In its early days, Xiaomi was synonymous with cheap smartphones without sacrificing good hardware and software. At a time when the company did not officially sell in Spain and had to be bought online in import stores. Although it maintains very competitive lines, considered entry and mid-range at quite reasonable prices, the company has been betting on the high-end and premium line for some time now with designs like the Xiaomi 12 Pro.
In a segment led by Apple smartphones such as the iPhone 13 Pro, how does the Xiaomi 12 Pro compare to the options from Cupertino? We compare their features, differences and prices.
Xiaomi 12 Pro – 8+256GB smartphone, 6.73” 120Hz AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 50MP triple camera, 4600mAh, 120W Xiaomi HyperCharge, gray (ES version + 3 years warranty)
Features iPhone 13 Pro and Xiaomi 12 Pro
| Specs | iPhone 13 Pro | Xiaomi 12 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm and 204 grams | 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.16 mm and 204 grams |
| Screen | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED at 120 Hz with HDR10 Dolby Vision, 1,200 nits of maximum brightness, and 1170 x 2532 pixels resolution | 6.73-inch AMOLED LTPO with adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz, 2K resolution (3300 x 1440 pixels), and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection |
| Processor | RAM | Storage | Apple A15 Bionic | 6GB RAM | 128, 256, 512GB and 1TB | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | 8 or 12GB RAM | 128 or 256 GB UFS 3.1 |
| cameras | Triple rear camera (wide angle, ultra wide-angle and telephoto) 12 MP with LiDAR sensor | 12 MP TrueDepth front | Triple 50 MP rear camera (wide angle, ultra wide-angle and telephoto) | 32 MP front |
| Drums | 3095 mAh with fast charge at 20W, MagSafe at 15W and Qi at 7.5W | 4600 mAh with the fast charge at 120W, wireless at 50W and reverse at 10W |
| Operating system | iOS 15 (iOS 16 confirmed) | Android 12 with MIUI 13 |
| Others | Wi-Fi 6, 5G, Bluetooth 5.0, Face ID | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C, fingerprint reader under the screen, and Harman Kardon stereo speakers |
| Price | From 1,159 euros | From 999.99 euros |
- Dimensions and weight: We will start with the size and weight section, which is an important factor for some users when buying a smartphone. They are not compact. Although the iPhone 13 Pro is smaller than the Xiaomi 12 Pro, both terminals have the same weight (204 grams), so they feel the same in the hand and in the pocket. But yes, Apple’s design will satisfy those who prefer smaller mobiles.
- Screen: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED on iPhone 13 Pro and 6.73-inch AMOLED LTPO on Xiaomi 12 Pro. Two panels with great image quality and adaptive refresh rate. The Xiaomi one is noticeably higher and will be appreciated by users who consume more multimedia content from their mobile, in addition to having a higher resolution.
- Processor, RAM, and storage: the best of each house, A15 Bionic in iPhone and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in Xiaomi. Two powerful processors that can handle everything you throw at it. The Xiaomi 12 Pro does have more RAM, 8 or 12 GB, but iOS handles it differently than Android, and with 6 GB, the iPhone 13 Pro is more than served. When it comes to storage, Apple offers more configuration options, although the price of the device is quite expensive as the GB increases.
- cameras: the two smartphones bet on a triple rear camera, but on the iPhone 13 Pro with a resolution of 12 MP and on the Xiaomi 12 Pro with a resolution of 50 MP. It is in the iPhone’s front camera that we see another interesting difference with the integration of the TrueDepth Face ID facial recognition system. There is fingerprint security in Xiaomi.
- DrumsNote: On paper, the Xiaomi 12 Pro battery should perform better than the iPhone battery because it is much larger. But not. The iPhone 13 Pro is very well optimized and can last up to 22 hours of continuous video playback. When analyzing the Xiaomi 12 Pro, our colleagues at Xataka found that from 50% battery, the performance decreased significantly and that if you give it a lot of reed, it may not make it to the end. It’s also impressive that Xiaomi can charge 120W wired and 50W wirelessly.
- Operating system: iOS and Android, something more. You can love one and hate the other and vice versa. Or that you don’t care about the operating system because you can do the same thing with both. On this occasion, the customization layer of Xiaomi’s MIUI should be highlighted, which is very iOS. So if an iPhone user switches to a Xiaomi design or vice versa, you will feel “at home”. But it’s true that Android offers more customization options.
- Software updates: Xiaomi promises three years of Android updates and four years of security. We are used to Apple offering about six years, as seen on veterans. But there is a “trick”: Xiaomi can constantly update MIUI and the device will get new features, and Apple devices receive less news with each new update due to their seniority.
- Price: It’s no secret that Apple products are more expensive than other brands that essentially “offer the same thing.” The same is true for the iPhone 13 Pro and Xiaomi 12 Pro: roughly 160 euros more for the one with a bitten apple. It also depends on the configuration you are looking for, the Xiaomi 12 Pro 12 GB and 256 GB are closer.
iPhone 13 Pro or Xiaomi 12 Pro, which one to buy?
Two top smartphones, good design and great performance. If you prefer iOS or Android, the decision is clear, but if the operating system is not the most important, other factors come into play, such as autonomy (iPhone), faster charging (Xiaomi), customization (Xiaomi again), more support via update (iPhone), etc.
If you want the smartphone to be more compact, the iPhone 13 Pro is easier to operate with one hand and hide in your pocket. Thanks to its display, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a good choice for consuming multimedia content. In the photography section, either of the two phones will offer a good experience, although it is a matter of taste whether the user prefers the processing of one or the other.