Xiaomi 13 Lite vs Xiaomi 12: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Xiaomi consistently delivers impressive smartphones at competitive prices. The Xiaomi 13 Lite and Xiaomi 12 are two popular contenders, each offering a unique blend of features and performance. This comprehensive comparison will help you determine which device best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 12 edges out the 13 Lite thanks to its superior flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and wireless charging capabilities. However, the 13 Lite offers a brighter display and potentially better value for those prioritizing aesthetics and a more modern design. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 13 Lite 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, 42, 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
Announced2023, February 262021, December 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, March 08Available. Released 2021, December 31
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.2 x 72.7 x 7.2 mm (6.27 x 2.86 x 0.28 in)152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight171 g (6.03 oz)179 g or 180 g (6.31 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistant-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 644Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 14Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal64GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-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
Triple50 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)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@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.3, (depth)-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDRHDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video1080p@30/60fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)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-bandWi-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
Charging67W wired, 100% in 40 min67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Lite Blue, Lite PinkGray, Blue, Purple, Green
Models-2201123G, 2201123C
PriceAbout 180 EUR$ 284.99 / € 149.99
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     0.91 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.60 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 93h Endurance rating 82h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.5 LUFS (Average) -25.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 534143 (v9) GeekBench: 2936 (v5.1), 2434 (v6) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 985115 (v9) GeekBench: 3652 (v5.1) GFXBench: 75fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 13 Lite

  • Brighter Display (938 nits)
  • Excellent Battery Life (93h Endurance)
  • Fast 67W Wired Charging
  • Stylish Design

  • Less Powerful Chipset (Snapdragon 7 Gen 1)
  • No Wireless Charging
  • Camera details are unclear

Xiaomi 12

  • Flagship Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
  • Wireless Charging (50W)
  • Reverse Wireless Charging (10W)
  • Slightly Faster Wired Charging (39 min)

  • Lower Battery Endurance (82h)
  • Slightly Dimmer Display (896 nits)
  • Older Design

Display Comparison

Both phones boast excellent displays with infinite contrast ratios. The Xiaomi 13 Lite takes a slight lead with a measured peak brightness of 938 nits, making it more visible in direct sunlight. The Xiaomi 12's 896 nits are still very respectable, offering vibrant colors and sharp details. Both utilize OLED technology for excellent blacks and viewing angles.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the Xiaomi 12 likely has a slight edge in overall image quality due to its more powerful processor and potentially better image processing algorithms. Both offer Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specs (megapixels, sensor sizes) are missing and would require further research. Expect good results from both, especially in well-lit conditions.

Performance

Here's where the Xiaomi 12 truly shines. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset is a flagship-level processor, significantly outperforming the Xiaomi 13 Lite's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive gaming experience on the Xiaomi 12. The 13 Lite is still capable, but not in the same league.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 13 Lite boasts an impressive endurance rating of 93 hours, surpassing the Xiaomi 12's 82 hours. However, charging speeds are comparable with 67W wired charging on both. The Xiaomi 12 adds the advantage of 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, offering greater flexibility.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 13 Lite is ideal for users seeking a stylish, camera-focused phone with a vibrant display and fast charging, prioritizing aesthetics and a more streamlined experience. The Xiaomi 12 is a better choice for power users and gamers who demand top-tier performance and appreciate the added convenience of wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi 12 is significantly better for gaming due to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which offers superior performance and smoother frame rates.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 13 Lite support 5G?
Yes, both the Xiaomi 13 Lite and Xiaomi 12 support 5G connectivity.