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Xiaomi will once again be the first company to launch a flagship phone using the latest flagship chipset from Qualcomm.
Just like last year, the Xiaomi 12 is launching a couple of days before the new year, initially being announced for the Chinese market and a couple of months later for the EU.
Like most phone launches nowadays, there have been numerous leaks for the new Xiaomi 12 already, but the latest leak reveals the majority of the specs in what appears to be an official press image.
So how does it compare from last year’s Xiaomi Mi 11?
Xiaomi is switching things up a bit this year, this is not some incremental upgrade. The form factor of the none-pro Xiaomi 12 has changed with a massive downsize from 6.81 inches to 6.28 inches for the display.
Early press image leaks show the Xiaomi being compared to the iPhone 13 which is 6.1”. Quite a lot of people complain about the lack of small Android phones, so I think this design change will prove popular.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro is expected to retain the larger form factor.
The new smaller Xiaomi 12 will have a lower screen resolution of just 1080P, but this is to be expected with its small display and should help with battery life. The screen has 120 Hz refresh rate as well as HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and is DisplayMate a+ rated.
As you’d expect, it is powered by the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 compared to the Snapdragon 888 of last year. It is not the most exciting chipset launch for the year and it might not even be the most powerful, but it will still be up there and the chipset that is featured on all the best phones of the year.
The camera specification appears to have had a useful upgrade. The Xiaomi Mi 11 lacked a telephoto lens but this year it is expected that the Xiaomi 12 will have a 3x zoom lens.
The primary camera shifts from the 108 MP 1/1.33″ Samsung sensor to a new 50MP 1/1.28″ sensor. My best guess is that this is the Sony IMX700 which was used on the Huawei P40.
Then the ultrawide camera is likely the same as a 123-degree 13 MP sensor.
The Xiaomi 12 weighs 180g, runs MIUI 13, and comes with a 4,500 mAh battery with 67W wired charging and 30W wireless charging. Last years model weighed 196g and had 55W charging
Price Comparison / Grey Import Pricing vs UK
The Xiaomi Mi 11 launched for CNY3,999 for the base model and this went up to CNY4,699.
The Xiaomi 12 is launching slightly cheaper at CNY 3,699 (£433.61) for the base model going up to CNY 4,699 (£550.83).
At the time that worked out at £454 (now £469) for the base model and sites like Giztop were selling it for $799 (£593 originally, now £597). Currently, the Pound has lost value against the Dollar and Chinese Yuan.
When will it be launched in the UK and EU?
There is no official word on when the Xiaomi 12 will launch in Western markets. However, if we assume it follows a similar timeline to last year then it should be announced at the start of February.
The Mi 11 was announced for Europe on the 8th of February 2021 for €749 and it wasn’t until the 16th of March that a UK announcement was made. The UK price was higher than the EU markets with a €/£ parity, priced at £749 and £799 for the two models.
There was a pre-order discount via Amazon which knocked £100 off.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
