The Xiaomi 12 series has been a turning point in the company’s philosophy, marking the transition to a flagship compact form factor while retaining top-end hardware. Many users still wonder if this model, launched a few years ago, can compete with today’s mid-range and flagships in 2026-2026.
The main focus of this device was on versatility: there is no giant periscope with 100x zoom, but there is excellent optical stabilization and fast autofocus. The main camera is built on the basis of a proven Sony sensor that has proven its reliability in various lighting conditions for years, which allows you to get consistently good results, even if you are not a professional photographer.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what camera is installed in the Xiaomi 12, how it behaves when shooting videos and photos, and whether this smartphone should be considered as the main tool for mobile photography today.
Technical characteristics of camera modules
As we take apart the back of the device, we see a triple module that looks compact enough to hide a serious filling inside. The main sensor has 50 MP resolution and optical stabilization (OIS), which is the standard for the flagship segment. The wide-angle module also has a high resolution of 13 MP, which allows you to take detailed landscape images without severe quality losses along the edges of the frame.
The third module is a telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom? Alas, no. The Xiaomi 12 has a module with 2x optical zoom (50MP), often called telemacro. It's an interesting solution that allows you to take high-quality portraits and shots of small objects from close range, but for long-range zoom you have to rely on digital crop.
The software component deserves special attention: shell image processing algorithms. MIUI (HyperOS and HyperOS are constantly updated, improving dynamic range and color reproduction. HDR-The mode works aggressively, often overshadowing to pull out details, which is not popular with all users, but provides readability of shots in a counter-light.
- 📸 Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, pixel size 1.28 micron
- 🌄 Ultra-wide-angle: 13 MP, angle of view 123°, f/2.4
- 🔍 telemacrocro: 5 MP, f/2.4, zoom 2x, macrofocus
- 🤳 Front camera: 32 MP, f/2.45, video 1080p
⚠️ Attention: The telephoto lens in this model has a resolution of 5 MP, which is significantly less than the main module. Don't expect it to detail the level of 50 MP when shooting remote objects.
The main sensor and photo quality during the day
Daytime photography is the element of Xiaomi 12. The Sony IMX766 sensor used here has excellent dynamic range. In bright sunlight, photos are sharp, with rich but natural colors. The sharpening algorithms work gently without creating the watercolor effect that was often found in older models of the brand.
But you need to consider the processing. The system tends to make the frame brighter than it actually is by raising the exposure in the shadow areas. If you like contrast shots with deep black colors, you may have to manually adjust the exposure before you lower the shutter. White balance is often kept neutral, but in difficult conditions (for example, under the foliage of trees) can go into warm colors.
The speed of the camera app also plays a big role, and it's almost instantaneously focused, thanks to the All Pixel Omni-directional PDAF technology, which means that every pixel on the matrix is involved in phase autofocus, so you can quickly pull the phone out of your pocket and take a picture of a running child or pet, and the chances of getting a blurred frame are minimal.
For those who like to experiment, Pro mode is available where you can manually configure it. ISO, So this allows you to, for example, freeze the movement of water, or, conversely, make it blurry, simulating long exposure. RAW-Basic mode format (requires switching to Pro) can become a limitation for professionals.
Night shooting and Night Mode mode
At night, algorithmic magic comes into play. The Night mode on Xiaomi 12 works very efficiently, turning almost complete darkness into an illuminated scene. The smartphone takes a series of frames with different exposures and glues them together to remove digital noise. The result often looks better than what the human eye sees in the same conditions.
But there's a downside to this, because of the complexity of processing and multiple frames, the time to take a picture increases. If the subject moves, it can turn into a ghost or a blurry spot. Optical stabilization (OIS) helps keep the horizon flat, but it doesn't keep moving objects from being lubricated when shuttered long.
The camera tries not to over-glaze the lights and signs, keeping the details in the lights, but sometimes the dynamic range does not cope, and the bright spots turn into white spots. In very low light conditions (for example, in the forest at night), the noise maker can work too aggressively, "blurring" small textures, such as foliage or clothing fabric.
