Product test
Xiaomi 15 tested: a compact top smartphone
by Jan Johannsen
Reviewing Xiaomi 12: a slim top smartphone without the wow effect
8.4.2022
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
With its features, Xiaomi 12 deserves the title of top smartphone. But an impressive data sheet alone isn’t enough to convince me.
The Xiaomi 12 feels really good to hold. Unfortunately, it’s the only outstanding feature on this top-of-the-range smartphone. The display and performance are very good, but nothing special among high-end models. That’s where the camera comes in.
A wonderful feel
The display and back of the Xiaomi 12 are curved around the edges on each of the long sides. This makes the aluminium frame narrower on the edges. The back is made of scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass and feels slightly rough. But it has a nice grip and fingerprints aren’t visible. It feels good to hold generally.
The 6.28-inch AMOLED display has a resolution of 2400 × 1080 pixels. In terms of detail accuracy, colour representation – it covers the P3 colour space – and brightness up to 1100 nits, the screen leaves nothing to be desired. The refresh rate reaches up to 120 hertz. By default, the Xiaomi 12 automatically adjusts this to the content on display. However, you can also set it permanently to 60 or 120 hertz.
Good photos are the standard
The Xiaomi 12’s main camera has a resolution of 50 megapixels and an aperture of f/1.88. Its wide-angle camera with a viewing angle of 123 degrees, on the other hand, only offers 13 megapixels, f/2.4. The telemacro camera has to make do with 5 megapixels and an f/2.4 aperture as well. Its front camera is located in a hole in the display and has a resolution of 32 megapixels with an aperture of f/2.45.
Colours and contrast
Whether subtle florals or gaudy graffiti: the Xiaomi 12 camera reproduces colours naturally. Strong contrasts, such as those caused by shadows, are no problem for the automatic system. They’re recognisably incorporated into the image without being completely dark or washed out.
Wide angle and zoom
The wide-angle camera allows you to squeeze more into a picture. At first glance it appears quite sophisticated. Quality differences on the main camera are only noticeable when zooming in. In my sample images, the name of the ship can only be guessed at with the wide-angle shot, but it can be read wonderfully with the main camera.
The Xiaomi 12 camera app has dual zoom as an option. This allows you to get closer to your subject without any loss of quality compared to the main camera. When enlarged, they could be the same photos. That changes when you go to the maximum. Images become pixelated at ten times the digital zoom.
Nighttime
If it gets dark, night mode is worthwhile. The main camera already delivers decent pictures in automatic mode, but night mode provides more sharpness, better illumination and nicer colours. With the wide-angle camera or use of zoom, these differences become even greater.
Selfies
Selfies with the Xiaomi 12 front-facing camera are okay in terms of detail. However, I find them paler than main camera photos in terms of colour. In the dark, night mode is also worthwhile here to improve image quality.
Performance, Android and battery
You won’t have to compromise regarding all other hardware. The current top Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset is used in the Xiaomi 12. It’s supported by eight gigabytes of working memory. In the Geekbench 5 benchmark test, the smartphone achieved similar or even better scores than the 12 GB OnePlus 10 Pro. The difference is that Xiaomi doesn’t throttle performance to save battery. You don’t have to activate high performance mode for full power.
You can insert two SIM cards into the Xiaomi 12, but you cannot expand the 128 or 256 gigabyte internal storage with a microSD card.
The Xiaomi 12 runs Android 12. Xiaomi provides the operating system with its MIUI 13 user interface. Not my favourite UI, but still usable. The six preinstalled third-party apps are particularly grating to me. Still, they can be removed with little effort – hold down and tap «Uninstall». Xiaomi promises to provide the 12 with Android updates for three and security updates for four years.
Verdict: good, but not impressive
The Xiaomi 12 is rightly labelled a top smartphone, but it remains inconspicuous. I’m not really that enthusiastic about it. The display is wonderful and the hardware performance is top, but other high-end smartphones also offer this. In addition, there’s a camera that plays in the big leagues, but is really only average. In terms of software, the preinstalled apps bother me.
The overall picture is only slightly improved by its handy shape and the above-average sound. I think I’d be just as satisfied with a cheaper mid-range smartphone as I am with the Xiaomi 12. Or with having to spend even more money – on the Xiaomi 12 Pro, for example.
Jan Johannsen
Senior Editor
Jan.Johannsen@galaxus.deWhen I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.
