Apple iPhone 12 vs Xiaomi 13
The Verdict
Both phones occupy the same $799 price point but cater to different priorities. Apple's iPhone 12 excels with its premium A14 Bionic processor, outstanding processing efficiency, and proven iOS ecosystem, though it uses a dated 60Hz display and 2815 mAh battery. Xiaomi's 13 counters with superior raw specs: a larger 120Hz AMOLED screen peaking at 1900 nits, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance, impressive 4500 mAh battery with 67W charging, and a versatile quad-camera system with Leica optics featuring a telephoto zoom. Software experience differs significantly: iOS offers consistency and longevity versus Android's customization. For camera enthusiasts and spec-conscious buyers, the Xiaomi 13 delivers exceptional value with its modern hardware. iPhone 12 buyers prioritize ecosystem integration and performance-per-watt efficiency. Recommend Xiaomi 13 for feature density and battery life, iPhone 12 if you're entrenched in Apple's ecosystem.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Xiaomi 13 if…
- →Compact flagship with flat display — rare in 2023
- →Leica-tuned triple camera system
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 at competitive pricing
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Xiaomi 13
Pros
- Compact flagship with flat display — rare in 2023
- Leica-tuned triple camera system
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 at competitive pricing
- Lightweight 185 g despite flagship specs
- 50W wireless charging
Cons
- 67W wired charging (slower than Xiaomi 13 Pro)
- No telephoto periscope
- MIUI ads and bloatware can be annoying
- USB-C 2.0 data speeds
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Xiaomi 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (MIUI 14) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 185 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 152.8 x 71.5 x 7.98 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 54 MP, f/1.8, OIS — Leica tuned |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree — Leica tuned |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.0, 3.2x optical zoom — Leica tuned |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 67W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.36 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1900 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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