Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Xiaomi 12
The Verdict
iPhone 16 Plus offers a more refined flagship experience with its 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display reaching 2000 nits brightness, iOS 18's polished ecosystem, and Apple's A18 chip delivering consistent performance. The 4674 mAh battery provides solid longevity, while the 48MP main camera with computational photography excels in real-world conditions. Xiaomi 12 counters with a more compact 6.28-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, faster 67W wired charging, and impressive 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS for detailed stills. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 matches Apple's raw power, though Android 12 with MIUI feels slightly dated compared to iOS 18. At $899 versus $749, the price gap favors Xiaomi for specs-conscious buyers, but iPhone 16 Plus justifies the premium through superior display brightness, software longevity, and cohesive performance. The Xiaomi's 120Hz refresh and faster charging are genuine advantages. For pure value and specifications, Xiaomi 12 edges ahead, but iPhone 16 Plus delivers the more complete, future-proof package worth the investment if ecosystem compatibility matters.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Plus if…
- →Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- →A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- →New Camera Control button
Buy the Xiaomi 12 if…
- →Compact flagship at 6.28 inches
- →67W wired and 50W wireless charging
- →Good 50 MP main camera with OIS
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Pros
- Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- New Camera Control button
- Bright 2000-nit display
- More affordable than Pro Max
Cons
- Still locked to 60Hz refresh rate
- No telephoto camera
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No always-on display
Xiaomi 12
Pros
- Compact flagship at 6.28 inches
- 67W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Good 50 MP main camera with OIS
- Lightweight at 180 g
- Harman Kardon stereo speakers
Cons
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 runs hot
- No telephoto camera
- 13 MP ultrawide is weak
- No official IP rating
- MIUI 13 bloatware
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Xiaomi 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 180 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | No official rating |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.16 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX766) |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP, f/2.45 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 13 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4674 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 67W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.28 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 1100 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
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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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