Xiaomi 12 Review: Is This Flagship Worth the Premium?

The Xiaomi 12 positions itself as a mid-tier flagship, sitting between the more affordable Xiaomi 12X and the high-end Xiaomi 12 Pro. It brings notable improvements such as the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 50W wireless charging, and a sleek design, but struggles to justify its premium price tag when compared to direct competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S22.

Performance-wise, the Xiaomi 12 benefits from the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, delivering roughly 20-25% faster CPU and over 50% faster GPU performance than the Snapdragon 870 in the 12X. Benchmarks show solid gaming performance at 60 fps in titles like PUBG and Call of Duty, though titles like Genshin Impact experience throttling. The phone remains comfortably cool during extended use, peaking around 40°C. Everyday tasks feel snappy, and the device runs Android 12 with Xiaomi's MIUI 13, promising three major OS updates and four years of security patches—a significant advantage over the 12X.

The 4500mAh battery supports 67W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging, though daily battery drain can be significant. The phone shares the same design and dimensions as the 12X, with a glass front and back (protected by Gorilla Glass 5 on the rear) and an aluminum frame, but lacks an official IP rating for dust and water resistance.

Camera capabilities are nearly identical to the 12X, with a triple rear setup featuring a 50MP main sensor, 13MP ultrawide, and 5MP telemacro, plus a 32MP selfie camera. While the Xiaomi 12 often produces more consistent and contrast-heavy images, especially in ultrawide and portrait modes, it still lacks a dedicated telephoto lens—a notable omission for a phone in this price bracket.

Audio performance sees an improvement over the 12X, with richer and louder stereo speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos and Harman Kardon. However, haptics remain unchanged, with a relatively weak vibration motor and occasional issues with the virtual proximity sensor.

The 6.28-inch FullHD+ AMOLED display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, 480Hz touch sampling, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks. While curved edges enhance usability, they may raise durability concerns without a protective case. The display lacks LTPO technology found in the Pro model, limiting adaptive refresh rates to 60Hz or 120Hz only.

Ultimately, while the Xiaomi 12 offers reliable performance, software support, and a comfortable design, its omission of key flagship features like an IP rating, telephoto lens, and LTPO display makes it difficult to recommend over alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy S22, which provides better all-around value despite a higher asking price in some markets.