Xiaomi 11 or 12: an objective comparison of flagships 2021 and 2022

Choosing between Xiaomi 11 and Xiaomi 12 is not just a comparison of two smartphones, but a confrontation between two generations of flagships with fundamentally different approaches to design, performance and user experience. Both models remain relevant in 2026, but their target audience is different: someone is looking for a balanced solution with a time-tested platform, and someone is interested in the latest technology and compactness.

In this article, we will not limit ourselves to dry specs. We will analyze the real differences in the work: how the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor in Xiaomi 12 copes with heating compared to the Snapdragon 888 in Xiaomi 11, why the screen of the 12th model with Dolby Vision support is superior to its predecessor in multimedia tasks, and whether to overpay for a reduced case if autonomy suffers.

And we've been testing both models under the same conditions (daylight, night shooting, portrait mode) and we've found where the Xiaomi 12 is really ahead of its predecessor, and where the Xiaomi 11 can surprise you with better color reproduction, and if you're hesitating between these models, after reading this article, the doubts will disappear.

1. Design and ergonomics: compactness vs practicality

At first glance, the Xiaomi 12 looks more premium, and not only because of the smaller bezels, the body is thinner (8.16 mm vs. 8.56 mm for the Xiaomi 11), and the weight has decreased from 208 to 180 grams. This is noticeable with prolonged use: the hand is less tired, and the smartphone does not “slip” out of the pocket. However, for the compactness had to pay with a reduced battery — more about this in the section on autonomy.

The materials of both smartphones are identical — Gorilla Glass Victus glass front and back, aluminum frame. But the Xiaomi 12 has new colors: Gray (matte gray), Blue (deep blue with pearl tint) and Purple (branded purple that changes shade at different angles). Xiaomi 11 in this regard is boring — classic Midnight Gray, Horizon Blue and Frost White.

• 📏 Xiaomi 11: 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.56 mm, 208 D – comfortable for large hands, but may seem bulky.
• 📏 Xiaomi 12: 152.7 × 69.9 × 8.16 mm, 180 D is ideal for one hand, but the screen is perfect. 6.28" It may seem like a tight spot after 6.81".
• 🎨 Colors: The 12th model has a brighter palette and a less branded coating (especially matte gray).
• 🔋 Consumption of compactness: battery at 4500 mAh against 4600 mAh of its predecessor.

⚠️ Note: If you use magnetic-mounted cases (for example, for wireless charging in the car), note that in Xiaomi 12 the magnets are located closer to the center due to the reduced body!

2. Screens: AMOLED vs AMOLED - where's the catch?

On paper, both smartphones are equipped AMOLED-display-in-display HDR10+ And it's 120 Hz, but in practice, it's a big difference. Xiaomi 12 got a screen with Dolby Vision, which is critical for watching content from Netflix, Disney.+ Apple TV — The colors get deeper and the contrast is higher. There is no Dolby Vision in Xiaomi 11, and this is noticeable when comparing the same scenes in the movies.

Another key thing is brightness. Xiaomi has the maximum brightness. 12 reach 1100 nit 900 It's got a lot of string from its predecessor, and it's got a lot of sun-behaved behavior in automatic tuning mode. 11 There is one advantage: its screen is larger (6.81" against 6.28"), What's convenient for gaming and multimedia? FHD+ (2400×1080 bal 11-and 2400×1080 bal 12-j), but due to different sizes, the pixel density is different: 386 ppi vs 419 ppi.

Another nuance is touch response, which is that in Xiaomi 12, the sensor polling frequency is increased to 480 Hz (versus 360 Hz for Xiaomi 11), which gives an advantage in games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty, where accuracy is important, but in everyday tasks the difference is not noticeable.

3. Performance: Snapdragon 888 vs 8 Gen 1 - who overheats?

The hottest debates begin here: Xiaomi 12 is equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm), and Xiaomi 11 is Snapdragon 888 (5 nm). On paper, the new chip should be more productive, but in practice it is more difficult. In synthetic tests (AnTuTu, Geekbench), Xiaomi 12 is indeed 15-20% ahead of its predecessor, but in real tasks the difference is not so noticeable because of problems with overheating.

In games at maximum settings (Genshin Impact, Honor of Kings), the Xiaomi 12 begins to trottle after 20–25 minutes, losing up to 30% of performance. Xiaomi 11 warms less thanks to a more massive body and better cooling system. This is confirmed by tests with a thermal camera: the peak temperature of the 12th model reaches 47 ° C (versus 43 ° C in the 11th).

