Xiaomi 12 vs Xiaomi 15
The Verdict
The Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 15 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Xiaomi 15 is the cheaper of the two at $599 versus $749, a difference of about $150. The Xiaomi 15 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Xiaomi 12 stands out for compact flagship at 6.28 inches, while Xiaomi 15 is praised for snapdragon 8 elite delivers top-tier performance. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Xiaomi 12 if…
- →Compact flagship at 6.28 inches
- →67W wired and 50W wireless charging
- →Good 50 MP main camera with OIS
Buy the Xiaomi 15 if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- →Triple 50MP camera system with Leica optics at a competitive price
- →Compact 6.36-inch size with flagship specs — rare in 2025
Pros & Cons
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
Xiaomi 15
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- Triple 50MP camera system with Leica optics at a competitive price
- Compact 6.36-inch size with flagship specs — rare in 2025
- Blazing 90W wired charging fills the 5400 mAh battery in under 30 minutes
- 3200-nit peak brightness is excellent for outdoor visibility
Cons
- HyperOS still carries some bloatware and ad placements
- 2.6x telephoto lacks the reach of 5x periscope competitors
- Limited global availability compared to Samsung and Apple
- No headphone jack
Full Specifications
| Spec | Xiaomi 12 | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 15 (HyperOS 2) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 180 g | 191 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | No official rating | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.16 mm | 152.3 x 71.2 x 8.08 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX766) | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS (Light Fusion 900 sensor) |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.45 | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Macro | 5 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.4 | 50 MP, f/2.2, 115-degree |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP, f/2.0, 2.6x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5400 mAh |
| Charging | 67W wired | 90W wired |
| Wireless charging | 50W wireless | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.28 inches | 6.36 inches |
| Type | AMOLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2670 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1100 | 3200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 |
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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