Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 12X: A Detailed Showdown

Xiaomi's 12 series offered compelling flagship options, but the standard 12 and the 12X presented distinct choices. Both boast premium designs and features, but their internal components differ significantly. This comprehensive comparison will help you determine which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12X offers superior battery life and a more efficient chipset, making it ideal for users prioritizing longevity. However, the Xiaomi 12 delivers raw power and potentially better camera performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Ultimately, the 12X provides better value.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12 Xiaomi 12X
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, 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 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 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 (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame-
Dimensions152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 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
Weight179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz)176 g (6.21 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)
Size6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 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 (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 650
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 11, 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, panoramaDual-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, 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), AF50 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, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 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, HDR1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, 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 Adaptive5.1 / 5.2, 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+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, Wi-Fi 6 (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass
 Virtual Proximity Sensing-
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Blue, Purple, GreenGray, Blue, Purple
Models2201123G, 2201123C2112123AC, 2112123AG
Price$ 284.99 / € 149.99About 180 EUR
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     0.91 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)0.59 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 82h Endurance rating 105h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.3 LUFS (Very good) -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 598003 (v8), 690298 (v9) GeekBench: 3168 (v5.1) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12

  • Superior Performance
  • Brighter Display
  • Potentially Better Camera

  • Shorter Battery Life
  • Potential for Overheating
  • Higher Price

Xiaomi 12X

  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Efficient Chipset
  • More Affordable
  • Compact Size

  • Lower Raw Performance
  • Slightly Less Bright Display
  • Potentially Inferior Camera in Low Light

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays with vibrant colors and deep blacks, boasting an 'Infinite' contrast ratio. The Xiaomi 12 edges out the 12X with a measured peak brightness of 896 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. However, the difference is likely minimal for most users.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the Xiaomi 12 generally has a slight edge in photo and video quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The 12's larger sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms contribute to this advantage. Both phones offer versatile camera setups with ultrawide and macro lenses.

Performance

The Xiaomi 12's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 provides significantly more raw processing power than the 12X's Snapdragon 870. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. The 8 Gen 1, however, is known to run hotter under sustained load. The 870 is more efficient and provides excellent performance for most tasks.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12X shines in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 105 hours, significantly surpassing the Xiaomi 12's 82 hours. This difference is largely due to the 12X's more efficient Snapdragon 870 chipset.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 12 is for power users, gamers, and those who demand the absolute best performance. The Xiaomi 12X is perfect for everyday users, those seeking excellent battery life, and those who want a premium experience without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 worth the extra cost over the Snapdragon 870?
If you're a heavy gamer or frequently use demanding apps, the 8 Gen 1's extra power is beneficial. However, for everyday use, the 870 offers excellent performance with better efficiency.
❓ Which phone is more likely to receive software updates?
Xiaomi typically provides consistent software updates for both devices, but the 12X, being slightly newer, might receive updates for a longer period.