Sony Xperia 5 V vs Xiaomi 12 Pro
The Verdict
Sony's Xperia 5 V and Xiaomi's 12 Pro represent different flagship philosophies at the same $999 price point. The Sony excels with its compact 6.1-inch OLED display (2520 x 1080, 120Hz, 1700 nits) and the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, delivering snappier performance and more future-proof software with Android 13. Its IP68 rating and lighter 182g design make it more pocket-friendly. The Xiaomi counters with a larger 6.73-inch QHD+ display (3200 x 1440, 120Hz), superior charging at 120W wired plus 50W wireless, and a more versatile camera setup featuring three 50MP sensors including a dedicated 2x telephoto lens. However, the Xiaomi relies on the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, lacks official IP rating, and weighs a hefty 205g. Video capabilities favor Sony with 4K@120fps and log recording for creators. Battery capacity leans Xiaomi (4600mAh vs 5000mAh), though the Sony's efficiency with newer silicon likely compensates. Software support tilts toward Sony's cleaner Android experience versus MIUI's customization-heavy approach. Choose the Xperia 5 V for refined performance, compact form factor, and longevity. Select the 12 Pro if you prioritize screen real estate, wireless charging, and optical zoom capabilities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Sony Xperia 5 V if…
- →Compact 6.1-inch flagship in an era of large phones
- →4K@120fps video with professional log recording
- →Exmor T sensor excels in low light
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
Sony Xperia 5 V
Pros
- Compact 6.1-inch flagship in an era of large phones
- 4K@120fps video with professional log recording
- Exmor T sensor excels in low light
- Headphone jack retained
- IP68 with two years of OS updates
Cons
- No telephoto camera
- Only 30W wired charging — no wireless
- Premium price for a compact with limited camera versatility
- Display not as bright as competitors
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 | Sony Xperia 5 V | Xiaomi 12 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 182 g | 205 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | No official rating |
| Dimensions | 154 x 68 x 8.6 mm | 163.6 x 74.6 x 8.16 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Exmor T for mobile) | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX707) |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.45 |
| Video | 4K@120fps, log video recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2, 124-degree | 50 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP, f/1.9, 2x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4600 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired | 120W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.73 inches |
| Type | OLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2520 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1700 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 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 | 5.4 | 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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