The Xiaomi 12T resembles the Xiaomi 12T Pro, which was released at the same time. The biggest advantage of the Xiaomi 12T, though, is its drastically reduced pricing.
Xiaomi achieves this price with the adoption of a less powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Ultra processor and a lower-resolution 108MP primary camera. This camera features the same ultra-wide 8MP and macro 2MP sensors as the Pro.
The phone’s 6.67-inch AMOLED display is quite close to that of its more expensive sibling, though not identical in every respect. In the meantime, its 5,000mAh battery and 120W charger are among the most generous you’ll find at this price.
1. Design
The Xiaomi 12T closely resembles the Xiaomi 12T Pro. In fact, I initially submitted a number of 12T images for my earlier Xiaomi 12T Pro review.
It has extremely comparable dimensions of 163 x 76 x 8.6mm and a weight of 202g. The same flat display, thick plastic frame, shiny top and bottom borders set against a matte plastic rim, and silky matte glass back are present.
In summary, what seemed disappointingly mid-range on the Xiaomi 12T Pro now feels perfectly adequate on the Xiaomi 12T. This appears to be the design of a £500 phone; it is elegant and understated. But, it lacks the elegant aesthetic appeal of the Pixel 7 and the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion, both of which are available for the same price.
There are a few design differences between this and the Pro, with some being more noticeable than others. The Xiaomi 12T’s primary camera does not protrude from the rest of the module, which is actually nicer in my opinion.
Less desirable is the fact that the 12T’s stereo speakers are not tuned by Harman Kardon. When played side-by-side, the 12T’s speakers sound substantially less clear and expansive.
Unlike the Pro, the Xiaomi 12T lacks any type of water and dust resistance certification. However, it has the same Gorilla Glass 5 display cover and IR blaster on the top edge, allowing you to use the phone as a remote control with the Mi Remote app.
2. Display
On the surface, Xiaomi has equipped the Xiaomi 12T with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display similar to the Pro variant. You also receive the same astounding 2,712 x 1,220 resolution, a fluid 120Hz refresh rate, and a game-friendly 480Hz touch response rate.
The majority of capable Android phones offer FHD+ or QHD+ resolution, however the two 12T models opt for a resolution in between. It’s a method comparable to Apple’s, and it produces a battery-friendly, crisp image.
In the Original display mode, it has an excellent average Delta E rating of 0.8, gamut coverage of 99.8%, and gamut volume of 103.1%. I recorded a maximum brightness level of 473cd/m2 (with autobrightness enabled). This is little lower than the Xiaomi 12T Pro’s performance.
In addition to lacking Dolby Vision support like the Pro model, the Xiaomi 12T has a little diminished visual impact. Yet, we are only speaking briefly. Overall, this is the strongest screen available for the price.
3. Performance
The 12T is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Ultra processor, which is a high-end midrange microprocessor. In terms of raw performance, it is a significant step down from the Xiaomi 12T Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 CPU, yet it successfully keeps the flagship feel in the hand.
Indeed, the CPU-focused Geekbench 5 benchmark tests that I ran indicate a near-flagship smartphone, with average results that exceed those of the Pixel 7 and the Xiaomi 11T Pro, and are roughly comparable to those of the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion.
All I can say is that it is capable of running Genshin Impact on High settings with Performance mode on, however it falls short of the 60 fps target. It is the clearest indication that, although this is a solid performer, it is not at its top.
The Xiaomi 12T and 12T Pro have the same 5,000mAh battery. This is much larger than the 4,400mAh battery found in the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion and the 4,355mAh battery found in the Google Pixel 7.
In fact, it would typically leave me with 50 to 60 percent battery life at the conclusion of a 16-hour day of mild to moderate use. Performing the standard looping video test, the Xiaomi 12T lasted five hours less than the Google Pixel 7 and over six hours less than the OnePlus 10T. Yet, the Xiaomi 12T Pro lasted almost the same amount of time, thus it appears to boil down to Xiaomi’s approach to battery optimisation.
As with the Xiaomi 12T Pro, the inclusion of a 120W charger is one of the primary features of this device. This is adequate to charge the phone from 0% to 68% in just 15 minutes, and from 0% to 100% in approximately 20 minutes. That is remarkable.
4. Cameras
Similar to the Xiaomi 12T Pro and in stark contrast to the Xiaomi 12 Pro, the Xiaomi 12 features an asymmetrical triple camera setup. It is driven by a 1/1.67″ 108MP wide sensor, as opposed to the Pro’s 1/1.22″ 200MP sensor, which is larger and sharper. The same disappointing 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro sensors as the Pro are utilized.
Overall, the Xiaomi 11T Pro from the previous year has a similar design and offers comparable results. 12MP photos captured with the Xiaomi 12T are often crisp and well exposed, capturing an abundance of detail. After early testing, I never felt the need to enable the optional AI scene enhancer, as it tended to make things look cooler than usual.
In general, the 12T Pro’s primary camera produces crisper and better-exposed images, particularly in moderate lighting conditions, such as indoors during the day. In general, the shots of the Pro appeared more natural. On a cloudier day, the Pro’s photographs appeared slightly cooler, while the 12T’s were noticeably more yellow. However, results are not always favorable for the Pro, since the 12T occasionally generated the more well-balanced shot.
There are also variances in tone and detail with the presumably similar ultrawide, suggesting that the Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 Pro offers superior image processing. Compared to this pixel-dense main sensor, the 12T’s wide-angle photos typically lack quite a bit of information.
Verdict
The Xiaomi 12T is a powerful midrange smartphone with a capable primary camera, adequate performance, and lightning-fast charging. You will not find a sharper AMOLED display at this price point.
Late in 2022, though, the competition is very fierce. The Xiaomi 12T lacks the quality aesthetic and streamlined software of the Google Pixel 7 and Motorola Edge 30 Fusion, making both competitor mid-range devices feel more like flagships than the Xiaomi 12T. With devices such as the OnePlus One 2T and the Nothing Phone (1) delivering so much for £100 less, Xiaomi’s T-series is no longer as impressively priced as it once was.
