Xiaomi 12X vs Xiaomi 13 Lite: A Detailed Comparison

Xiaomi continues to offer compelling mid-range and upper-mid-range options. The Xiaomi 12X and 13 Lite both aim to deliver a premium experience without breaking the bank, but they cater to slightly different needs. This comparison will break down their key differences to help you choose the right one.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12X boasts a superior Snapdragon 870 chipset, offering noticeably faster performance. However, the Xiaomi 13 Lite shines with a brighter display and a more modern design. For performance enthusiasts, the 12X wins; for those prioritizing display and aesthetics, the 13 Lite is the better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi 12X	Xiaomi 13 Lite

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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China	-

Launch
Announced	2021, December 28	2023, February 26
Status	Available. Released 2021, December 31	Available. Released 2023, March 08

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions	152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in)	159.2 x 72.7 x 7.2 mm (6.27 x 2.86 x 0.28 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	176 g (6.21 oz)	171 g (6.03 oz)
	-	IP53, dust and splash resistant

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size	6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 644
OS	Android 11, MIUI 13	Android 12, MIUI 14

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	64GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm	-
Triple	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	50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video	8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps

Selfie camera
Dual	-	32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.3, (depth)
Features	HDR, panorama	Dual-LED flash, HDR
Single	32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm	-
Video	1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes
	24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1 / 5.2, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
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, Wi-Fi 6 (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min	67W wired, 100% in 40 min
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Gray, Blue, Purple	Black, Lite Blue, Lite Pink
Models	2112123AC, 2112123AG	-
Price	About 180 EUR	About 180 EUR
SAR EU	0.59 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)	-

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 105h	Endurance rating 93h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-25.6 LUFS (Very good)	-28.5 LUFS (Average)
Performance	AnTuTu: 598003 (v8), 690298 (v9) GeekBench: 3168 (v5.1) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 534143 (v9) GeekBench: 2936 (v5.1), 2434 (v6) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12X

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 870)
Compact Size
Excellent Battery Life
Fast Charging (67W)

Older Design
Less Bright Display
Potentially Less Modern Camera

Xiaomi 13 Lite

Brighter Display
Modern Design
Improved Selfie Camera
Fast Charging (67W)

Lower Performance (Snapdragon 7 Gen 1)
Slightly Shorter Battery Life
Potentially Less Powerful Main Camera

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Lite takes a clear lead in the display department. While both offer 'infinite' contrast ratio (a marketing term often used), the 13 Lite's measured 938 nits peak brightness is significantly higher than the 12X, making it much easier to see outdoors. The 12X's display is still good, but lacks the punch and visibility of the 13 Lite.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but with different strengths. The 13 Lite likely has a more modern image processing pipeline, potentially resulting in slightly better dynamic range and color accuracy. The 12X's camera is still very good, but may lack some of the latest computational photography features. Selfie camera performance is likely better on the 13 Lite due to its more modern front-facing camera hardware.

Performance

Here, the Xiaomi 12X reigns supreme. Its Snapdragon 870 chipset is a flagship-level processor that still holds up incredibly well. The 13 Lite's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is a capable mid-range chip, but it simply can't match the 870's raw power, especially in demanding games or multitasking scenarios. Expect smoother performance and faster app loading times on the 12X.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12X edges out the 13 Lite slightly in battery endurance, with a reported 105h vs 93h. Both phones support 67W fast charging, achieving a full charge in roughly the same time (around 40 minutes). Real-world battery life will depend on usage patterns, but the 12X has a small advantage.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi 12X? Gamers and power users who prioritize raw performance and a compact form factor. Who should buy the Xiaomi 13 Lite? Users who value a vibrant display, a stylish design, and a more modern camera system, especially for selfies and social media.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 870 still a good processor?

Yes, the Snapdragon 870 is still a very capable processor, offering flagship-level performance that's more than enough for most users. It's particularly well-suited for gaming.

❓ Which phone has better video recording capabilities?

While both offer video recording, the Xiaomi 12X likely has slightly better stabilization and overall video quality due to the more powerful processor. However, the 13 Lite's newer camera system might offer better dynamic range in certain scenarios.