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For better nighttime shooting, use a tripod or wrap your phone around a stationary object so the algorithm can use longer shutter speeds without the risk of grease.
Portrait mode and zooming
Portrait mode on Xiaomi 12 is software-based, using data from all cameras and a telephoto lens. When shooting people, the algorithm pretty well defines the boundaries of the object by separating hair from the background. Bokeh blurs look natural, with a smooth gradient from focus to blur, although there are sometimes errors in complex scenes, such as when a person holds a transparent glass.
As for zooming, it's ambiguous. The core module gives a great 1x picture. When you switch to 2x, you turn on a telephoto lens that gives you optical quality, but with less resolution. Anything higher than 2x is a digital zoom that just cuts and stretches the picture. At 5x and 10x, the detail drops critically, JPEG compression artifacts appear.
An interesting feature is Magic Zoom, or using AI to improve digital zoom. In some scenarios, it does add sharpness to the edges of objects, but often it looks like unnatural re-sharping. For documentary photography (photos of text from the board, signs), 2x zoom is usually enough, but for landscapes with a long-range plan, this may not be enough.
- 👤 Portraits: good blur, natural skin colors
- 🔎 zoom 2x: Optical quality, suitable for macro
- 📉 zoom 5x+: Noticeable loss of detail, digital artifacts
- 🌌 Night portraits: flashing or strongly bullied ISO
Video: Stabilization and sound
Xiaomi 12 video capabilities deserve a separate section. The smartphone can write video in 8K resolution at 24 frames per second, but the most useful mode is 4K at 60 fps. In this mode, the picture looks very smooth and detailed. Video stabilization combined: optical (OIS) plus electronic (EIS) This gives a great result when walking, the picture does not twitch.
However, when you turn on electronic stabilization in 4K/60fps, you may see a small crop of the frame. If you plan to shoot a vlog on the go, the sound quality will depend on the wind. Microphones cut off background noise well, but when the wind is strong, you get characteristic low-frequency interference that is difficult to programmatically remove.
The important aspect is heating. When you record high-resolution video for long periods, the smartphone body warms up, at some point, the system can lower the brightness of the screen or even stop recording to protect the processor, so it's better to have a spare battery or use external cooling for long events.
☑️ Settings for the perfect video
⚠️ Attention: Regime 8K The video has a very low bitrate and a very strong compression. 4K 60fps It will give a visually better and smoother result.
Comparison with competitors and the final table
How does the Xiaomi 12 look against the backdrop of direct competitors of the same time, such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 or Google Pixel 6? Samsung often offers more saturated, "screaming" colors and better zoom, but loses in the speed of the camera interface. Pixel, in turn, wins in HDR and contrast, but is inferior in detail in poor light due to the smaller sensor.
Xiaomi 12 is a mid-range niche with a bias toward versatility. It’s not the best in every single parameter, but it offers a very balanced feature set, especially in macro photography, which is better than many competitors thanks to a separate telemacro module.
Below is a comparative characteristic table that will help to systematize the data:
| Characteristics | Xiaomi 12 | Competitor A (Samsung S22) | Competitor B (Pixel 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary sensor | 50MP Sony IMX766 | 50MP Samsung GN3 | 50MP Samsung GN1 |
| Optical stabilization | Aye (OIS) | Aye (OIS) | Aye (OIS) |
| Telephoto lens | 2x (optical) | 3x (optical) | No (only crop) |
| Video maximum | 8K @ 24fps | 8K @ 24fps | 4K @ 60fps |
| Night mode. | Aggressive (light) | Natural. | High contrast |
Why isn't there a periscope?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Xiaomi 12 have optical camera stabilization?
Can I shoot 4K video on the front camera?
Does the Xiaomi 12 camera support RAW shooting?
How good is the zoom in Xiaomi 12?
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Xiaomi 12 remains a relevant photo smartphone thanks to Sony’s excellent main sensor and good stabilization, but inferior in the capabilities of long-range zoom.
To sum up, the Xiaomi 12 is a powerful everyday camera tool that can meet the demands of most users, and it does a great job of portraits, daylight scenery and video blogging, although it has limitations in late-night macro and long-range zoom.