Xiaomi Mi 9 SE vs Xiaomi 12T Pro: A Clash of Generations
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi 12T Pro is the clear winner, boasting significantly faster performance, a brighter display, and incredibly rapid 120W charging. However, the Mi 9 SE remains a compelling option for those prioritizing a smaller form factor and a more budget-friendly price, though it's showing its age.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | Xiaomi 12T Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 75 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February 20. Released 2019, March | 2022, October 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, October 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 147.5 x 70.5 x 7.5 mm (5.81 x 2.78 x 0.30 in) | 163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 155 g (5.47 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| - | IP53, dust and splash resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) | 1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.97 inches, 87.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM712 Snapdragon 712 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 616 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 200 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.22", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.47", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps, HDR |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | Tuned by Harman Kardon 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 120W wired, 100% in 19 min |
| Type | Li-Po 3070 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Violet, Blue, Gray | Black, Silver, Blue |
| Models | M1903F2G | 22081212UG, 22081212G |
| Price | About 460 EUR | $ 208.76 / € 167.62 |
| SAR | 1.39 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) | 1.08 W/kg (head) 1.07 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -93.5dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 73h | Endurance rating 91h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 86dB / Noise 79dB / Ring 87dB | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 180057 (v7) GeekBench: 6017 (v4.4) GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 1032185 (v9) GeekBench: 4081 (v5.1) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE
- Compact and lightweight design
- Affordable price
- Decent AMOLED display
- Good battery life (73h)
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 712)
- Lower display brightness
- Slower charging (18W)
- Camera is showing its age
Xiaomi 12T Pro
- Flagship-level performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
- Bright and vibrant AMOLED display
- Incredibly fast 120W charging
- Improved camera system
- Modern design
- Larger size may not suit everyone
- Higher price point
- Potential for overheating under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 12T Pro's 6.67-inch AMOLED display shines with a peak brightness of 913 nits, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Mi 9 SE's 6.01-inch AMOLED display, while still good, maxes out at 637 nits, making it less impressive in bright conditions. Both have infinite contrast ratios (nominal).
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable cameras, the 12T Pro's camera system is a significant upgrade. It typically features a higher resolution main sensor (often 108MP vs. the Mi 9 SE's likely 48MP), improved image processing, and potentially better low-light performance. Video recording capabilities are also likely superior on the 12T Pro.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the 12T Pro delivers a massive performance leap over the Snapdragon 712 in the Mi 9 SE. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a much better gaming experience on the 12T Pro. The 12T Pro's CPU architecture is also more modern and efficient.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 73h, suggesting comparable battery life despite the 12T Pro's more powerful chipset. However, the 12T Pro's 120W charging is a game-changer, allowing it to charge from 0% to 100% in just 19 minutes – a stark contrast to the Mi 9 SE's 18W charging.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Mi 9 SE is ideal for users who want a compact, lightweight phone for basic tasks and appreciate a more affordable price. The Xiaomi 12T Pro is perfect for power users, gamers, and anyone who demands top-tier performance, a vibrant display, and lightning-fast charging.