Earlier this year, Xiaomi unveiled the Mi 11 Lite which delivers the best part of its standard model in a mid-range package. Here, the Xiaomi 12 Lite didn’t just bring in those significant features of the Xiaomi 12 series, it extends its main camera to a 108MP sensor which is more than that of the Xiaomi 12, 12X, or the 12 Pro.
To be honest, Xiaomi’s mid-range phones have become the company’s best-selling smartphone segment over the past few years, like that’s where they put in their best effort. When you hear about the Xiaomi Mi 11 and the Xiaomi 12 Pro, what comes to your mind is probably the best or one of the best Android phones of 2021.
Well, the Xiaomi 12 Pro remains the best in the business with a flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, so don’t compare. However, we’ll be reviewing the Xiaomi 12 Lite which is the latest addition to the Xiaomi 12 family.
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This smartphone comes in a big 6.55-inch AMOLED screen with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support. Under the hood, the Xiaomi 12 Lite has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset with an Android 12-based MIUI 13 interface out of the box.
That’s a whole lot of goodies to offer from a mid-range phone which doesn’t cost more than $400. Put in the 108MP sensor on the rear and 32MP on the front, and you get one of the best mid-range phones of the year.
The Xiaomi 12 Lite proving to be one of the best mid-range phones has exposed it to a wide range of capable rivals. The likes of the Galaxy A53 5G and Realme GT 2 Pro have shown to be better alternatives with powerful hardware and fast charger respectively, but it all depends on what you prefer.
If you want a smartphone for taking stunning pictures, the Xiaomi 12 Lite’s 108MP camera will go a long way, but let’s find out first.
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Table of Contents
Xiaomi 12 Lite Key Specifications
- Display: 6.55-inch AMOLED, 120Hz
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
- Front Camera: 32-megapixel
- Rear Camera: 108-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2 megapixel
- RAM: 6GB /8GB
- Storage: 128GB /256GB
- Battery Capacity: 4300mAh
- OS: Android 12, MIUI 13
Design
The Xiaomi 12 Lite is built in a thin and lightweight body, measuring 159.3 x 73.7 x 7.3 mm in dimensions and weighs just 173g. While there’s a 6.55-inch screen which is quite large, the phone is still sizeable to your hands and can easily fit into your pocket. We’ve seen the Xiaomi 12, 12X, and 12 Pro all featuring the same design, but Xiaomi has made a few touches to the 12 Lite which ends the similarity. Though it’s still the same design on the camera setup, the Xiaomi 12 Lite doesn’t have a glass rear like its fellow models.
Another change from the previous models is the flat sides. While other models from the Xiaomi 12 series were curved from the rear to meet the front or screen, the Xiaomi 12 Lite kept it flat, though Xiaomi added a subtle chamfering to the edge which makes for a slightly rounded edge to enable you to handle the phone with ease. Meanwhile, all we have said here is hardly noticeable when you glance through the four phones.
You’re allowed to choose from the Lite Green, Lite Pink, and Black color depending on your taste. Each color you choose, it’ll always produce a subtle gradient color effect, switching between different shades of the color on the back surface depending on the light that reflects on it.
Also, the plastic back is free from smudges and will not attract fingerprints easily, thanks to the textured finish. The design and build quality of the Xiaomi 12 Lite is good despite being slightly different from the rest of the Xiaomi 12 family.
Display
On the front, the Xiaomi 12 Lite features a 6.55-inch AMOLED display which has an FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) resolution and 20.9 aspect ratio. Out of the box, you get 60Hz refresh rate, but you can manually switch to 120Hz which offers a rapidly quick and smooth experience while scrolling through your screen.
Also, you’ll have almost the whole screen for viewing content, meaning there’s no obstruction from the bottom chin bezel which isn’t thicker than the top where there’s a punch-hole cutout housing the selfie shooter.
The AMOLED technology is good, ensuring that the under-display fingerprint scanner works responsively while unlocking the phone. Also, the panel delivers sharp contrast levels and vibrant colors with an option to customize the color balance, though the True tone-style feature adjusts colors based on ambient light conditions automatically.
The Xiaomi 12 Lite is also good for watching HDR10 content and playing games, while Visibility under direct sunlight isn’t an issue, you’re getting a 950 nits of peak brightness.
- Check out the display quality of the Oppo A73 5G
Camera
There’s a triple camera setup on the rear of the Xiaomi 12 Lite, with a 108MP camera using the Samsung HM2 sensor as the main shooter. The rest includes an 8MP ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view, and lastly a 2MP macro lens. We’ve seen the likes of the Xiaomi 11T Pro, Mi 11i 5G, and Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G capturing good photos at any given light condition using Samsung’s HM2 sensor. So imagine what the Xiaomi 12 Lite could do with its 108MP camera.
