-
Launch
Announced2021, December 282022, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 31Available. Released 2022, October 06
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame-
Dimensions152.7 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)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz)205 g (7.23 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)
Size6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 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 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
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), 0.7µm-
Triple50 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), AF200 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.22", 0.64µm, 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, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.47", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR1080p@30/60fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman KardonTuned by Harman Kardon 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual Proximity Sensing-
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless120W wired, 100% in 19 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Blue, Purple, GreenBlack, Silver, Blue
Models2201123G, 2201123C22081212UG, 22081212G
Price$ 284.99 / € 149.99$ 208.76 / € 167.62
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     0.91 W/kg (body)1.08 W/kg (head)     1.07 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 82h Endurance rating 91h
Camera Photo / VideoPhoto / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.3 LUFS (Very good) -24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)AnTuTu: 1032185 (v9) GeekBench: 4081 (v5.1) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12

  • Compact and premium design
  • Excellent display
  • Good overall performance
  • Solid camera system

  • Slower charging speed
  • Older chipset
  • Slightly lower battery endurance

Xiaomi 12T Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Improved Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Slightly better battery life
  • High peak brightness display

  • Potentially larger and less ergonomic design
  • Camera improvements may be marginal

Display Comparison

Both phones boast excellent displays with infinite contrast ratios. The 12T Pro edges ahead with a slightly higher peak brightness of 913 nits compared to the 12's 896 nits, resulting in marginally better outdoor visibility. Both offer vibrant colors and smooth scrolling thanks to their high refresh rates (likely 120Hz, though not explicitly stated in the provided data).

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a complex topic. Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the 12T Pro likely benefits from software optimizations and potentially a larger sensor on its main camera (based on general knowledge of the models). Expect similar image quality in good lighting conditions, but the 12T Pro might offer better low-light performance. Video capabilities are likely comparable.

Performance

The Xiaomi 12T Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a substantial upgrade over the 12's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The 8+ Gen 1 offers improved efficiency and performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster gaming, and better overall responsiveness. While both are powerful, the 12T Pro has a clear advantage here.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12T Pro holds a slight advantage in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 91h compared to the 12's 82h. However, the real difference lies in charging speed. The 12T Pro's 120W wired charging is revolutionary, fully charging the phone in just 19 minutes, while the 12 takes 39 minutes with its 67W charging. The 12T Pro also offers 50W wireless charging versus the 12's 10W.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi 12? Users seeking a more compact flagship with a premium feel and a well-rounded experience. Who should buy the Xiaomi 12T Pro? Power users and those who prioritize blazing-fast charging and top-tier performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 significantly better than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers improved performance and efficiency compared to the 8 Gen 1, resulting in smoother operation and better battery life.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi 12T Pro is the better choice for gaming due to its more powerful chipset and improved thermal management.