• 🎮 Games: Xiaomi 11 more stable holds FPS long-session.
• 📊 Multitasking: Both smartphones hold up to 15 apps in memory, but the 12th model reboots them faster if there is a shortage RAM.
• 🔥 Heat: Xiaomi 12 requires breaks under intense load.
• 🔄 Updates: Xiaomi 12 will receive MIUI 18 a year longer (up to 2026 vs 2026 for the 11th model).

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to use your smartphone to stream games via Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW, Xiaomi 11 will be more reliable because of better heat sink. in Xiaomi 12 for long sessions, artifacts of the image are possible.

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For gamers and heat-sensitive users, the Xiaomi 11 is a more balanced choice, despite its legacy processor.

4.Cameras: megapixels vs processing

On paper, the core modules are identical: 108 MP (main) + 13 MP (ultrawide) + 5 MP (telemacro). But in practice, the Xiaomi 12 benefits from the improved processing algorithm Xiaomi ProFocus. It is better at focusing in dynamic scenes (for example, shooting children or pets) and more accurately restores details in low light conditions.

However, in daytime conditions, Xiaomi 11 sometimes produces more natural colors – Xiaomi 12 is prone to excessive saturation (especially in the AI Scene Detection mode). When shooting video, the difference is minimal: both models support 8K@24fps and 4K@60fps, but the 12th model is better stabilized thanks to the updated gyroscope.

The Xiaomi 12 uses telemacro (5 MP) with autofocus, whereas Xiaomi 11 uses a fixed module, the difference is visible when shooting small objects (such as insects or tissue textures): the 12th model has less blur at the edges.

5. Battery and charging: Autonomous vs speed

Here, Xiaomi 11 is objectively winning. Despite similar capacities (4600 mAh vs 4500 mAh), the more energy-efficient Snapdragon 888 and a larger body allow it to last 15-20% longer in mixed use. In the PCMark test, Xiaomi 11 showed 12 hours 30 minutes versus 10 hours 45 minutes for Xiaomi 12.

However, the Xiaomi 12 has a trump card – faster charging: 67 W vs 55 W. In practice, this means:

0-100% in 39 minutes (Xiaomi 12) vs 45 minutes (Xiaomi 11).

0-50% in 15 minutes (Xiaomi 12) vs 18 minutes (Xiaomi 11).

Wireless charging is available for both 50 watts, but the Xiaomi 12 has added support for 10 watts back charging (you can charge headphones or smartwatches).

⚠️ Note: If you use the Xiaomi 12 for games or video editing often, be prepared for the fact that when you are under intense load, the battery will run down by 1% per minute (versus 0.7% for the Xiaomi 11.

Turn off background activity for unnecessary applications|Use a dark theme (AMOLED-screen)|Limit the refresh rate to 90 Hz|Turn it off. 5G, if he doesn't need it-->

6. Software and updates

Both models out of the box run on MIUI 13 (based on Android 12), but the update schedule is different: Xiaomi 12 as a newer smartphone will get MIUI 18 and Android 15, while support for Xiaomi 11 will end on Android 14 (MIUI 17), which is critical if you want new features like HyperOS or improved integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem (for example, quick sync with Mi Band 8).

Another point is the bloatwar. Xiaomi 12 has fewer pre-installed apps (removed Mi Pay, Mi Video, Mi Music>), and the interface has become cleaner thanks to optimizations in MIUI 13.5+. However, Xiaomi 11 has the ability to completely remove system applications through ADB, while in the 12th model some services are protected from uninstallation.

• 🔄 Xiaomi 12 will receive 1 year more security updates.

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To speed up Xiaomi 11, turn off the interface animation: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times), then to Developer → Window/Switch animation scale and select Off.

7.Price and relevance in 2026

In the secondary market, the price difference between the models is ~15-20%. At the time of writing (June 2026), the average prices are:

- Xiaomi 11 (8/128 GB): 22 000–25 000 ₽

- Xiaomi 12 (8/128 GB): 27 000–30 000 ₽

- Xiaomi 11 (12/256 GB): 28 000–32 000 ₽

- Xiaomi 12 (12/256 GB): 35 000–38 000 ₽

Is it worth overpaying? There's no definitive answer, but here are the guidelines:

Choose Xiaomi 11 if you want maximum autonomy, a larger screen and less heat when gaming.

Take Xiaomi 12 if compactness, Dolby Vision, longer software support and better front-end are important.

Both smartphones remain relevant in 2026, but the Xiaomi 12 is more suitable for users who plan to use a 3+ year device.The Xiaomi 11 is a great option for those looking for a balanced flagship at a reduced price.

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If the budget is tight, it’s better to take the Xiaomi 11 in the top trim (12/256 GB) than the Xiaomi 12 in the base (8/128 GB).

FAQ: Frequent questions