Xiaomi 12T Pro review

MIUI 12 over Android 12

The Xiaomi 12T Pro runs on Android 12 but with a newer, improved MIUI 13 on top. The new MIUI 13 promises under-the-hood improvements such as better RAM management, CPU utilization and more effective storage use.

Overall, looks haven't changed, and previous MIUI users will feel right at home.

The split between a notification shade and Control Center is enabled by default this time, and that's probably a good thing. We found it to be quite convenient, and it's a way to educate users about MIUI's unique approach to the UI. And in case you are not a fan, you can always revert back to the standard notification shade with quick toggles in one place.

Home screen, notification shade, Control center

The home screen, recent apps and the general settings menu are business as usual. The app drawer is also enabled by default, and we like that Xiaomi has placed the search bar at the bottom of the screen for easier reach. There are custom and preset app categories for faster navigation.

Unlike the standard recent apps menu, the MIUI task switcher lists the apps vertically and provides several useful shortcuts. That's where you can open up apps in floating windows. However, you can have only one floating app open at a time. In case you want a faster shortcut to apps that support free-form windows, just enable the Sidebar.

Recent apps, app drawer

Notably, the Sidebar is different depending on the scenario. In games, the Sidebar provides a couple of gaming-related features, while in video apps, the Sidebar becomes a Video toolbox. It lets you launch video apps in pop-up windows, Screenshot, Record screen, Cast, and Play Video with the screen off, including on YouTube without a Premium subscription. The only caveat is that the apps where you want the feature enabled need to be whitelisted in advance.

Sidebar and Video toolbox

Customization is, as always, a big part of MIUI. The system lets you choose the style of the Always-on display or the theme of the UI. Aside from the ones pre-installed on the device, there's a themes store that gives you a wide selection. The themes themselves change not only the general appearance but also ringtones and system icons.

Themes and Always-on display

Moving on to privacy and security, MIUI comes with a pre-installed system Security app. Aside from the additional malware protection layer it provides, the app holds many of the app settings and privacy features in one place. It can manage your blacklist, manage or restrict your data usage, configure battery behavior, and free up some RAM. It can also manage the permissions of your installed apps, define the battery behavior of selected apps, and apply restrictions only to certain apps.

Xiaomi Security app

Speaking of security, the fingerprint reader is fast and reliable. We had no issues even when outside on a bright sunny day. There's extended functionality for the fingerprint reader, allowing you to open up an app or initiate action as soon as you unlock the device - just keep your finger on the scanner when it unlocks. It's a lot like OnePlus' OxygenOS/Oppo's ColorOS/Realme's Realme UI feature, but this one doesn't allow customization. We didn't find a way to add shortcut apps, so you are stuck with the Search and QR Code scanner.

Fingerprint reader options

All in all, MIUI 13 changed a little over the 12th iteration, but it's just as snappy and customizable as ever. Xiaomi has paid special attention to the haptics on this unit, and we found the motor to be crisp, strong and accurate. There's even haptic feedback intensity adjustment if you find it obtrusive or not strong enough.

Synthetic benchmarks

The Xiaomi 12T Pro is based on Qualcomm's latest and greatest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. It has an Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) CPU setup and an Adreno 730 GPU, plus a Snapdragon X65 5G modem system and a 7th generation Qualcomm AI Engine, all made on the excellent TSMC 4nm node.

The 12T Pro can be had with either 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB or 256GB of UFS3.1 storage, or in a 12GB RAM and 256GB storage top configuration. Our review unit has 256GB of storage and 8GB of Physical, plus 3GB of virtual memory.

Kicking things off with some CPU runs and GeekBench, we can see that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 inside the 12T Pro performs exactly as expected. That goes for both single and multi-core loads.

