Xiaomi 12

Bright, 120Hz curved OLED.

Battery life is quite underwhelming.

These drawbacks keep us from recommending the handset right away, yet they are not enough to dismiss the Xiaomi 12's strong points we truly liked. The excellent camera performance all-around, the great ergonomics, bright screen and fast wireless/wired...

Feels great in the hand ; Charges quickly ; Some fun camera modes

Gets hot when gaming ; No zoom camera ; Irritating software issues

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor ; 6.28-inch FHD AMOLED display ; Good camera system

Average battery life ; Lacks a standout design ; No MicroSD card slot

If you want all of the benefits of a flagship smartphone but in a more compact device, then the Xiaomi 12 is a good choice. It has the latest Snapdragon processor, a sharp AMOLED display and a capable three-lens camera system. This phone doesn't...

Attractive rear design ; Easy to hold in one hand

Cameras are good, not great ; Chipset gets hot

Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 ; Gorgeous AMOLED screen ; Great camera system ; Sleek and stylish ; Competitive pricing

No headphone jack ; Curved display victim to accidental taps ; Battery life not as long as we’d like ; Overheating issues under stress

The Xiaomi 12 takes the fight to the Samsung Galaxy S22 with a great compact flagship that brings big specs, a gorgeous display and a great camera together at a competitive price.

Compact design ; Excellent performance ; Solid main camera ; Fast wired & wireless charging

MIUI quirks ; Middling battery life ; No IP rating ; No telephoto lens

There's lots to like about the Xiaomi 12 from its easy-to-handle design to a range of impressive specs. However, there are a few flaws that mean you'll want to consider rivals first.

Well priced ; Astonishing display ; Great performance

Still no IP rating ; Still no telephoto camera ; Still no microSD expansion

A phone of two halves, the Xiaomi 12 isn’t a huge step up from its predecessor. Despite the performance improvements, lavish design and superbly colour-accurate display, the Xiaomi 12 still has its drawbacks, and frustratingly these are things that...

Compact dimensions ; 120Hz AMOLED screen ; Top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC ; Nice macro camera ; Fast 67W charging

Disappointing battery life ; No IP rating ; Too much bloatware ; No MicroSD storage expansion

Good battery life ; Lots of power ; Strong main and macro cameras

No telephoto camera ; No IP rating ; Can get sharper screens for the money

The Xiaomi 12 is a strong all-round flagship which doesn't disappoint in any significant way and impresses in quite a few, including its battery life and power.

Premium compact design ; Uncompromising power ; Excellent primary camera ; Fast wired and wireless charging

No telephoto camera ; Ultra-wide camera isn’t best-in-class ; No expandable storage

Compact top-tier flagships are few and far between, and the Xiaomi 12 is our favourite premium compact flagship out now. It marries power, sleek design and a very reliable camera, fast wired and wireless charging, and an improved interface versus old,...