Xiaomi 12: release date, specifications and relevance in 2026

Xiaomi’s flagship smartphone 12 has become one of the brand’s most talked-about gadgets thanks to its revolutionary design, top-end hardware, and affordable price compared to its competitors. Its launch marks a new milestone in the Mi lineup’s development – the transition to compact body size while maintaining powerful performance. But when exactly did this device premiere, and why is it still the focus of Xiaomi fans?

In this article, we will analyze not only the exact date of the announcement and the start of sales of Xiaomi 12 in different regions, but also analyze how the device is relevant in 2026. MIUI At the time of release, and get practical tips on choosing between Xiaomi 12 and newer models — 12S, 13 or 14 We will pay special attention to the issues of support for updates and compatibility with modern communication standards.

Xiaomi 12 release date: chronology of events

Xiaomi 12 premiered on December 28, 2021, at a special event in China, one of the company’s most recent flagship announcements — typically in February and March — a shift that was attributed to several factors:

• 🔄 Chip shortages: Global semiconductor crisis in 2021 has forced many manufacturers to postpone releases.
• 📱 Optimizing the firmware. Xiaomi wanted to avoid problems with the MIUI 13 that have haunted previous models.
• 🎯 Competitive strategy: The company sought to capture the attention of users ahead of the New Year, when the demand for gifts traditionally grows.

Interestingly, the announcement took place in late December, the start of sales in China began only on December 31, 2021 — just a few hours before the onset of 2022. the Global release (including Russia and Europe) took place later — in March 2022, due to logistical delays and firmware adaptation to local standards.

By comparison, the previous flagship, Xiaomi 11, was announced on December 28, 2020 – exactly a year before the Xiaomi 12. This synchrony is not accidental: the company adhered to the tradition of releasing new flagships by the end of the year to take stock of the outgoing period and set trends for the next.

Technical specifications of Xiaomi 12 at the time of release

At the time of its release, the Xiaomi 12 offered some of the best hardware specs on the market, combining compactness with power. 2201122G global-market):

The display deserves special attention: despite its compact diagonal (6.28 inches), it supported adaptive refresh rates from 1 to 120 Hz, AdaptiveSync technology and certification. HDR10+. This made it one of the best screens in the segment at the time of release, and thanks to the use of Gorilla Glass Victus and aluminum frames, the case received a high degree of protection — IP53 (dust-and-spray).

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If you buy Xiaomi 12 in 2026, check the firmware version through Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. The last updates for this model were released in early 2026, so the current firmware should not be lower. MIUI 14.0.4.

But there was some criticism: the main drawback was the overheating of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, the first batches of devices suffered from trottling under prolonged loads. Xiaomi promptly released patches that optimized heat generation, but the problem remained relevant for owners who updated the firmware irregularly.

Xiaomi 11: What has changed in the past year?

The transition from Xiaomi 11 to Xiaomi 12 was one of the most notable in the history of the lineup. whereas the previous model focused on maximum performance and a large screen (6.81′′), the “twelfth” smartphone became smaller, lighter and more technologically advanced.

• 📏 Size and weight: 152.7×69.9×8.16 mm 164.3×74.6×8.06 mm 11 (the difference in width is almost 5 mm!).
• 🔋 Battery: 4500 mAh vs 4600 mAh, but with more efficient energy management.
• 📷 Camera: Sony's new sensor IMX766 (50 MP instead of Samsung Gn2 (108 MP) – less megapixels, but better detail.
• 🔊 Sound: Harman Kardon symmetrical speakers with Dolby Atmos support (Xiaomi 11 speakers were asymmetrical).

The key innovation is the cooling system. The Xiaomi 12 used a 2,600 mm2 evaporative heat sink (versus its predecessor’s 2,200 mm2), which on paper was supposed to solve the problem of overheating. However, in practice, users noted that when playing Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, the case still warmed up to 45-47.°C.

Another major improvement is the underscreen fingerprint scanner, which used a third-generation optical sensor with a 50% larger recognition area than its predecessor, reducing the number of unlock errors from 8% to 2-3% (according to tests). DXOMARK).

Update support: Is Xiaomi 12 up to date in 2026?

One of the key questions for potential buyers of used or new stocks Xiaomi 12 — whether the company will continue to support the model updates. at the time of release (late 2021) the smartphone was shipped with a new model. MIUI 13 based on Android 12.According to Xiaomi policy, flagships get:

• 📱 3 major Android updates (up to Android 15, expected to be released in 2026).
• 🔄 4 years of patch security (until December 2026).

