Xiaomi 12: Release Date, Specifications and Price

The question of when Xiaomi 12 will be released has long worried fans of the brand and technology enthusiasts around the world: the official premiere of the flagship took place in late 2021 in China, and the global version reached the international market, including Russia, in early 2022.This device marked the company’s transition to a new naming strategy, abandoning the prefix “Mi”, and set a new standard for compact flagships with top-end hardware.

Many users are still looking for information about the release, confusing the release of the base model with later versions of the series, such as Xiaomi 12S or Xiaomi 12 Pro. It is important to understand that at the moment the smartphone has long been in active sale, and its technical capabilities are well studied by observers. In this article, we will discuss in detail the history of the release, the key features of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform and the relevance of buying this device.

If you’re considering buying this gadget, you need to focus not on rumors but on facts about its performance and availability in retailers. Despite the release of newer models, the Xiaomi 12 remains an interesting offer in its price segment. Let’s dive into the details so you can make an informed decision.

Release history and global launch

The official launch of the smartphone took place on December 28, 2021 in China, one of the most anticipated events in the technological calendar of the period, Xiaomi traditionally presents its flagships first in the home market to test demand and debug the MIUI software. A global version adapted for Europe and other regions was shown later on February 15, 2022 in Barcelona, as part of the MWC exhibition.

The device was launched in Russia almost simultaneously with the European release, localization of the interface and support for local frequencies were implemented immediately, allowing users to easily use a smartphone with operators of the “big four”. The exact date of the start of sales in each particular store did not exist, as supplies depended on logistics, but March 2022 was a month of mass appearance of the device on the shelves.

Interestingly, there were slight differences between the Chinese and global versions in the delivery kit and the networks supported. The Chinese model was often shipped with a power supply in a box, whereas in the global version it could be withdrawn for the sake of ecology, although in Russia retailers often added charging separately. NFC Contactless payments, which is critical for users in Europe.

It’s worth noting that the delay between the Chinese and global releases was less than two months, which is a great indicator for the industry, allowing the company to quickly fix the first software bugs discovered by early buyers in China, thus providing global users with a more stable product.

Technical specifications and processor

At the heart of the device was Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. It was the first processor to be built with a 4-nanometer process technology that was supposed to provide performance and energy efficiency gains. However, in practice, the chip was quite hot, requiring Xiaomi engineers to develop a sophisticated cooling system.

LPDDR5 RAM works in conjunction with a fast UFS 3.1 drive. Depending on the modification, the user can choose the option with 8 or 12 GB of RAM. This volume is more than enough to run dozens of applications and heavy games simultaneously. The speed of reading and writing files is also at the top level, which is noticeable when loading "heavy" projects.

The display became one of the main features of the model. AMOLED-diagonal 6.28 inch and resolution 2400×1080 The feature is support for Dolby Vision technology and refresh rate. 120 Hz. Peak brightness reaches 1100 It's a thread that allows you to read information comfortably even in direct sunlight. 419 ppi, which provides high definition of the image.

Below is a table with the main technical parameters of the device for quick comparison:

Camera: Basic module and stabilization

The focus of the photo segment was on the Sony IMX766 optically stabilized OIS array. The main sensor resolution is 50 MP. It's a time-tested module that was used in many of the flagships of the period. It provides excellent detail and dynamic range, especially in daylight. Image processing algorithms were constantly updated through software updates.

The ultra-wide angle module has a resolution of 13 MP and a viewing angle of 123 degrees. It allows you to capture more space in the frame, which is useful when shooting landscapes or architecture. However, it is worth remembering that the quality of detail at the edges of the frame is inferior to the central sensor. Macro photography is implemented through a telemacro lens with a resolution of 5 MP, allowing you to focus at a distance of 3-7 cm.

⚠️ Warning: Night Mode on the main module works fine, but when shooting on ultra-wide at night, the quality drops markedly due to the lack of optical stabilization and a smaller pixel size.

Video is supported in resolution up to 8K at 24 frames per second or 4K at 60 frames per second. The presence of optical stabilization allows you to shoot fairly smooth video even when walking, although for professional shooting it is still recommended to use a gimbal. Front camera with a resolution of 32 MP is based on the Samsung sensor and can write video in 1080p at 60 fps.

Autonomy and charging speed

A 4,500 mAh battery is a compromise that engineers have made for a compact body. For a device with a diagonal of just over 6 inches, that's a good figure, but it's inferior to shovels with 5,000 mAh batteries. In active use (social media, navigation, 5G), the smartphone confidently keeps a full day. However, with heavy games or shooting 4K video, the charge can run out faster.

The situation is saved by support for ultrafast wired charging with 67 watts. The kit comes with a matching power supply that charges the device in about 40-45 minutes to 100%.This is significantly faster than many competitors who still use 25-watt solutions. Xiaomi Turbo Charge technology controls the battery temperature during the process.

There is also a 50W wireless charging system, which is rare for basic flagship models, requiring a separate charger (usually sold separately or in special sets) and supporting reverse wireless charging, which allows you to use the smartphone as a power bank for headphones or watches.

The power efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor has been criticized. In standby mode, the phone consumes charge normally, but under load can heat up, which indirectly affects battery life. The MIUI shell power management system allows you to flexibly adjust restrictions for background applications.

MIUI shell and software updates

At the time of release, the smartphone was running on Android 12 with a shell MIUI 13. Since then, the device has received an update to MIUI 14, and in some regions is already testing the transition to HyperOS. The shell offers deep customization capabilities, but has its own features that you need to get used to after pure Android.

The security updates and Android versions for this model have been billed as 3 years of major updates and 4 years of security patches, meaning that the smartphone will be relevant for software for a few more years. However, the rate of arrival of updates in the global version (Global ROM) often lags behind the Chinese (CN ROM) by weeks or even months.

For advanced users, it is possible to unlock the bootloader and install custom recavators, which allows you to install third-party firmware if official support stops or does not suit the functionality, but it is worth remembering that unlocking the bootloader resets all data and can affect the operation of some banking applications.

⚠️ Note: When buying a device with a Chinese version of firmware (CN ROM) Make sure the seller has installed global firmware or you are ready to do it yourself. Chinese firmware may not have important notifications for Russia and only Chinese frequencies work. B7/B20.

Cost and feasibility of purchase at the moment

At the start of sales, the price of Xiaomi 12 was high, as befits the flagship. However, with the release of Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14, the cost of its predecessor has significantly decreased, in the secondary market or as part of sales, the remnants of new devices can be found at very attractive prices, making it one of the most affordable ways to get the top-end processor of the last generation.

Should you buy it now? If you want a compact phone with a high-powered hardware and you're willing to put up with a less-than-best CPU heat, yes, that's a great option. If you're prioritizing a top-end camera or maximum autonomy, you'd better look at newer models or versions of the Pro. The smartphone market is changing rapidly, and the Xiaomi 12 is moving from a novelty to a smart economy.

When choosing between a new mid-range model and a used or new Xiaomi 12, many choose for the sake of the body materials (glass and metal versus plastic) and the availability of wireless charging, the build quality of this model is higher than many plastic competitors in the same price category.

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When buying used Xiaomi 12 be sure to check the screen for the presence of burn-in static interface elements, as AMOLED-matrix over time can lose color uniformity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Xiaomi 12 remains a relevant compact flagship with a great screen and fast charging, but requires attention to heat the processor and check the firmware version when buying.