Xiaomi unveiled its latest flagship smartphone in China called Xiaomi 12S Ultra. And popular YouTuber MrWhosetheboss has also already prepared an in-depth review of this phone, where he compares the key features—and especially the camera—with a premium flagship smartphone Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Which one won?
The most modern technologies in a single smartphone
Right at the start of the video, the YouTuber reveals that Xiaomi 12S Ultra has been in use for about a month already. When talking about the design, he praised the matte leather finish on the back, which doesn’t catch fingerprints and has a textured look. He also highlighted the round module of the rear cameras, and when comparing it to the Samsung phone, he gave Xiaomi the win in this category.
When it came to the display, he emphasized the 6.73″ AMOLED panel with a cutout for the front camera, but he was mainly disappointed with the thicker bezels compared to Xiaomi 11 Ultra, as well as the slightly worse viewing angles. A point for Samsung. And likewise, Samsung also earned a point for software support from the manufacturer. Samsung, after all, guarantees 4 years of updates.
However, the additional positives in Xiaomi’s favor are clear. It’s performance and battery. Xiaomi went with an entirely new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, which has a worldwide premiere for the Xiaomi 12S series. MrWhosetheboss praised performance in graphically demanding gaming titles, as well as smooth everyday use. He did criticize the bloatware in the system.
As for the battery, it has a capacity of up to 4 860 mAh, and compared to Samsung it also offers more powerful 67 W wired charging, 50 W fast wireless charging, and up to 10 W reverse charging—e.g., for accessories. The YouTuber also praised excellent battery settings directly within the smartphone. You can set individual rules or app limits in just a few clicks.
The best camera hardware you’ll find in a smartphone
The most important—and likely most dramatic—comparison was the camera comparison. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has long been seen as one of the best Android smartphones, especially when it comes to mobile photography.
It features a 108 MPx main sensor with laser autofocus and OIS, a 12 MPx ultra-wide sensor (120°), a 10 MPx periscope telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom and OIS, plus a 10 MPx telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and OIS.
On the other hand, there’s Xiaomi. The equipment includes a main sensor Sony IMX989 with a size of up to 1″ and a resolution of 50 MPx. The second sensor is a 48 MPx ultra-wide sensor with autofocus, so you can use it for macro shots too. Third, there’s a 48 MPx periscope lens with a Sony IMX586 sensor. It offers double optical zoom. You’ll also like the optical stabilization Hyper OIS.
Even with the first photos, the popular YouTuber praised mainly the sharpness of the shots, as well as the natural blur of the background behind the subject. Samsung usually impressed with a richer-looking image, but after zooming in on this shot, it was Xiaomi that offered more details.
Besides that, the Chinese manufacturer also dominates the Korean one when it comes to video. Especially in features like stabilization during movement or the HDR function. The advantage also includes various built-in cinematic modes, a document scanning mode, or a multi-camera mode with six different shots.
In the review, you can also hear criticism regarding the collaboration with the Leica brand. Besides filters or sound effects, Leica also brings its own color correction. There are two styles to choose from: Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant. However, both styles are known for unnatural, highly saturated colors.
When comparing the cameras, Xiaomi wins for the primary 50 MPx sensor that you’ll likely use most often. Samsung, on the other hand, offers a bit more when it comes to an ultra-wide-angle sensor, optical zoom, or its own color correction.
Xiaomi 12S Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?
As MrWhosetheboss puts it, we can’t clearly say which of these two flagship smartphones is better. These are exceptionally well-matched devices, so in your final decision, the details or your personal preferences for certain features must matter.
Which one of these two would you choose?
Which of the two premium flagship devices do you like more? Do you prefer Chinese Xiaomi or South Korean Samsung? Feel free to vote in our poll too. Also, follow our group on Facebook: Xiaomi Planet – A place for real Xiaomi fans as well as our Xiaomi Planet portal, where you can learn more.
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