Why 2022 was a watershed for Xiaomi
Year 2022 Xiaomi has become a period of radical changes: the company not only strengthened its position in the top-3 The world's smartphone manufacturers, but also radically revised the release strategy, if earlier the brand focused on the mass segment with models of Redmi Note and other products. POCO, then 2022 The focus shifted to premium series โ Xiaomi 12, Mix Fold 2 And even experimental concepts like Xiaomi Civi. 2 ultra-thin.
But the main intrigue of the year is the first ever Xiaomi smartphone with a 200-Megapixel camera (Xiaomi) 12T Pro, which outpaced Samsung and Apple by six months, continued to surprise the speed of updates: 2021 The year between the announcements of the flagships was held 8-10 months, then 2022 interval reduced to 4-6. This meant that users had to literally โchaseโ new products โ and we will help you to understand which models were worth the attention, and which were intermediate.
In this article you will find:
- ๐ Exact dates of all official Xiaomi releases in 2022 (by series)
- ๐ Analysis of leaks - which characteristics were confirmed, and which were fakes
- ๐ Comparative table of new products 2022 vs 2021 on key parameters
- โ ๏ธ Warnings about models with problem firmware (based on user feedback)
- ๐ก Tips for choosing - what new product 2022 to take in 2026 and why
Xiaomi 2022 Official Release Calendar: All Dates and Models
V 2022 Xiaomi has been through the year 12 Global presentations, excluding regional announcements (e.g. India or Europe) Below is a chronological list of all the major releases, with the series and key features. Note: some models were released first in China, and then with a delay in the production of the series. 1-2 month - on the international market.
| Announcement date | Model | Key innovations | Features of the release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 December 2021* | Xiaomi 12 / 12 Pro / 12X | The first smartphones on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, support for 120W charging, display 2K+ E5 AMOLED | Released in China in January 2022, global release โ March |
| 15 March 2022 | Redmi K50 / K50 Pro / K50 Gaming | 120W charging in the base model, Dimensity 9000 in the Pro version, cooling system with steam chamber | K50 Gaming became the first smartphone with physical triggers for gamers |
| April 26, 2022 | Xiaomi 12S / 12S Pro / 12S Ultra | Collaboration with Leica, Camera 1" (inch sensor), 67W wireless charging | 12S Ultra is only sold in China, the global version โ 12T Pro |
| July 4, 2022 | Xiaomi 12 Lite / POCO F4 / POCO X4 GT | POCO F4 Snapdragon 870, X4 GT Dimensity 8100, 12 Lite โ thinnest (6.91 mm) | POCO X4 GT It was the first smartphone to support Dolby Vision in the segment up to 30,000 โฝ |
| 11 August 2022 | Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 / Mix 4 (Update) | The thickness of the folding screen is 5.4 mm, weight is 262 g, underscreen camera is 20 MP | Mix Fold 2 is the first foldable smartphone Xiaomi officially sold in Europe |
| October 4, 2022 | Xiaomi 12T / 12T Pro / Redmi Note 12 | 12T Pro with 200 MP camera, Note 12 on AMOLED-screen-based | Redmi Note 12 is the first in the series with support for 33W charging |
โ ๏ธ Attention: Xiaomi models 12S Ultra and Mix Fold 2 were originally planned for a global release, but due to certification issues in Europe, their sales outside of China only began in January-February 2023!
The most high-profile leaks 2022: what was confirmed, and what was fake
2022 The year was a record year for the number of leaks about Xiaomi's new products, from insiders like Digital Chat Station to accidental leaks from Foxconn plants. 50 predictions and highlighted the top-5 The most discussed ones to show how much they can be trusted.
Confirmed leaks:
- ๐ธ 200-megapixel camera in Xiaomi 12T Pro โ 3 months prior to release, including watermarked test photos 200MP.
Biggest fakes:
๐ก Tip: To distinguish a true leak from a fake, pay attention to:
- ๐น Source: Insiders with accuracy ratings above 80% (e.g. Ice Universe or Mukul Sharma).
๐ก
Before buying a new product for leaks, check its availability in the certification database MI Verification โ if the model is not there, it is likely that the release will be delayed or canceled.
Xiaomi 12T Pro vs 12S Ultra: The battle of 200-megapixel flagships
Two top models of 2022 โ Xiaomi 12T Pro and 12S Ultras have become symbols of different approaches to photography, one for the global market, the other for Chinese enthusiasts, and let's look at how they differed in practice and what model to look at in 2026.
Characteristics by comparison:
| Parameter | Xiaomi 12T Pro | Xiaomi 12S Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
| Main camera. | 200 MP (Samsung) HP1, 1/1.22") | 50 MP (Sony) IMX989, 1") + Leica optimization |
| zoom | No optical zoom | 5ร periscope + 2ร telephoto |
| Screen. | 6.67" AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.73" E5 AMOLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision |
| Charging. | 120W wired | 67W wired + 50W wireless |
| Price at start (RF) | 69,990 โฝ | 109,990 โฝ (informal) |
โ ๏ธ Attention: Xiaomi 12S Ultra had a critical problem with overheating when shooting video in the video 8K โ body temperature rises to 50ยฐC, which caused the camera to automatically shut down. MIUI 14.0.5 (January 2023). 12T Pro had no such problem, but lost in detail photo due to the smaller physical size of the sensor.
