Xiaomi 12X review
The Xiaomi 12X is the most affordable phone in the company's new flagship series, yet it shares many features with its more expensive siblings, including the Xiaomi 12. Despite being the cheapest option, the 12X has an identical design to the 12, featuring a similar matte finish and camera island layout. Weighing just 176 grams, the 12X is one of the most compact smartphones on the market, making it easy to use with one hand. The phone's 6.2-inch AMOLED display boasts a full HD resolution, up to 120Hz refresh rate, and 480Hz touch sampling rate, delivering excellent media consumption experiences. The camera system, although lacking a telephoto lens, is impressive, producing well-balanced photos with accurate colors and dynamic range. The main camera captures detailed shots in bright conditions, while the ultrawide lens produces pleasing images with minimal distortion correction. Portrait mode shots are particularly outstanding, with subjects rendered in great detail. In low-light situations, auto night mode performs admirably, taking sharp, detailed, and noise-free photos. The selfie camera is also capable, capturing well-exposed and detailed images with good dynamic range and accurate colors. The 12X's performance is bolstered by its flagship-grade chipset, which is less prone to throttling than the one in the Xiaomi 12. While it may not be perfect, with no water resistance and an underwhelming telephoto lens, the phone's many strengths make it a compelling option for those seeking a high-quality smartphone at an affordable price. Overall, the Xiaomi 12X has all the ingredients necessary to become a popular smartphone, offering a great display, comfortable design, good camera performance, and respectable battery life. While it may face competition from other phones like the Realme GT2 Pro, its strengths make it a phone worth considering.
Build Quality and Design
The Xiaomi 12X is the most affordable offering from Xiaomi's flagship 12 series, but despite being cheaper, it shares many features with its siblings. One of the standout aspects of this phone is its impressive build quality and design. In terms of design, the 12X has an identical look to the Xiaomi 12, down to the colors on offer. The purple variant I had in for review boasts a stunning matte finish that's both stylish and durable. While it may not be as fingerprint-resistant as some other color options, it still manages to feel premium and well-made. The camera bump is a nice touch, although it does protrude slightly from the rear of the phone. This means that the 12X can wobble on flat surfaces when held horizontally, but this isn't a major concern for me. The phone itself feels incredibly light at just 176 grams, making it easy to operate with one hand. One of the best aspects of the design is the compact size and ergonomic shape of the phone. It's remarkably comfortable to hold and use, with minimal screen bezels and a small centered hole-punch cutout for the front camera. The build quality is top-notch, with a sturdy feel that suggests this phone will withstand regular use without issue. If I were to nitpick, it would be nice to see some proper water resistance on the 12X, especially given its IP53 rating isn't exactly reassuring in this regard. Still, overall, the Xiaomi 12X boasts an impressive build quality and design that's sure to appeal to anyone looking for a compact flagship experience.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Xiaomi 12X is its impressive battery life. Despite running on a more power-efficient chipset compared to its siblings, the phone still manages to deliver an exceptional endurance. Our tests revealed that the 4,500mAh battery in the 12X can last up to 105 hours with moderate use, which is a commendable feat considering its relatively compact size and lightweight design. The phone's efficiency is also reflected in its charging speed, where it takes just half an hour to charge from zero to 78% and only 48 minutes for a full recharge. While the 12X's charging speed may not be as snappy as some of its peers, it still offers respectable performance. Moreover, the battery life itself is more than adequate for most users' needs, making it an excellent choice for those who want a phone that can last throughout the day without needing to be constantly recharged. Overall, the Xiaomi 12X's battery life is one of its strongest selling points, offering a perfect blend of efficiency and endurance.
Display
The Xiaomi 12X boasts an impressive display that shares most of its features with the flagship Xiaomi 12. The 6.2-inch AMOLED panel has a Full HD resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming. One notable feature is its native 12-bit color support, which allows it to display an astonishing 68 billion colors. In practice, this translates to vibrant and lifelike visuals with accurate colors, especially when viewing Dolby Vision HDR content on Netflix. The screen also features a respectable maximum brightness of 925 nits in auto mode, making it suitable for outdoor use. Additionally, the minimum brightness is a welcome 1.8 minutes, ensuring comfortable viewing even in low-light environments. The display's color accuracy is commendable, with the standard color mode offering outstanding results. The default vivid mode, however, exhibits a slight bluish tint when displaying white colors. In contrast, the auto mode dynamically switches between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz to optimize battery life while still providing a seamless viewing experience. While not revolutionary, the Xiaomi 12X's display is certainly one of its strongest selling points. Its high refresh rate, accurate color reproduction, and impressive brightness make it an excellent choice for anyone seeking a premium mobile viewing experience. If you're in the market for a new smartphone with a great screen, the Xiaomi 12X should be on your shortlist.
