Xiaomi 12 and 12X hands-on: nice size from China!

Prices and availability

With the global launch of the new Xiaomi 12 series, the manufacturer also confirms sales in Germany. At 6 p.m., the manufacturer finally revealed how expensive smartphones are in Germany. While the basic model starts globally for 749 US dollars and the Xiaomi 12X is a little cheaper at 649 US dollars, you have to pay a little more in Germany.

Because in this country you have to reckon with at least 700 euros! In the colors grey, purple and blue you pay the following for the different models:

If you want to pre-order one of the models, you can start right away online! The smartphones will be available from March 29, 2022!

display and housing

Xiaomi is following the trend of slowly making smartphone housings smaller again – and you can tell that from the two models when you try them out. In my big fins, the 6.28-inch AMOLED dot display is very easy to use, the size is roughly similar to that of the Apple iPhone 13 or the Samsung Galaxy S22.

As is typical for Xiaomi, the display is again up to date: You benefit from a refresh rate of 120 Hertz, enjoy a maximum brightness of 1,100 nits and, despite the FHD+ resolution, you should not see any pixels even if you look closely. DisplayMate awarded the display the top grade A+ and my first impression at the Xiaomi event in Berlin was also very positive.

Both smartphones are protected on the front with Gorilla Glass Victus and feel very high quality. The build quality is barely inferior to that of Samsung and Apple this year. However, Xiaomi’s smartphones appear slightly more rickety than the high-end models of the competition. Both devices creak when bent and the vibration motors are a little less crisp.

Software: Finally Android 12

Compared to many other manufacturers, Xiaomi is still lagging behind with the update to Android 12. It is therefore pleasing that all three models – Xiaomi 12, Xiaomi 12X and Xiaomi 12 Pro – come onto the market with MIUI 13 based on Android 12. In response to Samsung’s update mania, Xiaomi has also extended the warranty for security updates to four years. A good sign of more longevity for mobile phones!

Do you already use a Xiaomi smartphone? Then have a look at our articles on tips and tricks for MIUI, which we updated just a few days ago.

Performance: SoC differences

The Xiaomi 12 is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 – the X model only with a Snapdragon 870. There is also either 8 or 12 gigabytes of RAM and 128 or 256 gigabytes of internal memory. The internal memory of both smartphones cannot be expanded.

In hands-on, both smartphones looked relatively smooth – but that’s no wonder for a brand new smartphone without a performance-intensive application. So let’s await the full review to further explore the performance of the phones.

Cameras: Standard setup with software tricks

Xiaomi didn’t come up with many surprises for the camera setup in the two basic models. The 50-megapixel main camera, which has an open aperture of f/1.88 and is quite bright, is exciting. Behind the two additional lenses is an ultra wide-angle camera with 13 megapixels and a field of view of 123 degrees, as well as Xiaomi’s well-known 5 megapixel macro telephoto camera, which is not suitable for conventional telephoto shots.

So there is no telecamera on board, but the three cameras at the event in the exciting Axica event location made a good impression. The manufacturer claims to have improved the software and video recordings in particular. Xiaomi emphasizes two features that I don’t want to fully understand.

The first focus is – careful, gag – on the autofocus. The “Xiaomi ProFocus” transfers a feature from professional cameras to the smartphone, similar to the Sony Xperia 1 Mark III. The mobile phone automatically switches from an eye autofocus to a face autofocus and at a greater distance to a body autofocus. That looks cool in the video, but I don’t think it makes much sense on a cell phone. Because the sharp area is deep enough when shooting in the wide-angle range that you don’t see a big difference between focal planes.

For videographers, Xiaomi improves the video recordings at night – but we couldn’t really test that at the event. But once again I hate the non-expandable memory of a cell phone with a focus on videos and 8K support. Let’s wait and see!

Xiaomi 12: battery

Xiaomi relies on batteries with 4,500 mAh in both cell phones. However, there are differences in the charging technologies. Both cell phones support wired quick charging with 67 watts, but you can only charge the Xiaomi 12 wirelessly with 50 watts. This feature is completely eliminated when you go for the X model. Of course, we can’t make any statements about the battery life in hands-on.

Xiaomi 12: Specifications

	Xiaomi 12 series
product
Illustration
screen	6.28 inch Curved AMOLED 2,400 x 1,080 pixels, 120 Hz	6.28 inch Curved AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels, 120Hz
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1	Snapdragon 870 5G
Storage	128/256GB ROM 8 / 12GB RAM	128/256GB ROM 8 / 12GB RAM
software	MIUI 13	MIUI 13
rear camera	Main camera: 50 MP Ultra wide angle: 13 MP Macro Camera: 5 MP	Main camera: 50 MP Ultra wide angle: 13 MP Macro Camera: 5 MP
camera in front	32MP	32MP
battery pack	4500mAh 67W 50W Wireless	4500mAh, 67W
connectivity	5G, Wi-Fi 5 & 6 (ac/ax), BT 5.2, NFC, Dual GPS/Galileo, GLONASS/ BDS	5G, Wi-Fi 5 & 6 (ac/ax), BT 5.1, NFC, Dual GPS/Galileo, GLONASS/ BDS
measurements and weight	152.7 x 69.9 x 8.16mm, 180g	152.7 x 69.9 x 8.16mm, 176g
price	starting at $749	starting at $649
To offer*	will follow shortly	will follow shortly

Preliminary verdict

The central question in this hands-on: Does Xiaomi offer an alternative to Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series and the iPhone 13 models this year, with which the manufacturer likes to compare itself in the live stream? In terms of price, the manufacturer is definitely orienting itself towards the premium competition in 2022, and there are also other decisions that go in this direction.

Looking at the data sheet, Xiaomi can definitely compete with Samsung’s models. When it comes to quick charging, both wired and wireless in the basic model, Xiaomi even surpasses the king of smartphones. In addition, Apple is left untouched when it comes to display technologies. Despite the technical advantages, the Xiaomi models don’t quite feel “premium” even in 2022.

Once again, however, it is Xiaomi’s product range that, in my opinion, is too confusing for the premium sector. Why do I have to expect compromises when buying a new smartphone for over 700 euros because there is a slightly better model for an additional 100 euros? Apple and Samsung at least cover different display sizes and thus serve different requirements. Xiaomi is confusing even for people like me who deal with new smartphones every day.

For a detailed test, it is therefore necessary to find out whether the surcharge of 100 dollars for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and wireless charging is worth it. So stay tuned if you’re about to make that decision!