What to choose in 2026?
- ๐ท For the photo: 12S Ultra (despite the price) โ its Leica camera still competes with the iPhone 14 Pro in portrait mode.
- ๐ฎ For games: 12T Pro โ a cooler processor (Snapdragon 8)+ Gen 1 vs 8 Gen 1 in early installments 12S Ultra).
- ๐ฐ In terms of price/quality ratio: 12T Pro โ it can be found on the secondary market for 35,000-45,000 โฝ (against 70,000+ โฝ post 12S Ultra).
Why Xiaomi 12S Ultra is not released globally
Redmi Note 12: A Revolution or a Marketing Ploy?
The Redmi Note 12 series was Xiaomiโs best-selling lineup in 2022, with more than 40 million units sold, according to Counterpoint Research. But was that success deserved?
What has really changed:
- ๐ Charging: Even the basic Note 12 model 4G received 33W (vs. 18W) in Note 11).
- ๐บ Screen: All versions on AMOLED (Note 11 only has Pro models).
- ๐จ Design: flat faces and glass back (instead of plastic in Note 11).
Marketing tricks:
- โ ๏ธ "200 MP camera in Pro+: In practice, the Samsung sensor HPX It only gave good pictures in daylight โ at dusk, the detail dropped to 48 MP.
- โ ๏ธ "The flagship processor in Pro: Dimensity 1080 inferior 778G+ performance-wise 15-20% (testimonials).
- โ ๏ธ "Water protection IP53": This is the minimum standard โ the phone only withstands splashes, not immersion.
๐ Conclusions: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ The best choice in the series was the 200MP camera and 120W charging, but its price tag was 39,990. โฝ) near POCO F4 (Snapdragon 870, which offered better performance. Optimal option for price / quality ratio โ Note 12 Pro (Dimensity 1080, 50 MP camera).
โ๏ธ Checklist before buying Redmi Note 12
Xiaomi foldable smartphones in 2022: Mix Fold 2 and its competitors
Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 was the second foldable smartphone of the brand and the first to officially be released in Europe, its main achievement โ a record thin body (5.4 mm in decomposed state), but there were serious trade-offs.
The Pros of Mix Fold 2:
- ๐ Compact: folded thickness - 11.2 mm (vs. 15.7 mm for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4).
- ๐ Battery: 4500 mAh with support for 67W charging (Huawei Mate Xs 2 has only 66W).
Cons and problems:
- โ Screen: internal AMOLED It had a noticeable "waterfall" on the edges, which interfered with reading.
- โ Firmware: MIUI Fold (special version for foldable) contained bugs with multitasking before the update MIUI 14.
- โ Price: starting cost in Russia - 129 990 โฝ, 20,000 โฝ More expensive than Galaxy Z Fold 4 in stocks.
โ ๏ธ Attention: In the first installments of Mix Fold 2 There was a loop defect. 3-5% The devices appeared after the 3-4 Xiaomi has acknowledged the problem and extended the warranty on the mechanism to 3 For years, but only for devices purchased before March. 2023.
Alternatives in 2026:
- ๐ฑ For Multimedia: Huawei Mate X3 โ Better screen and speakers, but weaker camera.
- ๐ผ Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 โ a more mature ecosystem (DeX, S Pen).
- ๐ฐ Budget option: Oppo Find N2 Flip - cheaper on the 30-40%, but with a smaller internal screen.
How to choose a new Xiaomi 2022 in 2026: expert advice
Buying a smartphone from two years ago can be justified if you clearly understand your priorities, and we analyzed the used market and official balances to make a checklist for different scenarios.
For the photograph:
- ๐ Best pick: Xiaomi 12S Ultra (if the budget allows) or 12T Pro (for daytime shooting).
- ๐ซ Don't take: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ โ Its 200 MP camera only works automatically, without manual settings.
For games:
- ๐ฎ Top: POCO F4 GT (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 + physical triggers or redmi K50 Gaming.
- โ ๏ธ Watch out: Xiaomi 12/12 Pro on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (not 8+ Gen 1!) We had a long session at Genshin Impact.
3. For long-term use (3).+ year-end):
- ๐ Priority: models with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (12T Pro, Mix Fold 2 โ They lose less performance over time.
- ๐ Avoid: smartphones on Dimensity 9000 (like Redmi) K50 Pro) โ their support for updates MIUI ended in December 2023.
To save:
- ๐ฐ Best ratio: POCO X4 GT (Dimensity 8100, 120Hz screen) or Redmi Note 12 Pro (if you don't need a top-end camera).
- ๐ Where to buy: official reseller Mi Store (warranty 2 years) or Avito (check out) IMEI on imei.info).
๐ก
If you buy Xiaomi 2022 in 2026, be sure to check the firmware version through Settings โ The phone. โ Version. MIUI. The latest security updates for most models came out in January 2026, and further support is unlikely.