Camera
The camera is the focal point of any smartphone, and the Xiaomi 12X delivers in this department. Equipped with a 50-megapixel main camera, 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and 5-megapixel macro snapper, this phone is capable of capturing stunning images. Daytime shots are excellent, with plenty of detail, balance, sharpness, and spot-on white balance. Colors are true to life, and contrast is high but not over the top. Noise is virtually nonexistent, making these photos look like they were taken by a dedicated camera. The ultrawide lens also performs well, capturing wide shots with good processing and distortion correction. Macro shots are detailed, colorful, and have great contrast, making them perfect for close-up photography. Portrait mode is where the Xiaomi 12X truly shines. Subjects are incredibly detailed, colors are realistic, and contrast is high. Subject separation is nearly flawless, and the bokeh is lovely. The 32-megapixel selfie camera also takes excellent photos, with subjects nicely exposed, good dynamic range, and enough detail. Low-light photography is where the Xiaomi 12X really impresses. Auto Night Mode is enabled by default, and it works beautifully, capturing sharp, detailed, and low-noise images. Colors are fantastic, exposure is realistic, and there's no over-processing. Manual trigger of Night Mode can also improve exposure, making these photos look even better. The camera app also offers a range of features like Night mode, Portrait mode, and more. Video recording capabilities are equally impressive, with the ability to capture 8K videos at 24fps, 4K videos up to 60fps, and full HD videos at 30fps from the macro camera. Overall, the Xiaomi 12X's camera is a standout feature that can take on even the best flagship smartphones. With its excellent image quality, impressive low-light capabilities, and versatile features, this camera is sure to please photography enthusiasts.
Price and Value
The Xiaomi 12X is an intriguing proposition in the world of budget flagships. Priced lower than its siblings, this device offers a compelling mix of features that make it worth considering for those on a tight budget. First and foremost, the design of the 12X is identical to the more expensive Xiaomi 12, which sets a high standard for any mid-range phone. The matte finish and frost-like texture add a premium feel to the device, while the camera island's design may not be to everyone's taste, it's still an attractive feature. Inside, you'll find a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM, which provides smooth performance for full HD gaming and everyday use. The 50MP primary sensor, along with its support for up to 12.5MP shots, delivers excellent results in bright light conditions. In terms of value, the Xiaomi 12X ticks most boxes for a budget flagship. With a price lower than its siblings, this device offers impressive specs, a fantastic display, and great camera performance – all in a compact package that's easy to hold and use. While there are some drawbacks – such as the lack of proper water resistance and a telephoto camera – these minor issues don't detract from the overall experience. For those who want a high-end phone without breaking the bank, the Xiaomi 12X is definitely worth considering. In conclusion, while it may not be perfect, the Xiaomi 12X offers incredible value for its price. Its impressive specs, great display, and capable camera make it an attractive option for those on a budget.
Performance
The Xiaomi 12X is the most affordable phone in Xiaomi's new flagship series, but don't let its price fool you – this device has some impressive performance credentials. Under the hood lies a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM. While not the most powerful processor on the market, it more than suffices for smooth full-HD gaming and even high-refresh-rate gaming if the app supports it. I was pleased to find that the phone has adequate cooling too, and after some long stress tests, there was no throttling to speak of. In my testing, the 12X handled demanding tasks with ease, never once showing signs of slowing down or lag. The device's performance is further enhanced by its efficient chipset, which allows it to deliver a respectable 105 hours of endurance in our battery life tests. The phone's user interface is snappy and responsive, making navigation a joy. I was also impressed by the device's gaming capabilities – with smooth performance and minimal lag, even the most demanding games were playable without any issues. While not the most powerful device on the market, the Xiaomi 12X's performance credentials are more than respectable given its price point. It's clear that Xiaomi has made a concerted effort to deliver a well-rounded package here, and one that will undoubtedly appeal to those seeking a solid mid-range smartphone experience. 4/5 In conclusion, while the Xiaomi 12X may not be a powerhouse in terms of raw performance, it more than makes up for it with its efficient chipset, smooth gaming capabilities, and excellent battery life. If you're in the market for a reliable mid-range smartphone, the 12X is definitely worth considering.