Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Xiaomi 12 Pro
The Verdict
Both flagship phones deliver excellent performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processors, but serve different market positions. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE offers a more compact 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh and strong everyday value at $599. Xiaomi 12 Pro counters with a larger 6.73-inch QHD+ LTPO display, superior 120W wired charging, and 50W wireless charging versus Samsung's 25W wired. Camera systems are competitive: Samsung's 50MP main with proven Dual Pixel PDAF versus Xiaomi's triple 50MP setup including a 2x telephoto. Xiaomi delivers higher resolution video at 8K capability, while Samsung includes IP68 water resistance that Xiaomi lacks. Battery capacity slightly favors Xiaomi at 4600mAh versus 4500mAh. At nearly double the price, Xiaomi targets power users valuing faster charging and display quality, while the Galaxy S23 FE provides exceptional flagship features at a budget-friendly price point with superior durability ratings. For most users, Samsung's $599 option offers better overall value and practical water resistance.
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 Pro if…
- →120W wired charging fills battery in 18 minutes
- →Triple 50 MP camera system
- →QHD+ 120Hz LTPO AMOLED with Dolby Vision
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 Pro
Pros
- 120W wired charging fills battery in 18 minutes
- Triple 50 MP camera system
- QHD+ 120Hz LTPO AMOLED with Dolby Vision
- Harman Kardon quad speakers
- 50W wireless charging is very fast
Cons
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 thermal throttling
- No official IP rating
- MIUI 13 has ads and bloatware
- 2x telephoto zoom is limited
- USB 2.0 data speeds
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | Xiaomi 12 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 209 g | 205 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 | 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.16 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX707) |
| 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 | 50 MP, f/1.9, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4600 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 120W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W, Wireless PowerShare | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.4 inches | 6.73 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1450 | 1500 |
| 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.
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