The Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite was a popular mid-range contender, known for its impressive battery life. Now, the Xiaomi 12S Pro arrives with flagship specs and cutting-edge technology. But is the upgrade worth it? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi 12S Pro is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster processor, superior camera system, and incredibly fast charging. However, the Mi 9 Lite remains a surprisingly capable device, especially for budget-conscious users prioritizing long battery life and a smooth display.
| 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, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 04 | 2019, September 16. Released 2019, September 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 07 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm or 8.7 mm | 156.8 x 74.5 x 8.7 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g / 204 g (7.16 oz) | 179 g (6.31 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, HDR, 430 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SDM710 Snapdragon 710 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 616 |
| OS | Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Leica lens, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 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) | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR10+ | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Tuned by Harman Kardon | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| 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, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, 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 | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4600 mAh | Li-Po 4030 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, White, Purple, Green | Pearl White, Aurora Blue, Onyx Grey |
| Models | 2206122SC | M1904F3BG |
| Price | About 670 EUR | About 320 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.15 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.42 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -90.3dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 106h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.2 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 175478 (v7), 215277 (v8)
GeekBench: 5989 (v4.4), 1518 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi 12S Pro
- Flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor
- 120W ultra-fast charging
- Excellent camera system
- Vibrant AMOLED display
- Premium build quality
- Higher price point
- Potential for overheating under sustained load
- May be overkill for basic users
Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite
- Long battery life (106h endurance rating)
- Affordable price
- Smooth display
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Outdated chipset
- Slow charging (18W)
- Mediocre camera quality
- LCD display
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 12S Pro features an AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth scrolling. The Mi 9 Lite has an LCD display with a decent 597 nits brightness, but lacks the dynamic refresh rate and color accuracy of the Pro. The Pro's display is a noticeable upgrade.
Camera Comparison
The Xiaomi 12S Pro's camera system, likely featuring a Sony IMX707 main sensor and advanced image processing, is expected to deliver significantly better image quality, especially in low light. The Mi 9 Lite's camera is competent but lacks the advanced features and sensor capabilities of the Pro. The 12S Pro wins hands down.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the 12S Pro is a powerhouse, easily handling demanding games and multitasking. The Mi 9 Lite's Snapdragon 710 is adequate for everyday tasks but struggles with intensive applications. The 12S Pro's performance is in a different league.
Battery Life
While the Mi 9 Lite boasts an impressive endurance rating of 106 hours, the 12S Pro's 120W charging more than compensates for a potentially smaller battery capacity. The Pro can charge from 0-100% in under 20 minutes, a massive advantage.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi 12S Pro is for users who demand top-tier performance, a premium camera experience, and blazing-fast charging. The Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite is ideal for those on a tight budget who prioritize battery life and a reliable, everyday smartphone experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xiaomi 12S Pro worth the upgrade from a Mi 9 Lite?
If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and fast charging, then absolutely. The 12S Pro offers a significant upgrade in almost every area. However, if you're happy with your Mi 9 Lite's battery life and don't need the extra power, it might not be worth the investment.
❓ What is the battery capacity of the Xiaomi 12S Pro?
The Xiaomi 12S Pro typically features a 4600mAh battery, although this can vary slightly depending on the specific model and region.
