Xiaomi 12S Pro vs Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity): The Ultimate Showdown

Xiaomi's flagship lineup offers compelling choices, but deciding between the 12S Pro and the 12 Pro (Dimensity) can be tricky. Both boast premium designs and features, but key differences in chipset, charging, and camera capabilities set them apart. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you make the right decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12S Pro takes the crown thanks to its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, significantly faster 120W wired and 50W wireless charging, and improved camera system. While the 12 Pro (Dimensity) offers good value, the 12S Pro's performance and charging advantages make it the superior choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi 12S Pro	Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)

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, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2022, July 04	2022, July 04
Status	Available. Released 2022, July 07	Available. Released 2022, July 13

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame	-
Dimensions	163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm or 8.7 mm	163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	203 g / 204 g (7.16 oz)	201 g (7.09 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)	1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)
Size	6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)	LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x3.20 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)	Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Mali-G710 MC10
OS	Android 12, MIUI 13	Android 12, MIUI 13

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Leica lens, 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	32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple	50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.9, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide)	50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF
Video	8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 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, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video	1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR10+	1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps

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 Tuned by Harman Kardon

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
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/6e, 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	120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wireless	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Type	Li-Po 4600 mAh	Li-Po 5160 mAh

Misc
Colors	Gray, White, Purple, Green	Gray, Blue
Models	2206122SC	2207122MC
Price	About 670 EUR	About 570 EUR

Xiaomi 12S Pro

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
Blazing-Fast 120W Wired Charging
Excellent Camera System (Sony IMX707)
50W Wireless Charging
Reverse Wireless Charging

Potentially Higher Price
May experience slight thermal throttling under extreme load

Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)

Good Value for Money
Capable Dimensity 9000+ Chipset
Solid Camera Performance
Premium Design

Slower 67W Wired Charging
Less Efficient Chipset
Inferior Camera Compared to 12S Pro
No Wireless Charging

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 3200 x 1440. Color accuracy and brightness are excellent on both, making them great for media consumption. The 12S Pro might have slightly better calibration due to its later release and potential software refinements, but the difference is minimal.

Camera Comparison

The 12S Pro boasts a Sony IMX707 main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 50MP telephoto lens, offering superior image quality, especially in low light. The 12 Pro (Dimensity) has a 50MP main sensor, 8MP ultrawide, and a 2x optical zoom telephoto. While the 12 Pro's camera is good, the 12S Pro's hardware and image processing provide a noticeable advantage.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the 12S Pro is a clear winner here. It offers significantly better sustained performance and efficiency compared to the Dimensity 9000+ in the 12 Pro (Dimensity), especially under heavy load. Gaming performance is noticeably smoother on the 12S Pro. The 12 Pro (Dimensity) is still fast, but the 12S Pro is in a different league.

Battery Life

The 12S Pro's 120W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in under 20 minutes. The 50W wireless charging is also a significant upgrade. The 12 Pro (Dimensity) offers 67W wired charging, which is still fast but considerably slower than the 12S Pro. Both phones have a 4600mAh battery, but the 12S Pro's efficiency helps it last longer despite the faster charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi 12S Pro? Power users, photography enthusiasts, and those who prioritize blazing-fast charging will love the 12S Pro. Who should buy the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)? Budget-conscious buyers seeking a premium experience with a capable chipset and solid performance, but less emphasis on extreme charging speeds or top-tier camera capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 better than the Dimensity 9000+?

Yes, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 generally offers better sustained performance and efficiency, especially in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.

❓ Which phone has better battery life?

While both have the same battery capacity, the Xiaomi 12S Pro's more efficient chipset and faster charging contribute to slightly better overall battery life and significantly faster charging times.