Xiaomi has unveiled its new flagship Xiaomi 12 smartphone in China. Available in standard and Pro versions, the phone will go on sale from 31 December in China starting at CNY 3,699. A global launch is expected to follow in early 2022.
The Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro run Qualcomm’s most advanced chipset to date, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 featuring Armv9 architecture. In China, Xiaomi also plans a 12X model running the older Snapdragon 870 chip and priced at CNY 3,199.
The Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro come with the latest LPDDR5 RAM, in a choice of 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB or 12GB+256GB configurations. The standard 12 model features a 6.28-inch flexible OLED screen with a resolution of 2400x1080 and 120Hz refresh rate. The Pro version offers a bigger 6.73-inch 2K display with Samsung's E5 material, LTPO and micro-lens technology for improved viewing with better energy saving.
The Pro version also promises a better audio experience, with a frequency division scheme supported by a customized mid-woofer and tweeter on the dual-speaker system. In addition, the Xiaomi 12 Pro comes with a 120W single cell 4,600mAh battery, a first in the industry according to Xiaomi. Compared to dual-cell batteries, this offer 400mAh more capacity without increasing overall size. The standard Xiaomi 12 comes with a dual-cell 4,500 mAh battery.
For the camera, the Xiaomi 12 features a Sony IMX766 main lens with 1/1.56 sensor, 13MP ultra-wide angle camera and a 5MP telemacro camera. The Pro gets three 50-megapixel sensors, with a main Sony IMX707 1/1.28 sensor using 2.44μm 4-in-1 pixels. Along with the improved light capture, the camera features an update of Xiaomi’s Night Mode algorithm and smart visual tracking based on machine learning, to recognise and follow human eyes and figures, as well as pets for stable focusing.
MIUI 13 rolling out to more smart devices
The new phones come with the latest user interface update from Xiaomi, MIUI 13. The company said the update brings improvements in core functions, such as optimised computing for core apps during heavy usage and better read-write through to extend device lifespan. Users can also expect new personalisation options like dynamic wallpapers and widgets and increased privacy and security options.
The new software rolls out also to older smartphones from Xiaomi, starting in Q1 2022. From now on the same MIUI will be used also on Xiaomi's other IoT devices, such as smartwatches, speakers and TVs, to give a uniform experience across its product range. To support this strategy, Xiaomi also unveiled a beta version of the new Mi Smart Hub, its smart speaker and display to connect and control multiple smart devices.
In addition, Xiaomi announced new wearable devices, the Xiaomi Watch S1 and Xiaomi Buds 3. The water-resistant smartwatch features a steel frame, sapphire glass for the 1.43-inch Amoled display and a leather wrist band. Users can check messages, notifications, calls and app controls from the watch, as well as monitor health insights and access 117 fitness modes. A single charge offers up to 12 days of regular usage, and up to 24 days of standby time, Xiaomi claims.
The watch costs from CNY 1,099, while the noise-cancelling Buds 3 are priced at CNY 449. The Buds 3 Pro, first introduced in September, are now available also in the colour blue at a reduced price of CNY 649.