The latest available versions for June 2026 are:

Important: Xiaomi 12 Android won't get it 14 — Despite initial promises, the company has removed the model from the list of devices that will be updated to this version, due to the optimization of resources and the transition to support for newer flagships (Xiaomi). 13/14). The latest security patch for Xiaomi 12 expected in December 2026 year-end.

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If you are critically important to long-term updates, consider Xiaomi 12S 13 – they are guaranteed to receive Android 15 and security patches until 2026-2027.

However, even without Android 14, the smartphone remains functional:

• ✅ Support for Wi-Fi 6 and 5G (all-time).
• ✅ Compatible with Google Play Services and most modern apps.
• ❌ Limitations: Some new features MIUI 15 (such as HyperOS) will not be available.

Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 12S Xiaomi 13: What to choose in 2026?

If you’re considering Xiaomi 12 as a buy option, it’s worth comparing it to newer models — 12S (Released in July 2022 and 13 (December 2022) below are key differences that will help make the choice:

When to choose Xiaomi 12:

• 💰 Budget limited to 25-30 thousand rubles.
• 📏 Need a compact smartphone with a good screen.
• 🎮 Games not a priority (due to Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 trottling).

When is the best time to take Xiaomi 12S 13:

• 📸 Important camera with Leica optics and better photo processing.
• ⚡ Need a cooler and more productive processor (Snapdragon 8)+ Gen 1 or 8 Gen 2).
• 🔋 Long-term support for updates is important (until 2026-2027).

IMEI in the database (not blacklisted)|

Battery condition (capacity not lower than 85%)|

Operation of all cameras and speakers|

Original box and ROM (if warranty is important)-->

Pay special attention to firmware versions. In the secondary market, there are often devices with custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.eu), which can deprive you of warranty and official updates. → The phone. → Version. MIUI — It should be Stable, not Weekly or Developer.

Where to buy Xiaomi 12 in 2026: new stocks vs bpd

As of this writing (June 2026), the Xiaomi 12 is officially out of production, but it can be found:

1. New stocks: 🛒 Xiaomi official stores (e.g. mi.com) – sometimes leftovers appear. 🌍 Chinese marketplaces (AliExpress, JD.com) – but be careful with customs.

B/w market

• 📱 Avito, Yula - prices from 20 to 30 thousand rubles, depending on the state.
• 🔄 Service centers – sometimes sell refurbished devices with a warranty.

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When buying from hand, be sure to check IMEI via IMEI.info, if the status of the device —"Lost/Stolen", refuse the transaction: such a smartphone can be blocked by the operator.

Average prices for June 2026:

• 🆕 New (sealed): 35,000–40,000 ₽.
• 🔄 Like new (with check): 28,000–32,000 ₽.
• 📱 B/w (good condition): 20,000-25,000 ₽.

When buying a used one, pay attention to:

⚠️ Note: If the seller refuses to show the job NFC or 5G, The modules are at risk of malfunctioning, and in Xiaomi 12 they are integrated into the motherboard, and their replacement costs 10-15 thousand rubles.

Xiaomi 12 Frequent Problems and How to Avoid Them

Despite being a flagship, the Xiaomi 12 had a number of “childhood illnesses” to be aware of before buying:

1. CPU overheating: As mentioned earlier, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 basked on loads.Solution: 🔧 Turn off high performance in Settings → Battery → Performance mode. 🧊 Use a heat sink case (for example, from Baseus).
2. Fast battery discharge: 4500 mAh capacity sat down in 4-5 hours when used actively: 🔋 Enable Adaptive Charging in the Battery Settings. 📴 Limit the background activity of applications through Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.

Problems with Wi-Fi 6

Some users complained about communication breaks with routers ASUS and TP-Link:

• 📶 Switch to the 5GHz band manually.
• 🔄 Update router firmware.

The most common malfunction is the failure of the vibromotor (about 12% of calls to service centers according to Xiaomi Service Russia), symptoms: the vibration becomes intermittent or disappears altogether, the cost of replacing is from 2,500 to 4000 rubles.

Another common problem is screen detachment (especially for devices purchased in the first months after release), because of a defect in the adhesive layer between the display and the frame, and if you notice waves when you press the screen, that's a reason to contact the service.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about Xiaomi 12