Xiaomi 12 5G Smartphone is launhing with Compact Powerhouse with Premium Design
The Xiaomi 12 features an elegant glass sandwich design with an aluminum frame, measuring just 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2mm and weighing a comfortable 179g. The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, while the back uses Gorilla Glass 5, offering impressive durability.
Its 6.28-inch AMOLED display represents a deliberate move toward a more manageable size compared to larger competitors. Despite its compact dimensions,
the screen doesn't compromise on quality, offering 68 billion colors, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ support with peak brightness reaching 1100 nits. This combination delivers vibrant visuals with excellent outdoor visibility and a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 89.2%.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 12 packs Qualcomm's then-flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset built on a 4nm process. This octa-core processor features a prime Cortex-X2 core clocked at 3.00 GHz, three Cortex-A710 performance cores at 2.50 GHz, and four efficiency Cortex-A510 cores at 1.80 GHz. The powerful Adreno 730 GPU handles graphics processing with ease.
Memory configurations include 8GB or 12GB of RAM paired with either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, though no microSD expansion is available. The device shipped with Android 12 overlaid with MIUI 13, and has since received updates to Xiaomi's newer HyperOS.
Camera System
Photography capabilities center around a versatile triple-camera setup headlined by a 50MP wide-angle main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). Supporting this are a 13MP ultrawide camera and a 5MP telemacro lens for close-up shots. The front houses a capable 32MP selfie camera for high-resolution self-portraits.
Video capabilities are impressive, with support for 8K recording at 24fps, 4K at 30/60fps, and slow-motion options including 720p at 960fps, all enhanced with gyro-based electronic image stabilization.
Battery and Charging
A 4500mAh battery powers the device, supporting 67W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging. This combination ensures rapid power replenishment while maintaining all-day battery life for most users.
Pros
- Compact, premium design that's comfortable for one-handed use
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor delivers flagship performance
- Excellent AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support
- Capable camera system with OIS on the main sensor
- Fast 67W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Harman Kardon-tuned stereo speakers provide immersive audio
- IP53 rating offers basic splash resistance
Cons
- Battery capacity smaller than many competitors
- No telephoto camera for optical zoom (uses telemacro instead)
- No microSD card slot for storage expansion
- MIUI software can be polarizing for some users
- Limited global availability compared to Samsung or Apple
- Price positioning puts it against established flagship brands
The Xiaomi 12 represented a strategic move by Xiaomi to offer a more compact flagship alternative in a market dominated by increasingly larger devices.
Its combination of premium build quality, powerful performance, and competitive pricing made it an attractive option for users seeking a feature-rich smartphone without the bulk of typical flagships.
While part of a larger family including the 12X, 12 Pro and later 12S variants, the standard Xiaomi 12 struck a careful balance between size, performance, and value.