Xiaomi 12T review

The competition

The Xiaomi 12T is quite an interesting offer with a starting price of €600 for the base 8GB/128GB model. It offers a large 120Hz OLED screen with 12-bit color depth and higher than the average resolution at 1220p. The Dimensity 8100-Ultra chipset is another treat that will be appreciated by gamers and power users. The rear cameras offer solid performance day and night, and, of course, the great battery life is complimented by blazing-fast 120W charging.

The Xiaomi 12T is positioned in what we're used to calling the 'flagship-killer' segment, and while not overcrowded, it does have plenty of competition that you should consider before making your decision.

The Realme GT Neo 3 is the first competitor that comes to mind as the phone is based on the same Dimensity 8100 chipset and is priced at €600. The Neo 3 has a similar AMOLED and a trio of cameras at the back, as well as equally good speakers and battery life. The standard Neo 3 comes with 80W fast charging, though there is a €100 more expensive version with 150W charging. Realme phones, however, don't offer HRR gaming even if they have the right hardware.

The 128GB version of the flagship Galaxy S22 model now costs about €620, which makes it an excellent alternative to the Xiaomi 12T for its sleeker design, more dynamic AMOLED screen, faster hardware, the better cameras with dedicated telephoto one, and the IP68-rated body. The Galaxy S22 is a much smaller phone, which may not offer that good battery life or super fast charging, but it's an all-around flagship device.

Of course, there is also the 12T's sibling to consider - the Xiaomi 12T Pro. The upgrades it brings include Dolby Vision screen certification, an impressive sounding 200MP primary camera, and the most current Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. These flagship-worth features will cost you an extra €150 on top of the 12T, up to €750.

The OnePlus 10T is about €100 more expensive than the Xiaomi 12T, and it will offer the flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, 150W fast charging, and better photo and video quality.

And a final offer worth considering - the Poco X4 GT. It's a gaming-oriented smartphone with a 144Hz LCD screen with HDR10 and Dolby Vision certifications, the same Dimensity 8100 chipset, and a similar triple camera on the back, but without OIS. The Poco X4 GT also has stereo speakers and a large battery, while its fast charging is "merely" 67W. The X4 GT starts at €380, which is what makes it a killer offer right now.

Realme GT Neo 3 • Samsung Galaxy S22 5G • Xiaomi 12T Pro • OnePlus 10T • Xiaomi Poco X4 GT

Our verdict

The Xiaomi 12T is one of the most thoughtful premium mid-rangers to come out in 2022, and we did like almost everything about it. The AMOLED screen is great for its high resolution, dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ capabilities, and high brightness. The cutout is incredibly small, but that's because of the rather dated selfie camera.

Then there is the excellent performance of the Dimensity 8100-Ultra chipset, which is ideal for gaming because of its superb speed and impressive stability. We also liked the overall battery life, while having one of the fastest charging solutions does come in handy, too.

The goodies of the Xiaomi 12T continue with a pair of Dolby Atmos speakers and dependable photo and video quality across the rear setup, day and night.

It's not all sunshine with the Xiaomi 12T, but it's not a €1000 phone either. It has basic splash proofing, and the new 12T has lost the metal frame and the advanced macro camera, which the Xiaomi 11T had. The selfie camera is rather disappointing, too, and not having lossless zoom with a 108MP sensor is a letdown.

But at €600 retail price, we think the excelling pick of premium features outweighs the few displeasing aspects we've encountered. And that's why the Xiaomi 12T gets our big thumbs up.

Pros

• Dual-glass no-nonsense design, signature camera island.
• Excellent OLED, 120Hz, 1220p, HDR10+, bright.
• Dependably battery life, one of the fastest charging speeds.
• Loud speakers, good quality, Dolby Atmos.
• The primary and ultrawide photo and video quality are great.
• 5G, NFC, UD fingerprint scanner, Wi-Fi 6.

Cons

• No metal frame, no Dolby Vision, and no telemacro cam as on the 11T.
• Mediocre selfie camera.
• No lossless zoom for the primary camera.