The main camera shoots colorful images with good dynamic range, and if you get close enough to the subject or object, you get a little bokeh effect. When it gets dark, the Xiaomi 12 Lite automatically turns on the night mode which captures detailed images with less noise or grain. Unlike the main camera, the ultra-wide isn’t good enough at night, even daylight photos come out decent, but not the best.
We hate to say that the 2MP macro lens is there for looks, but that’s it since it shoots less detailed images without even getting close enough to the object. Well, this isn’t the first time we’re witnessing such in a mid-range smartphone, that’s something the manufacturers need to work on. Selfies with the Xiaomi 12 Lite are amazing, with the skin smoothing filters that make the 32MP sensor a great selfie shooter.
Overall, the camera of the Xiaomi 12 Lite is excellent in the mid-range category. The 108MP main sensor becomes the hero here, capturing beautiful images in any given scenario. The auxiliary sensors remain decent too, though the 12 Lite should have done better.
- The Realme 9 Pro Plus is another great camera device
Performance, Storage, and Software
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset is mostly seen in mid-range phones of late. We think manufacturers have found a better chipset that can power their mid-range phones. You’re getting the best of this chipset when you take on your daily activities with the Xiaomi 12 Lite, and play some casual less-demanding games, or even the demanding ones as long as the settings are tuned down. Mind you that this isn’t a gaming chipset, so it may get hot during hours of gaming, but works perfectly on daily usage.
In terms of memory, you either get 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. We’re delighted that Xiaomi had to squeeze in their corner-cutting with the outdated LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage which is hardly noticeable in the phone’s performance, but the Xiaomi 12 Lite might struggle with loading things as fast as other phones with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.
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The Xiaomi 12 Lite comes with the Android 12 OS and the company’s MIUI 13 interface on top. The MIUI 13 interface which was launched this year has been designed with lots of gesture navigation options, like pulling down the notification shade by swiping anywhere instead of reaching for the top of the screen, and some other customizable setting tweaks.
Also, the MIUI doesn’t feature much bloatware, yet you still have an option to uninstall some pre-installed apps if you find them less important. Lastly, the Xiaomi 12 Lite will get two OS updates with three years of security updates.
Battery Capacity and Charging
The Xiaomi 12 Lite delivers a decent battery life where the 4300mAh battery can last for a full day when the phone is lightly used. And when used heavily with hours of capturing and video recording, including steady activity on social media platforms, the phone can last for 11hrs. Xiaomi also provided a 67W fast charger in the box which takes only 45mins to power this phone from empty to full battery.
Xiaomi 12 Lite: Price in Nigeria and Availability
On July 9, 2022, Xiaomi announced the launch of the Xiaomi 12 Lite which is expected to go on sale later in the same month.
The Xiaomi 12 Lite base 6GB /128GB variant will be sold at ₦245,000 ($399). Fortunately, the phone is currently available for pre-order on Xiaomi’s official website.
- The Oppo A96 might make a better cheaper alternative
Xiaomi 12 Lite Full Specifications
General
- Brand: Xiaomi
- Model: 12 Lite
- Release Date: July 2022
- Weight: 173g
- Colors: Black, Lite Green, Lite Pink
- Touchscreen: YES
- Type: AMOLED, 120Hz
- Display Size: 6.55-inch
- Screen Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
- Facelock Support: YES
- In-display fingerprint scanner: Yes
- Sensors: Fingerprint (under-display)
- Dimensions: 159.3 x 73.7 x 7.3 mm (6.27 x 2.90 x 0.29 in)
Platform
- Operating System: Android 12, MIUI 13
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G
- CPU: Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 670)
- GPU: Adreno 642L
Memory
- RAM: 6GB /8GB
- Inbuilt Storage: 128GB /256GB
- SD Card slot: No
Camera
- Rear Flash: Dual-LED dual-tone Flashlight
- Rear Camera: 108-MP f/1.9 (wide), 8-MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide), 2-MP f/2.4 (macro)
- Video: 4K@30fps
- Front Camera: 32-MP f/2.5 (wide)
- Front Flash: –
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi: YES
- Bluetooth: 5.2
- USB: MicroUSB-C 2.0
- GPS: YES
- WLAN: YES
Network
- SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
- 3G Support: Yes
- 4G/ LTE Support: Yes
- 5G Support: Yes
- Speed: HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A, 5G
Battery
- Capacity: Li-Po 4300mAh, non-removable
- Fast Charge: 67W
Price
- Price in Nigeria: ₦245,000
- Price in the US: $399
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