GeekBench 5 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  4300
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  4265
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  4081
• iQOO 9T
  4059
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  3947
• Xiaomi 12T
  3756
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  3682
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  3682
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  3658
• Xiaomi 12
  3652
• vivo X80 Pro
  3505
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  3448
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  3447
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  3433
• OnePlus 10T
  3401
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  3189
• Xiaomi 12X
  3168
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  3049
• Nothing Phone (1)
  3024
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  2943
• Google Pixel 6
  2899
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  2831
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  2790
• vivo V25 Pro
  2521
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  2225
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  1891
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  1662

GeekBench 5 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  1324
• iQOO 9T
  1276
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  1276
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  1251
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  1238
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  1233
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  1207
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  1196
• Xiaomi 12
  1187
• vivo X80 Pro
  1184
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  1171
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  1169
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  1096
• OnePlus 10T
  1043
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  1042
• Google Pixel 6
  1030
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  1002
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  975
• Xiaomi 12X
  943
• Xiaomi 12T
  925
• vivo V25 Pro
  858
• Nothing Phone (1)
  820
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  785
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  743
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  736
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  491
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  376

AnTuTu and its more compound set of tests, including graphical ones, also paints a flattering overall picture of the Xiaomi 12T Pro, placing it high up the performance chart where it belongs.

AnTuTu 9

Higher is better

• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  1074722
• iQOO 9T
  1045901
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  1039412
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  1032185
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  1012896
• vivo X80 Pro
  1002570
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  985226
• Xiaomi 12
  985115
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  962636
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  941895
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  886248
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  884923
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  881428
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  835038
• OnePlus 10T
  786238
• Xiaomi 12T
  780204
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  719815
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  719696
• vivo V25 Pro
  704090
• Xiaomi 12X
  690298
• Google Pixel 6
  676831
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  604467
• Nothing Phone (1)
  592789
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  528905
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  437872
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  379313
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  244526

Graphical tests are also solid through and through in terms of results, especially after considering that the Xiaomi 12T has a higher than usual 1220 x 2712 pixel resolution, which has detrimental effects on onscreen test results if you compare it to FHD+ phones.

GFX Aztek ES 3.1 High (onscreen)

Higher is better

• iQOO 9T
  65
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  65
• OnePlus 10T
  60
• Xiaomi 12
  59
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  59
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  57
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  53
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  50
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  48
• Google Pixel 6
  46
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  46
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  38
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  38
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  37
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  36
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  35
• vivo X80 Pro
  34
• vivo V25 Pro
  33
• Xiaomi 12X
  32
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  31
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  28
• Nothing Phone (1)
  23
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  19
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  15
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  4.6

GFX Aztek ES 3.1 High (offscreen 1440p)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  46
• iQOO 9T
  46
• OnePlus 10T
  46
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  45
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  43
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  43
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  43
• Xiaomi 12
  41
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  41
• vivo X80 Pro
  41
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  40
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  39
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  35
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  31
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  31
• Google Pixel 6
  30
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  29
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  24
• Xiaomi 12X
  22
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  22
• vivo V25 Pro
  21
• Nothing Phone (1)
  15
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  13
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  10
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  3.1

GFX Aztek Vulkan High (onscreen)

Higher is better

• iQOO 9T
  67
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  62
• OnePlus 10T
  60
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  60
• Xiaomi 12
  59
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  58
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  56
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  55
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  45
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  44
• Google Pixel 6
  43
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  41
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  39
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  38
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  37
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  36
• Xiaomi 12X
  35
• vivo X80 Pro
  34
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  29
• vivo V25 Pro
  28
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  26
• Nothing Phone (1)
  23
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  19
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  15
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  4.8

GFX Aztek Vulkan High (offscreen 1440p)

Higher is better

• iQOO 9T
  52
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  51
• OnePlus 10T
  51
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  50
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  48
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  47
• Xiaomi 12
  45
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  45
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  45
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  44
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  43
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  42
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  38
• vivo X80 Pro
  37
• Google Pixel 6
  30
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  30
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  29
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  25
• Xiaomi 12X
  24
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  20
• vivo V25 Pro
  19
• Nothing Phone (1)
  16
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  15
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  10
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  3.1

It is also worth noting that all of these tests were done with the 12T Pro in auto-refresh rate mode. As we go further down the list of benchmarks with reduced difficulty, we can clearly see the 12T Pro pushing past the 60fps mark on and off screen, indicating once again that the auto-refresh rate mode is working correctly and as intended.

GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (onscreen)

Higher is better

• iQOO 9T
  87
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  78
• Xiaomi 12
  75
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  73
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  70
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  69
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  65
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  63
• OnePlus 10T
  60
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  58
• Google Pixel 6
  57
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  56
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  51
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  48
• Xiaomi 12X
  47
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  46
• vivo X80 Pro
  44
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  44
• vivo V25 Pro
  42
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  40
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  39
• Nothing Phone (1)
  33
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  29
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  22
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  19
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  6.8

GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  104
• iQOO 9T
  103
• OnePlus 10T
  103
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  100
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  98
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  97
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  96
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  95
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  94
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  93
• vivo X80 Pro
  90
• Xiaomi 12
  84
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  80
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  74
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  70
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  70
• Google Pixel 6
  66
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  57
• Xiaomi 12X
  55
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  50
• vivo V25 Pro
  48
• Nothing Phone (1)
  37
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  33
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  25
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  23
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  8

In fact, given an easy enough load to work with, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and its Adreno 730 GPU even have enough power to push up against the 120fps mark, effectively saturating the 120Hz refresh rate on the phone's display.

GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (onscreen)

Higher is better

• iQOO 9T
  119
• Xiaomi 12
  117
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  116
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  114
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  111
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  105
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  99
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  98
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  97
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  97
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  91
• Google Pixel 6
  90
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  89
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  86
• vivo X80 Pro
  82
• Xiaomi 12X
  70
• vivo V25 Pro
  67
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  65
• OnePlus 10T
  60
• Nothing Phone (1)
  58
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  56
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  50
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  38
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  35
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  12

GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p)

Higher is better

• OnePlus 10T
  183
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  182
• iQOO 9T
  182
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  179
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  175
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  168
• Xiaomi 12
  164
• vivo X80 Pro
  164
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  163
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  162
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  160
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  132
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  121
• Google Pixel 6
  117
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  114
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  110
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  108
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  103
• Xiaomi 12X
  89
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  80
• vivo V25 Pro
  70
• Nothing Phone (1)
  65
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  54
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  43
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  38
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  15

GFX Manhattan ES 3.0 (offscreen 1080p)

Higher is better

• OnePlus 10T
  274
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  268
• iQOO 9T
  267
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  262
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  261
• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  251
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  249
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  249
• Oppo Find X5 Pro
  244
• Xiaomi 12
  236
• vivo X80 Pro
  226
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  216
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  187
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
  178
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  173
• Google Pixel 6
  159
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  154
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  133
• Xiaomi 12X
  127
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  127
• vivo V25 Pro
  98
• Nothing Phone (1)
  93
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  78
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  64
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  60
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  21

GFX Manhattan ES 3.0 (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Motorola Edge 30 Pro
  142
• Xiaomi 12T Pro
  121
• Xiaomi 12
  121
• iQOO 9T
  120
• ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  120
• Sony Xperia 5 IV
  120
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  118
• Xiaomi 12 Pro
  117
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
  116
• Samsung Galaxy S22
  116
• OnePlus 10 Pro
  116
• vivo X80 Pro
  113
• Xiaomi 12X
  106
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
  100
• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 average
  100
• vivo V25 Pro
  96
• Google Pixel 6
  90
• Nothing Phone (1)
  84
• Xiaomi 12 Lite
  68
• OnePlus Nord 2T
  60
• OnePlus 10T
  60
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
  57
• Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
  55
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
  18

In real life, the Xiaomi 12T Pro runs incredibly smoothly with no slowdowns or hiccups. The UI and apps work smoothly, especially with the 120Hz refresh rate, and the phone has more than enough performance to chew through anything you throw at it. That's perfectly expected with a "full fat" Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 on board.

While some corners were cut here and there on the 12T Pro, Xiaomi didn't skip anything in the performance department. What you are getting is nothing short of top-notch 2022 performance.