Xiaomi 12T vs Xiaomi 12: The Ultimate Showdown

Xiaomi continues to deliver impressive smartphones at competitive prices. The Xiaomi 12T and Xiaomi 12 are both strong contenders, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which one deserves a spot in your pocket.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12T offers blazing-fast 120W charging and a slightly brighter display, powered by the Dimensity 8100 Ultra. However, the Xiaomi 12 boasts the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and wireless charging, making it a more premium experience overall. The 12T wins on speed, the 12 on overall refinement.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12T Xiaomi 12
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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 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 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2022, October 042021, December 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 06Available. Released 2021, December 31
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.34 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
Weight202 g (7.13 oz)179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 8100 Ultra (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G610 MC6Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, MIUI 14Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB 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
Single-32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
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, 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.47", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, HDR1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
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, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 or 6e (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual Proximity Sensing
Battery
Charging120W wired, 100% in 19 min67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, BlueGray, Blue, Purple, Green
Models22071212AG2201123G, 2201123C
Price€ 181.96 / £ 283.32$ 284.99 / € 149.99
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     1.09 W/kg (body)1.09 W/kg (head)     0.91 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 104h Endurance rating 82h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.0 LUFS (Very good) -25.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 780204 (v9) GeekBench: 3756 (v5.1) AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12T

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Brighter display (954 nits)
  • Excellent performance for the price
  • Longer battery life (104h endurance)

  • Sustained performance slightly behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • Camera processing not as refined as Xiaomi 12
  • No wireless charging

Xiaomi 12

  • Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • Wireless charging support
  • More refined camera processing
  • Premium build quality

  • Slower charging speeds (67W wired)
  • Shorter battery life (82h endurance)
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 12T takes a slight edge with a measured peak brightness of 954 nits compared to the Xiaomi 12's 896 nits. Both feature excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal) and smooth 120Hz refresh rates, ensuring a visually pleasing experience. Color accuracy is generally good on both, though the Xiaomi 12 might offer slightly better calibration out of the box.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the Xiaomi 12 generally produces more consistent and refined images, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The 12T's camera is capable, but the 12's image processing often results in more natural-looking photos. Video recording is solid on both, with 4K capabilities.

Performance

The Xiaomi 12's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a flagship chipset, generally offering superior sustained performance compared to the Dimensity 8100 Ultra in the 12T, especially under heavy load. While the Dimensity 8100 Ultra is no slouch, the Snapdragon's raw power and optimization often shine through. Gaming performance is excellent on both, but the 12 might handle demanding titles with slightly better stability.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12T absolutely dominates in this category with an endurance rating of 104 hours, significantly outperforming the Xiaomi 12's 82 hours. However, the 12T's 120W charging more than compensates for this, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. The Xiaomi 12 offers 67W wired, 50W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 12T is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging, a vibrant display, and strong performance for everyday tasks and gaming, all at a more accessible price. The Xiaomi 12 is better suited for those seeking a premium build, flagship Snapdragon performance, wireless charging capabilities, and a slightly more refined camera experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi 12T worth buying if I need fast charging?
Absolutely! The 12T's 120W charging is unmatched, allowing you to top up your battery incredibly quickly.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming, the Xiaomi 12T or the Xiaomi 12?
While both are capable, the Xiaomi 12 with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 generally offers slightly better sustained performance and stability during extended gaming sessions.