Review | Xiaomi 12T Pro: the smartphone with the best value for money

Ladies and gentlemen, hail the best price/quality combo of the season. A mobile phone that, although it does not surprise so much on the outside, has inside the best and most advanced that can be obtained today in the market of Android models, of which the icing on the cake is its photo sensor: an incredible 200 megapixels.

Exactly a year ago, Xiaomi surprised us by presenting its 11T Pro model, which in addition to being a very good device, gradually decreased in price during 2022 until it became one of the best options to achieve maximum performance in use, with a more than decent camera and very, very fast charging, among other attractive features.

In the Android phone market, it was hard to find a better option for this price. Even to this day.

But the brand is back. This year they launched three models within their premium range. First it was the 12 Pro, then the 12S Pro (which didn’t reach Chile) and now the latest crown jewel, the Xiaomi 12T Pro . Let’s get to know him closer.

• Dimensions : 163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6mm.
• lester : 205 grams.
• Filter : 6.67″ (20:9) CrystalRes AMOLED
• Resolution : 2712 x 1220 / Refresh rate: 120 Hz
• Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm)
• Memory : 12 GB RAM
• Storage : 256 GB
• Drums : 5000 mAh (with 120 W smart fast charge)
• master bedroom : 200 megapixel f/1.69 Wide angle: 8 MP f/2.2 Macro: 2 MP f/2.
• Front camera : 20MP f/2.24
• Operating system : MIUI 13 (on Android 12)
• connectivity : USB-C / Bluetooth 5.2 / Wi-Fi 6 / 5G / NFC

There are not many surprises when unboxing the new Xiaomi model. Inside its cream-colored box we find the device, the obligatory transparent silicone case and the box with the warranty and manuals. Most striking, like last year, is its beautiful, if somewhat bulky, 120-watt charger with USB-C connection and smart charging system, which we’ll get to later.

As for the design, there are no major novelties compared to its brothers. It is a simple, even neutral design, therefore elegant and discreet. It comes in three colors: silver, blue and dark grey.

The cellphone is generous on its screen – they measure no less than 6.67 inches – but it doesn’t feel bulky. In fact, in the hand and in the pockets it is quite comfortable and not bulky. The matte finish is pleasant to the touch, although a bit slippery, which is solved with the included protective silicone case.

The frame is made of metal, also with a matte finish, and is firm and secure. Despite its size and sturdiness, the 12T Pro is lighter than you might imagine (205 grams, three less than the 12 Pro) and manages to feel compact in the hand when handling it.

As we said, its design is very functional: volume and power buttons on the right side, without buttons on the left side; speakers and antennas at the top, dual SIM card port and USB-C input at the bottom.

The rear does not innovate much. The top left camera module is split in two: a space for the main lens and another for the flash and secondary cameras. Further down, the brand engraved on the side.

Nothing special, it’s true, but they are part of the sacrifices that had to be made in its manufacture to reach the desired price.

The cell phone is rich. It flies in terms of day-to-day use, with apps deploying instantly when you open them. The combination of a high refresh rate and an AMOLED screen has its effect, elevating the experience to enjoy excellent viewing, both in coverage space and in the fluidity of texts and animations, especially on social networks.

After tidying up the apps and files and customizing the device with its very nice MIUI 13 user interface, there were no major issues. Nor in the great endurance test for a smartphone: video games. titles like immortal devil or the already classic Genshin Impact They worked without a hitch. Going from there to any other app was seamless.

I was struck by the interesting security system that the Xiaomi 12T featured when it came to customizing notifications, payments, and other types of actions that required user attention. Its on-screen biometric reader works perfectly and facial recognition is very fast. In the same way, its touch frequency reaches up to 480 Hz, so the responses to the touch of the screen are very fast.

On the other hand, the dual stereo speaker system, powered by Harman-Kardon, sounded better than I expected, with powerful, immersive, and crystal-clear sound.

A special mention deserves its photographic section. not the first smartphone in the world that includes a 200 megapixel camera (this corresponds to the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, which unfortunately will not reach our country), but it is a pioneer in our market.

That sounds like a lot and indeed it is. For now, it has almost twice as many megapixels as the 11T, launched last year, which already surprised with 108 MP. It is a very powerful sensor, capable of easily doing gigantography. While this huge amount is probably irrelevant to most, for photography enthusiasts the possibilities are vast.

For more common users, the great grace of having a sensor with these characteristics is that you can take pictures with great depth. For example, when zooming in on photography, the level of detail that can be achieved, without losing an iota of resolution or quality, is truly astounding.

We had the chance to try it from the heights of a stadium and from the Sky Costanera viewpoint, which by the way offers the best view from above in Santiago. The level of detail achieved when zoomed in is truly breathtaking.

Moreover, it allows you to manipulate the photographs in multiple ways. The software includes several tools based on artificial intelligence, such as Dolby Vision, and with them it is possible to crop the photo into up to five different images based on the original. You don’t even notice they’re part of the same image, because nothing is compromised in terms of clarity or resolution. In addition, it includes improvements in night or low-light shots, and a digital stabilizer that allows you to have excellent focus while moving.

Although this is no longer a novelty, it is still amazing how fast the device charges with a 120 watt charger. Indeed, it is able to go from 0 to 50% in just 9 minutes, and the battery is full in 17.

The loading speed is really surprising. You take a shower and that’s it. For the same reason, I never plugged my laptop back in at night: just plug it in at some point during the day and forget about it for the rest of the day.

With its very efficient latest generation Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, a virtuous combination is generated: the 5000 mAh battery has a much more efficient performance – with a variable refresh rate it is capable of reaching 31 hours of autonomy , and outperforms full daylight at 120Hz—than any competition.

By the way, both during the charging period and during other periods of more intense use – for example, playing video games or making video calls – the cell phone never overheated. This is due to its intelligent charging and cooling system, with up to 27% higher heat dissipation than the Xiaomi 11T Pro.

So the phone performed superbly across the board: fast, solid, and comfortable to use.

As we said, Xiaomi has done it again. Just like last year at the same time, the Chinese giant presented its most powerful and ambitious device in its premium range. Whichever way you look at it, the 12T Pro exudes power and performance in a package that only sacrifices a bit of design for a very attractive launch price for all the power inside.

We are facing the Android device that best combines high-end elements (camera, screen, processor, memory, etc.) with value. This is the Xiaomi formula, the one that has worked wonders for him. All this without taking into account that, surely, the price of this model will gradually drop in the following months. For my taste, the best Android phone of the season.

Note: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

*Product prices in this article are current as of November 8, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.