Xiaomi 12 is what I would call a compact phone compared to the likes of iPhone 13 Pro Max and Galaxy S22 Ultra.
It’s a lot smaller than many phones on the market and that will be a big positive for consumers who prefer smaller handsets.
It’s a premium device with excellent performance, superfast 67w wired charging and 50w wireless charging, a brilliant 50MP main camera (with the same Sony IMX766 sensor as Oppo’s Find X5 Pro), an outstanding macro camera and 8K video capture.
Xiaomi 12 is the smallest phone I’ve tested so far with this year’s high-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip that is powering most Android flagships.
Read more: Xiaomi 12 Pro review: one of the best smartphones of 2022 so far
It delivers a fluid and fast experience and in everyday use this phone can match the best performers.
Display
The FHD+ AMOLED display is still 6.2in, but that is small by today’s standards. The unit is slim, lightweight, comfortable to hold and easy to use one-handed.
My review unit was Purple and it’s eye-catching and stylish. It has Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the front and Gorilla Glass 5 on the rear.
Xiaomi 12 comes with a slim metal frame and a curved-edge display. Like all Xiaomi devices, there is no official IP rating for water and dust resistance, but it well built and from my experience can withstand being used in the rain.
The screen is bright and vibrant. It’s great for watching video content – it supports HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision – and its 120Hz refresh rate and 480Hz touch sampling rate means it’s extra responsive for gaming.
There is no LTPO tech, however, so the screen can only swap between 60HZ and 120Hz refresh rates. This did not impact battery life in any noticeable way for me, incidentally.
Xiaomi 12 cameras
The main wide angle camera uses Sony’s popular IMX766 sensor and delivers consistently pleasing images with nicely balanced exposure, good colour accuracy and only limited noise.
Like a lot of phones, Xiaomi 12 pixel bins images down to a more manageable 12MP photo but you can use the full 50MP if you wish. It’s useful for cropping in.
I really can’t rate the 5MP telemacro camera highly enough – the detail and clarity it delivers is incredible.
There is also a 13MP ultrawide that works best in good lighting conditions. You can shoot in RAW (n Pro mode) with all three cameras.
Video stabilisation is impressive and while 8K capture is limited to 24fps the 4K footage can be shot at up to 60fps and it delivers excellent footage with plenty of detail.
There’s a decent 32MP selfie camera too.
Performance and battery life
Xiaomi 12 comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which is Qualcomm’s latest flagship chipset. The 8GB RAM is LPDDR5 and the 256GB storage is UFS 3.1 so both are zippy.
Benchmark scores match or beat most 2022 Android flagships and Google’s Pixel 6 Pro from 2021. My real world experience was also entirely positive in this regards.
The OS is MIUI 13, which I enjoy using, sitting atop Android 12.
This is a supremely capable phone. And I found the phone did not get too hot during intensive gaming sessions.
Battery life is as you might expect – I was able to get a full day (8am to midnight) from the 4500mAh power pack but this depends on what you are using the device for.
But if you run out the Xiaomi 12 supports 50w wireless charging that refuels it fully in little more than an hour. You can also get a 90 per cent boost in 30 minutes from the 67W charger in the box.
Other features
The in-screen fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable.
The reasonably loud stereo speakers are tuned by Harman Kardon and support Dolby Atmos.
Xiaomi 12 should receive three years of Android updates and four years of security patches.
Verdict
Overall, this reminds me of Sony’s Xperia 5 device – it offers compelling flagship features in a more compact body.
I’m loving using it and highly recommend it.
Pricing and availability
Xiaomi 12 (with 256GB storage and 8GB RAM) costs €199.99 on Vodafone Billpay and €799.99 on Vodafone PAYG and €29.99 on Three Billpay and €689.99 from Three Prepay.
You can also buy it direct from Tesco Ireland, Euronics Group, Expert Group, JAV Electronics and DID.
If you order before May 20, you can claim a Mi Smart Clock, Mi Smart Speaker and two Mi 360 Cameras (1080P) which have a combined value of €189.
Xiaomi 12 key specs
Dimensions: 152.7mm x 69.9mm x 8.2 mm
Weight: 180g
Display: 6.28in, FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
Rear cameras: 50MP wide angle, f/1.9; 13MP ultrawide, f/2.4; 5MP telemacro
Front camera: 32MP
Battery: 4500mAh
Charging: 67W wired, 50W wireless charging
Connectivity: 5G, USB-C, wifi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 and location
Water resistance: no IP rating
