Xiaomi 12 Pro test: an ambitious flagship

Xiaomi’s new top of the range does not offer the main 108-megapixel module that we would expect. There is instead a 50 megapixel sensor, the Sony IMX 707 which is the first appearance. Two other 50-megapixel modules complete the main one: an ultra-wide-angle and a 2x telephoto lens. With such an alignment, the Xiaomi 12 Pro clearly displays its ambitions in the field of mobile photography. Rare thing, it allows to capture in full definition (50 megapixels) with the three sensors, which means that all the shots are captured in 12.5 pixels thanks to the pixel-binning process. Main module: 50 megapixels, f / 1 ,9, eq. 24 mm Huawei P50 Pro (12.5 Mpx, ISO 64, 1/100 s) Xiaomi 12 Pro (12.5 Mpx, eq. 24 mm, f/1.9, ISO 68, 1/100 s) enlarge The Xiaomi 12 Pro does not stand up to the Huawei P50 Pro. His shot is much less detailed, with a colorimetry that tends slightly towards red. The P50 Pro offers a more natural image, with much more sharpness and contrast. Huawei P50 Pro (12.5 Mpx, ISO 2000, 1/12 s) Xiaomi 12 Pro (12.5 Mpx, eq. 24 mm, f/1.9, ISO 3608, 1/20 s) enlarge At night, our preference goes to Xiaomi’s smartphone. The photo is better exposed, has more contrast and is slightly less smooth than Huawei’s. day photo, the difference between the default mode and full definition is not obvious. At 50 megapixels, the 12 Pro offers more detail in certain parts of the scene. It nevertheless smooths a little more than in 12.5 megapixels. As expected, the colorimetry remains the same. Xiaomi 12 Pro (50 megapixels, 100% crop) Xiaomi 12 Pro (12.5 megapixels, 100% crop) enlarge At night, there is more to say. The exposure is much less good and we note the presence of asperities at the level of the piece of card (the famous white edges). Many details are lost and the smoothing becomes very marked.Night mode Xiaomi 12 Pro (night mode) Xiaomi 12 Pro (night) enlarge The night mode offers a good result compared to the “simple” shot captured in low light. With a longer exposure time, the smartphone manages to offer a better exposed image, with better sharpness. The contrast is also better. However, the increase in sensitivity covers the dark background of digital noise. If the Xiaomi 12 Pro is far from what manages to offer a Pixel 6, it does not deserve it. Ultra wide-angle module: 50 megapixels, f / 2.2 Huawei P50 Pro (13 Mpx, eq. 13 mm, f/2.2, ISO 100, 1/120 s) Xiaomi 12 Pro (12.5 Mpx, eq. 14 mm, f/2.2, ISO 167, 1/50 s) enlarge The ultra wide-angle of day is also more pleasing to the eye with the Huawei P50 Pro. Exposure is better, as is fine detail. The photo of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is very strongly smoothed and displays a hazardous colorimetry. It lacks detail and forces contrast in certain places when there is no particular need for it. Huawei P50 Pro (13 Mpx, eq. 13 mm, f/2.2, ISO 1600, 1/15 s) Xiaomi 12 Pro (12.5 Mpx, eq. 14 mm, f/2.2, ISO 5401, 1 /15 s) zoom At night, neither of the two smartphones is really satisfactory. But the Xiaomi 12 Pro stands out with its better exposure, despite the digital noise that covers the entire scene and hides details. The photo of the P50 Pro, meanwhile, is yellow, smoothed and less detailed than that of its competitor. 2x telephoto lens: 50 megapixels, f / 1.9 Huawei P50 Pro (16 Mpx, ISO 200, 1/60 s) Xiaomi 12 Pro (12.5 Mpx, eq. 48 mm, f/1.9, ISO 237, 1/100 s) enlarge At telephoto, the daytime observation is the same as with the other two modules. With its 2x zoom, the Xiaomi 12 Pro cannot compete with the 3.5x zoom of the P50 Pro. Lack of sharpness, sharpness and less good exposure are to be noted. The snapshot of the 12 Pro is far from being catastrophic, however. Huawei P50 Pro (16 Mpx, ISO 3200, 1/17 s) Xiaomi 12 Pro (12.5 Mpx, eq. 48 mm, f/1.9, ISO 6400, 1/15 s) enlarge In low light, the Xiaomi 12 Pro tries to preserve color neutrality, which is not the case with the P50 Pro, which tends to be yellowish, as with the ultra wide-angle. Huawei’s model relies on contrast to try to deliver an almost usable shot, while our 12 Pro sees its image strongly smoothed by software processing. Front module, portrait and video mode On the front, the Xiaomi 12 Pro incorporates a 32 megapixel sensor. The selfies are fairly well detailed, but we noticed a poor management of the white balance, which gives a rather strange colorimetry, even when the light conditions are good. The portrait mode is rather good in the sense that the clipping has proven to be almost perfect with each test on a subject, whether with the front module or with the wide-angle module. This mode has adjustable background blur as well as a “full body” option to capture the photo of an entire subject. With this function, the 12 Pro switches to the main module, while in “classic” portrait mode, it automatically switches to 2x telephoto. In video, the 12 Pro is capable of filming up to 8K at 24 fps , and in 4K at 60 fps. The smartphone is also HDR10+ compatible. On the front, video capabilities are limited to 1080p at 60 fps.