Everything you need to know before buying the Xiaomi 12 series
AFTER months of teasing and highly anticipated leaks, Xiaomi unveiled their latest flagship phones, the Xiaomi 12 series, which finally launched in Malaysia on March 15.
As with most of their flagships, the Xiaomi 12 family series consists of the 12 and 12 Pro – with both models powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor.
But it’s not only smoother and faster to use, with Xiaomi’s new MIUI 13, Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro bring the latest in cutting edge technology to turn everyday photos into professional works of art.
Good things come in threes
The Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro are quite similar in terms of performance to each other. Xiaomi 12 models are equipped with the same 6.28-inch 120HZ Full HD+ AMOLED display which supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision content while being protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
They also feature a tri-camera module on their back panel which consists of a primary camera that comes with a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor, f/1.88 six-element lens, and optical image stabilisation system (OIS). The module also comes equipped with a 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera and a 5MP telemacro camera.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro has a larger 6.73-inch 120HZ LTPO AMOLED display that also has a higher native resolution of 3200x1440. Just like the Xiaomi 12, the screen is also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The Pro model features a tri-camera module with a unique setup compared to the Xiaomi 12. It features a Pro-grade triple 50MP camera array setup with 50MP telephoto and 50MP ultra-wide lenses.
The Xiaomi 12, on the other hand, features a 50MP Pro-grade main camera with ultra-wide and telemacro lenses.
The Pro’s main camera relies on a 50MP Sony IMX707 sensor while the phone’s portrait and ultra-wide cameras feature the 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor although the Xiaomi 12 Pro still comes with a 32MP selfie camera just like the standard model.
The results are photos that are high contrast and clear sharpness complete with rich colours that are larger than life.
The 12 Pro’s ultra-wide-angle sensor's performance is equally as impressive. The warped lens is properly compensated for and there is no colour fringing or distortion near the edges of the lens.
The 2x optical zoom completes the camera trio of the Xiaomi 12 Pro. Unlike the main camera, this camera does not offer OIS so steady hands are still required at higher zoom levels.
A truly cinematic experience
With the state-of-the-art camera setup, the main camera system improves light-capturing capabilities by 120% compared with the previous Xiaomi 11 generation which leads to a noticeable difference in video quality.
To complement the impressive hardware, both the Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro come with Xiaomi’s advanced AI algorithm across a wide range of scenarios to enable users to master every scene with professional special effects.
The Xiaomi 12 family offers cinematic capabilities with creative options like Xiaomi ProFocus and one-click AI cinema.
The Ultra Night Video mode excels at videography in low-light conditions, with various portrait modes enabling users to capture studio-quality shots.
Having high-end camera capabilities would be nothing without a good screen to back it up. So for Xiaomi, they’ve equipped the 12 and 12 Pro with the first 68-billion colour display for extra clarity and colour accuracy.
Both devices offer vivid viewing on an AMOLED Dot Display rated A+ by DisplayMate, and with TrueColor support. The Gorilla Glass Victus on both the 12 and 12 Pro gives that added peace of mind for daily use.
The latest flagship also comes with Dolby Vision, an industry leading imaging technology that brings your content to life with vibrant colour and details.
Premium performance in a sleek package
Of course, it’s not all play and no work with the Xiaomi 12 series.
Xiaomi has accounted for those who lead highly productive lives and are concerned with their daily driver’s performance.
The Xiaomi 12 series features the aforementioned Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 which sets the bar for next-generation computing with cutting edge 4nm processing technology.
Xiaomi’s latest series is capable of delivering unprecedented levels of performance and power efficiency over its predecessor as the GPU capabilities have been increased by 30% in terms of graphics rendering and energy efficiency increased by 25%,
Additionally, the12 Pro features UFS 3.1 for next-level loading speeds and data transfers, as well as LPDDR5 RAM, with memory speeds reaching up to 6,400Mbps.
This – coupled with an extra-large 2,900mm2 VC and three large heat dissipation graphite sheets – stops the device from overheating in intensive-use cases.
Embodied in an all-new iconic design, Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro adopt a sleek middle frame with sophisticated 3D curves wrapping around the device front-to-back and corner-to-corner, creating an elegant looking device while also more practically ensuring a snug and comfortable fit in the palm of one’s hands.
Both devices support 120Hz AdaptiveSync refresh rate and up to 480Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring an incredibly smooth entertainment experience.
Non-stop immersion
As a result of a collaboration with Harman Kardon, the Xiaomi 12 series phones come with a system speaker with four dual core units. To put it simply, the phones have four speakers that deliver a more immersive sound experience.
These portable pocket-sized studios fit comfortably in the palm of your hand thanks to Xiaomi 12 Series’ iconic and user-centred design. Slimmer high-capacity batteries and a narrower ridge gap save precious space within the device.
The 12 Pro’s quad speakers come in the form of two tweeters and two woofers which help deliver clear details and cover a wider sound range.
The audio setup on both devices create an immersive audio experience powered by Dolby Atmos – delivering spatial sound with rich detail, clarity, and realism across all your favourite entertainment.
After a day of heavy usage, battery life is always a concern for highly productive individuals so Xiaomi can save you time with their latest 120W Xiaomi HyperCharge technology.
Since pro-grade cinematic and entertainment use can drain batteries, the Xiaomi 12 series phones are made to deliver next-level charging speeds and safety to ensure continuous playback.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro packs an 4,600mAh battery alongside the 120W Xiaomi HyperCharge technology and the Xiaomi 12 packs a 4,500mAh battery and supports Xiaomi 67W wired and 50W wireless turbo charging.
With smart charging at night, it learns users’ day-to-day charging routine to optimise the phone’s long-term battery health. The Xiaomi 12 Pro boasts the industry's first 120W single-cell battery which is thinner and less dense compared to other dual-batteries of the same capacity.
Xiaomi’s first VIP service package
Xiaomi is offering its first VIP service package for pre-orders on any of the flagship Xiaomi 12 series premium devices:
> 1 free screen replacement
> 2 years warranty
> 3 years Android OS upgrades
> 4 years security upgrades
Each purchase of the Xiaomi 12 or Xiaomi 12 Pro will give users access to complimentary premium gifts worth up to RM2,197**, which will be delivered to your doorstep after you’ve collected your brand new flagship device from an authorised Xiaomi Store.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro (12GB + 256GB) starts at RM3,899 whereas the Xiaomi 12 (8GB + 256GB) starts at RM2,999.
Right now, you can get a free Xiaomi Soundbar 3.1ch worth RM1,499 with door-to-door delivery upon device collection with a 1+1 year extended product warranty worth RM499 and a free screen replacement within six months upon purchase for damages under warranty worth RM199 for each purchase.
If you’re looking for a premium daily driver that performs with cutting edge technology, then pre-oder your Xiaomi 12 series device on March 15-23 at https://xiaomi12series-preorder.3ex.com.my.
*Limited quantity, first-come-first-serve basis.
