This year more than ever it has become complicated to extricate yourself from the best smartphones, all the main manufacturers are in fact working hard to improve “that much” the previous generation and resounding mistakes are not seen at all. Something that can also be said for Xiaomi that has certainly made center with the triad of the 12 series that naturally sees the 12 Pro at the top, strong of its cameras and very fast charging.
The real challenge for Xiaomi is not so much to show that its top of the range are up to the competition – also because we have already compared them and the differences are not so substantial – as to convince users to spend a lot even for their smartphones, disengaging from the mid-range that has made their fortunes. Let’s focus now on the 12 Pro that I have always had with me for a couple of weeks, a faithful companion that I have learned to consider and respect.
The watchword at this round was “essentiality”, the soft, curved and precise lines outline a search for simplicity in its most prestigious meaning. The frosted back glass offers a pleasant and useful slight rough feeling in order to improve grip and cancel any imprint. Recognizable and identity is the system of rear cameras that proposes at the top the gigantic optics of the main and below, vertically, the other two (with flash alongside), all raised a few millimeters compared to the rest of the body. I find it elegant and clean, especially in this dark coloring “Gray”.
A separate chapter for the display, a fantastic 6.7-inch Super Amoled that has already earned external recognition and boasts the features that today are expected from a model of this range: WQHD + resolution, variable frequency – between 10 and 120Hz from what I see – and very high brightness up to 1,500nit declared. Slightly curved display that gives that touch of modernity when you look at it from the front, not everyone will love them but they also make the grip easier and certainly we are not in front of an exaggerated angle.
PERFORMANCE
What to say if not that under the beautiful body beats the best mobile platform available today, very fast and abundant memories and an updated software. A few words that summarize a general satisfaction in the everyday user experience, whatever you do, from the simplest operation to the most complex one. The 12 Pro does not blink even under maximum stress, it remains at low temperatures and continues to provide the fluidity that is expected from the first in class.
To help from a thermal point of view there is a large ultra-thin vapor chamber and three layers of graphite foil that Xiaomi has put together to dissipate at best. Temperatures that remain under control even during charging, but on this point I invite you to read the next chapter.
6.7″ E5 LTPO Super AMOLED display, QHD+ resolution (1,440 x 3,200 pixels), refresh varying between 1 and 120 Hz, peak brightness 1,500 nits, SGS Eye Care Display Certification
SoC: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) + Adreno 730 GPU
Memory: 8+256 GB, 12+256 GB, UFS 3.1 (1917 MB/s read and 1383 MB/s write) non-expandable. RAM LPDDR5X
Cameras:
Main Rear: 50 MP f/1.9, 7P lens, wide angle, OIS, Sony IMX707 2.44 μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel sensor
Secondary rear: 50 MP, ultra-wide angle 115° FOV, f/2.2
rear secondary 50 MP, telephoto 2x f/1.9 48mm equivalent
Front: 32 MP 1.4μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel, f/2.45
Battery: 4,600 mAh
Charging: 120W wired, 50W wireless, 10W reverse Xiaomi AdaptiveCharge Pro
Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM dual 5G standby, Wi-Fi 6/6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
Audio: four stereo speakers, no jack
Optical fingerprint scanner under the display
Operating System: MIUI 13 based on Android 12
Dimensions: 163.60mm x 74.60mm x 8.16mm
Weight: 205 grams
I played a lot with this smartphone and enjoyed the maximum possible detail, without any smudges and with the pleasure of a higher-end display and excellent audio. The Adreno 730 GPU is the companion that certainly does not set limits in a multimedia perspective and also allows you to push to the maximum without having to worry about some limitations, even thermal.
I also really like Game Turbo, the native software that allows you to customize the gaming experience by directly controlling some parameters such as the game mode (Balanced or Performance), monitor the use of CPU, GPU and FPS as if we were on a gaming desktop. Also interesting is the timer that allows you to better manage your sessions, without exaggerating. In short, a functional, clear and well-made platform.
