Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Xiaomi 12
The Verdict
Both phones deliver flagship performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processors and 120Hz AMOLED displays, but differ in key areas. Samsung's Galaxy S23 FE ($599) offers superior display brightness at 1450 nits versus 1100 nits, IP68 water resistance, and a practical 3x telephoto lens. Xiaomi's 12 ($749) counters with faster 67W charging compared to 25W, 50W wireless charging, lighter 180g design, and 8K video capability. The S23 FE's Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen and telephoto zoom make it better for photography enthusiasts, while the Xiaomi excels in charging speed and portability. For the $150 price difference, Samsung delivers more value with superior durability, brighter display, and optical zoom. However, if rapid charging and wireless charging matter most, Xiaomi justifies its premium. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE edges ahead for balanced flagship features at an excellent price point.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
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
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
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 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | Xiaomi 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 209 g | 180 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | No official rating |
| Dimensions | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.16 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX766) |
| Front camera | 10 MP, f/2.4 | 32 MP, f/2.45 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 67W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W, Wireless PowerShare | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.4 inches | 6.28 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1450 | 1100 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
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.
Explore more in phones, see all Samsung products or all Xiaomi products. View full details for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE or the Xiaomi 12.