In this product comparison, two powerful, flagship Xiaomi smartphones will face off—both launched within the last year. It’s a duel between the compact device Xiaomi 12 and the newcomer on the market labeled Xiaomi 13 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
But how does this pair turn out in a direct comparison of the most important features? That’s exactly what we’ll try to answer in today’s comparison article.
Here are the technical specifications: Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 13
Xiaomi 12
Xiaomi 13
Dimensions
152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm
152.8 x 71.5 x 8.0 / 8.1 mm
Weight
179 / 180 g
185 / 189 g
Used material
Glass-Aluminum
Glass-Aluminum
Display
AMOLED / 6.28 inches
AMOLED / 6.36 inches
1080 x 2400 px / 20:9 / 120 Hz
1080 x 2400 px / 20:9 / 120 Hz
419 ppi density
414 ppi density
Gorilla Glass Victus
-
Optical in-display fingerprint sensor
Optical in-display fingerprint sensor
LED notifications
No (Always-On)
No (Always-On)
Processor
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Graphics
Adreno 730
Adreno 740
Measured performance in AnTuTu
985 115 points
-
4G LTE band support B20
Yes
Yes
Primary camera
50 MPx
50 MPx
f/1.9 aperture | sensor size 1/1.56" | 1.0 µm
f/1.8 aperture | sensor size 1/1.49" | 1.0 µm
PDAF autofocus
PDAF autofocus
Secondary cameras
13 MPx ultra-wide | f/2.4 aperture | 1.12 µm
12 MPx ultra-wide | f/2.2 aperture | 1.12 µm
5 MPx tele-macro | aperture f/2.4
10 MPx telephoto | PDAF | OIS | f/2.4 aperture
Front camera
32 MPx
32 MPx
f/2.5 | 0.7 µm
f/2.0 | 0.7 µm
SD Card
No
No
3.5 mm jack
No
No
Infraport
Yes
Yes
NFC
Yes
Yes
Radio
No
No
Battery
Li-Po 4500 mAh
Li-Po 4500 mAh
Fast charging 67 W
Fast charging 67 W
Wireless charging 50 W
Wireless charging 50 W
Reverse charging 10 W
Reverse charging 10 W
Enhanced durability
No
Yes (IP 68)
Design and display: In both cases 120 Hz AMOLED
At first glance, you can spot differences in the design and build. With the new generation, the manufacturer opted for a flat display without any curvature and ultra-thin bezels. And this year is also no exception, with a distinctive look made of artificial “leather”. Overall dimensions didn’t grow too much, except for the width—while the display size did increase. Specifically, from 6.28″ for Xiaomi 12 to 6.36″ on Xiaomi 13.
In both cases, you’re getting a top-tier flagship AMOLED panel with a dynamic high refresh rate up to 120 Hz. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support are also included. Both devices feature an optical in-display fingerprint sensor. Maximum brightness is 1100 nits on Xiaomi 12 and 1200 nits on Xiaomi 13 (up to 1900 nits with HDR content).
Performance: The latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The clear difference comes in performance. Last year’s flagship processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is enough for the vast majority of users even today, and the only real downside is the question of slightly shorter software support in the case of Xiaomi 12.
And that’s where the powerful chip Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 comes in—built for the highest-tier devices, including Xiaomi 13. With this processor, you won’t have to worry about even more demanding 3D titles. Xiaomi 13 will also stand out with the new generation of fast UFS 4.0 storage, along with new software—MIUI 14—which is optimized for smoother performance of the Android 13 operating system.
Camera: A standout module and updated technology
An extremely important comparison is the photographic equipment of the two devices. With Xiaomi 13, you also get a partnership with the German brand Leica, following the Xiaomi 12S series model. As for the new camera module, it has a square shape and protrudes fairly noticeably from the device body. It includes a 50 MPx main sensor (PDAF, OIS), a 12 MPx ultra-wide sensor, as well as a 10 MPx telephoto lens.
But the previous Xiaomi 12 model also doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of. On the back, it offers a rectangular camera module containing a 50 MPx main sensor, a 13 MPx ultra-wide sensor, and a 5 MPx tele-macro camera. Both older and newer generations support up to 8K video (24 fps, HDR) and have a 32 MPx “selfie” camera integrated under the display cutout.
