This is only my second Xiaomi flagship to review – after last year’s awesome 11T Pro – and it is one of the best handsets of 2022 so far.
It comes with a sleek design, incredible power and speed, game-changing 120W wired charging and a super camera system that has been rated by lab scientists DXOMark as on a par with Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra.
It’s a gorgeous, premium-looking, handset with a matte finish on the rear that repels fingerprints and smudges. There is a free transparent case in the box, if you need it.
Xiaomi 12 Pro charging
Also included in the box is one of the key selling features, a 120w charger which in my testing fully charged the handset in 24 minutes.
This is game-changing and means battery anxiety is a thing of the past – Xiaomi 12 Pro can go from zero to 75 per cent in 15 minutes if you need quick charge before leaving the house.
And you no longer need to charge your phone overnight.
The phone also supports 50w wireless charging – and in my tests this took just under 75 minutes to go from zero to 100 per cent.
Battery life from the 4600mAh power pack is decent too – despite the drain from the dazzling display.
Display, design, build
The 6.73in WQHD+ AMOLED screen can reach 1500 nits of peak brightness and is stunning: bright, vibrant and pin-sharp. It comes with a 120Hz refresh rate so everything feels super smooth.
Put this alongside the S22 Ultra and there is no discernible difference even though Samsung has the reputation for the most dazzling display panels.
It’s a comfortable device to hold, despite its large screen size, and it is lighter and thinner than the S21 Ultra, for example.
The sides curve to a metal frame and a smooth frosted glass back.
There is the latest Gorilla Glass Victus protection on both the front and rear. The camera module is in the upper left corner on the rear.
Camera system
The main 50MP wide angle camera has a large 1/1.28in Sony IMX707 sensor that lets in a lot of light and delivers brilliant results.
There are 50MP ultrawide and 50MP telephoto lenses too but these both use smaller Samsung sensors. However, they still do a great job in decent lighting conditions.
A 32MP selfie camera produces pleasing images consistently.
Video is well-stabilised and can be captured at 8K up to 24fps and in 4K up to 60fps.
Performance
Xiaomi 12 Pro has the high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip under the hood, as do most flagship Android phones in 2022.
It is capable of handling the most demanding tasks and games with ease, although it can get a little hot after about 30 minutes or so of intense gaming.
The phone runs the MIUI 13 OS, which I enjoy, on top of Android 12 and the firm promises three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
MIUI 13 is highly customisable with options to change the way it looks and operates beyond what most rivals offer, including making it look and work like Apple's iOS.
Other features
A set of four speakers, housed in the top and bottom of the handset, are decent and there is Dolby Atmos support.
The phone has an IR blaster which is a handy feature to have as you can use the handset as a TV remote.
And there is a fast and responsive fingerprint sensor in the display. The haptics on the device are top notch.
Verdict
Xiaomi 12 Pro gives the flagship devices from Oppo, Apple, Samsung and Google a run for their money.
This is one of the best phones of 2022, with a stunning display, fantastic main camera, powerful processor and game-changing charging.
Pricing and availability
Xiaomi 12 Pro (with 256GB of storage and 12GB RAM) costs from €399 on Vodafone Billpay and €999 on Vodafone Prepay; or €1099 sim-free for direct from Euronics Group, Expert Group, JAV Electronics and DID.
If you order a Xiaomi 12 Pro before May 20 you can claim a Xiaomi Watch S1 free.
Anyone who purchases a Xiaomi 12 Series phone will also receive up to three months of YouTube Premium free of charge.
Key specs
Dimensions: 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2mm
Weight: 205g
Screen: 6.73in QHD+ OLED, 522ppi, 120Hz refresh rate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB
Operating system: MIUI 13 based on Android 12
Rear cameras: 50MP wide angle, f/1.9, Sony IMX707, 1/1.28in sensor; 50MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 112-degree FoV; 50MP telephoto, f/1.9, 2x optical zoom
Front camera: 32MP, f/2.45
Battery: 4600mAh
Charging: 120W wired; 50W wireless
Connectivity: 5G, USB-C, wifi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 and location
Water resistance: no IP rating
