The recently released mid-range Xiaomi 12T and Xiaomi 12T Pro feature mid-range costs but some of the highest-end specifications available.
The 200MP primary camera of the Xiaomi 12T Pro, which nearly no other phone can equal (although the China-only Moto X30 Pro was first), is without a doubt the device’s standout feature (now available in other regions as the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra).
It might not be the most well-balanced camera system, though, since the 20MP front-facing camera is joined by only an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro. Xiaomi claims that these sensors will operate well in low light, but we’ll have to put that to the test when it comes time for our review.
The Xiaomi 12T Pro’s 5,000mAh battery and 120W charging capabilities, which enable a full charge in just 19 minutes, are another standout feature.
The remaining specifications are as follows: a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1220 x 2712 and a refresh rate of 120 Hz; a top-tier Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 CPU; 8GB or 12GB of RAM; 128GB or 256GB of storage; 5G compatibility; and a glass back.
The ordinary Xiaomi 12T has virtually comparable specifications, however its main camera only has 108MP, its CPU is the somewhat inferior MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Ultra, and it doesn’t come in a 12GB RAM variant.
Although there are some minor modifications, the key ones are the chipset and primary camera. The Pro model, for instance, offers sound tuned by Harman Kardon, something the ordinary Xiaomi 12T appears to lack.
Both models will be available in the UK starting on October 20 in your choice of black, silver, or blue colours, with the Xiaomi 12T starting at £499 (approximately $570/AU$875) and the Xiaomi 12T Pro starting at £699 (about $800/AU$1,230).
There is currently no information on Australia or the US, although it’s probable that these phones will be imported on the black market there.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro (£84.99 – roughly $95 / AU$150), the Redmi Pad (£269 – roughly $305 / AU$475), the Redmi Buds 4 (£49.99 – roughly $55 / AU$90), and the Redmi Buds 4 Pro (£84.99 – roughly $95 / AU$150) were all released alongside the 12T series.
Comparison of the 12T with the 11T
Do you want to know how much the Xiaomi 12T line has improved over the Xiaomi 11T line? The Xiaomi 11T Pro’s specifications, especially its ability to charge quickly, are actually pretty comparable to those of the Xiaomi 12T Pro, although the older model only has a 108MP main camera and an out-of-date processor.
The biggest differences between the basic Xiaomi 12T and its predecessor are in the charging speed and chipset, while the Xiaomi 11T charges at a slower but still respectable 67W.
On paper, these new phones don’t appear to be significantly better than their predecessors, despite having some eye-catching specs.
However, depending on how well they function in use — which we’ll learn once we’ve given them a thorough review — they may rank among the best Xiaomi phones available.
