PRICE Xiaomi 12: 128GB, £624 (£749 inc VAT); Xiaomi 12 Pro: 256GB, £874 (£1,049 inc VAT) from mi.com/uk
Xiaomi may not have the brand cachet of Apple or Samsung, but it’s a close competitor in terms of sales, and it knows how to make a decent smartphone. Its new offering comes in two variants: the regular Xiaomi 12 is a pocket-friendly design with a 6.28in display, while the larger Xiaomi 12 Pro brings a variety of upgrades and a bigger 6.73in panel.
Winning looks
The two handsets share the same basic design. The frosted finish is tasteful, with a choice of muted blue, grey and purple colours that give an air of refinement. Even the rectangular camera surround at the rear is elegant as well as functional. Both models come with a choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM; the basic Xiaomi 12 has either 128GB or 256GB of storage, while the latter is standard on the 12 Pro.
Whichever variant you go for, the construction is all glass and metal. The display is covered in Gorilla Glass Victus, while the frame is a matte, blasted metal that’s loosely color-matched with the back panel.
It’s nicely weighted too. The smaller model weighs a breezy 180g, while the Pro comes in at 205g, matching the weight of an iPhone 13 Pro. The curved-edge display settles nicely against your hand, while the smooth glass on the back of the device is a treat for your fingers, while remaining supremely fingerprint-resistant.
Controls and sockets are where you’d want them. Power and volume buttons sit along the right edge, while the dual-SIM slot hides at the base next to the USB-C charging port. An invisible fingerprint scanner is integrated into the front display, and is impressively responsive, especially when partnered with face unlocking.
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