Battery: Fast charging is still included
The pair of compact flagship smartphones offers the same battery capacity, set at 4500 mAh. Yes, we do know there are bigger batteries on the market, but we have to consider the small size of both devices. And if, by chance, one full working day isn’t enough, you’ll appreciate fast charging.
We ordered Xiaomi 12 in an interesting “leather” version.
They come with matching 67 W wired charging, 50 W wireless charging, and also 10 W reverse charging, e.g. for accessories. A fast charger should be included in the global package for the Xiaomi 13, following last year’s generation (note by red.: Xiaomi 13 is currently only available in the Chinese version).
Price and availability of the two smartphones
At first glance, you can clearly see the advantage in the device’s selling price Xiaomi 12. This smartphone has already managed to drop to about €500. So it’s a very sensible choice in terms of value for money.
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Is it your first time shopping on GShopper?See the guide!
Updated 6. 4. 2024 on 09:04
TIPWith Standard Shipping via GShopper, you pay no extra fees—everything is already included!
With the GShopper seller, we recommend choosing Standard Shipping, where you won’t pay anything extra. Customs fees and any VAT are handled by the seller. You can select the shipping method in the cart only, after entering your delivery address. Delivery with this option usually takes about 15 business days from dispatch from the warehouse, but it may take longer.
Is it your first time shopping on GShopper?See the guide!
Updated 6. 4. 2024 on 09:04
TIPWith Standard Shipping via GShopper, you pay no extra fees—everything is already included!
With the GShopper seller, we recommend choosing Standard Shipping, where you won’t pay anything extra. Customs fees and any VAT are handled by the seller. You can select the shipping method in the cart only, after entering your delivery address. Delivery with this option usually takes about 15 business days from dispatch from the warehouse, but it may take longer.
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If you don’t have experience buying on Gshopper, payments don’t go through, or coupon use doesn’t work for you, we offer an order handling service directly to your address for our readers and customers. You transfer the money to our account and we place the order directly to your address. This way, you won’t have to worry about a failed payment or applying the coupon, and you can be sure the entire order will go through correctly 100 %. In addition, you automatically get our VIP support — if any issues arise with the shipment, we handle them for you and assist with filing a claim. The fee for this service is €15 extra of the product price. You can contact us by email at info(@)xiaomiplanet.sk or on Messenger, where we’re constantly active.
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Updated 19. 12. 2022 on 11:28
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Is it your first time ordering on TradingShenzhen?See the guide!
Updated 19. 12. 2022 on 11:28
TIPWith Global Priority shipping, you don’t pay any extra fees.
We recommend choosing Global Priority shipping, where you won’t pay anything extra. Customs fees and any VAT are handled by the seller directly for you. Shipping can be selected in the cart only, after you enter the delivery address. Delivery with Global Priority usually takes about 15 days, but it may also take longer.
Is it your first time ordering on TradingShenzhen?See the guide!
Updated 19. 12. 2022 on 11:28
TIPWith Global Priority shipping, you don’t pay any extra fees.
We recommend choosing Global Priority shipping, where you won’t pay anything extra. Customs fees and any VAT are handled by the seller directly for you. Shipping can be selected in the cart only, after you enter the delivery address. Delivery with Global Priority usually takes about 15 days, but it may also take longer.
Xiaomi 13 is currently available only in the Chinese version without the B20 LTE band from our partner TradingShenzhen, and we expect the global version price to start at around €800.
Final verdict: Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 13
From the perspective of long-term use and software support—or those very best photography features—the new Xiaomi 13 speaks loudly. It’s a modern smartphone with a very solid spec sheet and the best from Xiaomi, Leica, and Snapdragon’s lineup.
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However, if you want to save a few euros and don’t mind an older processor, or if you prefer the most compact dimensions possible, Xiaomi 12—the smartphone unveiled in December 2021—is still a good choice.
Which of the two flagship devices from the Xiaomi ecosystem do you like more? Do you prefer the compact Xiaomi 12? Or are you more on the side of the new Xiaomi 13, which comes in striking colors and is aimed at a younger generation of users? Feel free to vote in the poll below as well. Also follow our group on Facebook: Xiaomi Planet – Miesto pre pravých Xiaomi fanúšikov and also our Xiaomi Planet portal to learn more.