Xiaomi 12T vs. Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Xiaomi 12T and Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The 12T aims for a balance of features and affordability, while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a no-compromise gaming powerhouse. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and rapid charging, the Xiaomi 12T offers compelling value. However, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate dominates for dedicated gamers, boasting superior processing power, sustained performance, and longer battery life, justifying its higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12T Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
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, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China
Launch
Announced2022, October 042023, April 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 06Available. Released 2023, May
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.34 in)173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight202 g (7.13 oz)239 g (8.43 oz)
 -Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IP54 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 8100 Ultra (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G610 MC6Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, MIUI 14Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple108 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)50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaPanorama, HDR
Single20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.47", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, HDR1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared portYes-
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
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 3.1 (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 100% in 19 min65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, BlueStorm White
Models22071212AG-
Price€ 181.96 / £ 283.32About 780 EUR
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     1.09 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 104h Endurance rating 131h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.0 LUFS (Very good) -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 780204 (v9) GeekBench: 3756 (v5.1) AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12T

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Excellent value for money
  • Bright and vibrant display

  • Less powerful chipset than the ROG Phone
  • Shorter battery life compared to the ROG Phone

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Unmatched gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Longer battery life for extended gaming sessions
  • Reverse wireless charging capability

  • Slower charging speed compared to the Xiaomi 12T
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of modern OLED panels. However, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate edges out the Xiaomi 12T with a measured peak brightness of 1095 nits compared to the 12T’s 954 nits, resulting in better visibility in direct sunlight. While neither manufacturer specifies refresh rates in the provided data, the ROG Phone series historically prioritizes high refresh rates for smoother gaming, a likely advantage here. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s larger size also allows for a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the ROG Phone’s gaming focus, its camera system is likely optimized for quick snapshots and streaming, while the Xiaomi 12T may prioritize more versatile photography features. The absence of details suggests neither phone is a standout in the camera department, focusing instead on their primary strengths.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 12T’s MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Ultra (5nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s newer architecture – featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core – and smaller 4nm process node translate to higher clock speeds (3.2 GHz vs 2.85 GHz) and improved thermal efficiency. This means the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate will sustain peak performance for longer periods during demanding tasks like gaming, experiencing less throttling. The ROG Phone also benefits from a more modern CPU core configuration, with Cortex-A715 and A710 cores versus the 12T’s A78 and A55.

Battery Life

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a superior endurance rating of 131 hours compared to the Xiaomi 12T’s 104 hours. This difference is likely due to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s improved power efficiency and potentially a larger battery capacity (not specified). While the Xiaomi 12T compensates with incredibly fast 120W wired charging (0-100% in 19 minutes), the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s 65W charging (42 minutes) is slower. The ROG Phone also offers 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the 12T, allowing it to top up accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi 12T if you need a versatile smartphone with excellent charging speeds and a bright display for everyday tasks and casual gaming. It’s ideal for users who want flagship-level features without the premium gaming-focused price tag. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, extended battery life during intense sessions, and a feature set tailored specifically for mobile esports – even if it means sacrificing some charging speed and paying a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 8100 Ultra in the Xiaomi 12T throttle significantly during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 8100 Ultra is a capable chipset, but its 5nm process and less advanced CPU architecture compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mean it's more prone to thermal throttling under sustained load. While it can handle most games, expect some performance dips during extended gaming sessions, especially with demanding titles.
❓ Is the 65W charging on the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate slow compared to the 120W on the Xiaomi 12T?
While 65W is slower than 120W, it's still a respectable charging speed. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate still reaches 100% in 42 minutes, which is still relatively quick. The trade-off is a larger battery capacity and better overall endurance, making the slightly slower charging speed less of a concern for many users.
❓ What kind of gaming performance can I expect from the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate?
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate delivers top-tier gaming performance. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, combined with optimized cooling solutions (not detailed in the provided data, but a ROG Phone staple), allows for consistently high frame rates in demanding games like Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile, even at maximum settings. It's designed to handle competitive gaming with ease.