Xiaomi 12X vs. Poco F5: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Xiaomi offers a diverse range of smartphones, and the 12X and Poco F5 are two compelling options. Both deliver impressive features at competitive prices, but cater to slightly different users. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right choice.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco F5 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset, brighter display, and slightly better battery endurance. While the 12X offers a more compact design and the Snapdragon 870, the F5's performance advantage makes it the more appealing choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12X Xiaomi Poco F5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China-
Launch
Announced2021, December 282023, May 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 31Available. Released 2023, May
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in)161.1 x 75 x 7.9 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight176 g (6.21 oz)181 g (6.38 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x2.91 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.49 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7475-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 725
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 13Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm-
Triple50 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), AF64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panorama-
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1 / 5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
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), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi 6 (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 46 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Blue, PurpleBlack, Blue, White
Models2112123AC, 2112123AG23049PCD8G, 23049PCD8I
PriceAbout 180 EUR€ 202.76 / $ 289.99 / ₹ 23,790
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.59 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 105h Endurance rating 118h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.6 LUFS (Very good) -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 598003 (v8), 690298 (v9) GeekBench: 3168 (v5.1) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Xiaomi 12X

  • Compact and premium design
  • Reliable Snapdragon 870 chipset
  • Fast 67W charging
  • Good image processing (assumed)

  • Less powerful than Poco F5
  • Lower display brightness
  • Potentially lower refresh rate
  • Older chipset

Xiaomi Poco F5

  • Powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset
  • Brighter display
  • Excellent value for money
  • Longer battery endurance

  • Larger form factor
  • Potentially less refined design
  • Camera performance needs further evaluation

Display Comparison

The Poco F5 boasts a significant advantage with its measured 963 nits max brightness, making it far more usable outdoors. Both phones claim an 'infinite' contrast ratio, which is a nominal term. While the 12X's display is perfectly adequate, the F5's brightness provides a noticeably better viewing experience, especially in sunlight. The Poco F5 also likely has a higher refresh rate (assumed 120Hz) compared to the 12X (assumed 60Hz or 90Hz).

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specs are missing. Generally, the 12X is expected to have slightly better image processing due to Xiaomi's tuning, but the F5's hardware (likely a higher resolution main sensor) could potentially capture more detail. Real-world camera performance will depend on software optimization and specific shooting conditions. Further testing would be needed for a definitive comparison.

Performance

The Poco F5's Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is a substantial upgrade over the 12X's Snapdragon 870. The 7+ Gen 2 offers significantly improved CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. While the 870 is still a capable chip, the F5's newer architecture and 4nm process provide a clear edge.

Battery Life

The Poco F5 holds a slight advantage in battery life, with an endurance rating of 118h compared to the 12X's 105h. Both phones support 67W fast charging, with the F5 taking approximately 46 minutes to charge fully, while the 12X takes 39 minutes. The difference in charging time is minimal, but the slightly longer endurance rating gives the F5 a small edge.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 12X is ideal for users prioritizing a more compact form factor and a proven, reliable chipset. It's a good choice for those who value a premium feel and don't need the absolute best performance. The Poco F5 is perfect for gamers, power users, and anyone seeking a high-performance smartphone with a vibrant display at an aggressive price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi 12X still a good phone in 2024?
Yes, the Xiaomi 12X remains a capable phone, especially for those who prioritize a compact size and a reliable chipset. However, newer models like the Poco F5 offer significantly better performance and display quality for a similar price.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming, the 12X or the F5?
The Poco F5 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset and likely higher refresh rate display. It will handle demanding games with ease.