Xiaomi continues their efforts to offer a premium-looking device with solid features and at a more affordable price. Their latest device is the Xiaomi 12 Lite, which has the same design and chip as the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, the same camera module as the Xiaomi 12, better camera capabilities and a faster charging system.
After using this device for about a week, I feel satisfied with their offering this time. But is this device worth having if the majority of the components are still the same as the 11 Lite 5G NE?
Specifications And Design
Xiaomi 12 Lite
6.55″ AMOLED DotDisplay 2400 x 1080 FHD+ screen
120Hz, AdaptiveSync, DolbyVision, HDR10+
Snapdragon 778G processor (6nm)
4x 2.4 GHz Kryo 670 chips
4x 1.8 GHz Kryo 670
Adreno 642L Graphics Chip
8GB LPDDR4X RAM
Internal Storage 128/256 GB UFS 2.2
Main Camera 108+8+2 Megapixels
f/1.88+f/2.2+f/2.4
AI Cinema, night mode
32 Megapixel Selfie Camera, f/2.45
Dual-LED flash Xiaomi Selfie Glow
4,300 mAh battery
67W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano
NFC Available
Stereo Audio, Dolby Atmos
Waterproof None
Scan System Fingerprint scan under the screen
Sale Price RM 1699 (8/128 GB)
RM 1899 (8/256GB)
I can honestly say when taking this device out of the box I didn't feel excited at all. Even felt a little disappointed because it still uses the same design as the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. The major changes to this device are only in the camera design and in the selfie camera only.
The screen is still 6.55-inch AMOLED FHD+ only this time it supports a high refresh rate of 120Hz instead of 90Hz. The chip is also the same as the Snapdragon 778G, but the memory is no longer 6GB of RAM and only offers 8GB of LPDDRX4 RAM and UFS 2.2 storage which is slow compared to competitors such as Nothing Phone (1).
The flat design of the device around it is pleasant to hold with a light body. The soft color is also pleasing to the eye. Each button is on the right side, which was a little strange to press at first but after a day it was no problem for me to operate.
On top there is still a microphone hole, an infrared transmitter for the remote control and a speaker grille. While under another speaker grille, microphone hole, dual SIM slot and USB-C charging port.
The quality of the screen on this device I feel is satisfactory enough for daily use. Bright and deep colors and fairly high brightness make the video viewing experience one of the best. In fact, I dare say it's almost as good as a flagship device in the affordable category. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support makes me almost drool watching Netflix because of the great quality.
The device's screen also supports a 120Hz refresh rate, which I feel is quite fast and smooth. It uses the AdaptiveSync adaptive system to ensure the refresh rate is appropriate according to the screen content. Throughout the use I did not experience any serious problems for the screen. Playing videos on apps like Prime Video on this device is smooth and fine, compared to the OnePlus 10T which randomly stutters.
Use And Software
Every time I test a Xiaomi device for the local market, there are bound to be some similar issues. But this time the experience is different even though the device is still using MIUI 13 based on Android 12. The main problem I always face is notifications not working consistently. Sometimes it sounds sometimes not. This issue does not arise on the 12 Lite.
MIUI 13 on the Xiaomi 12 Lite includes many features that are available on other Xiaomi and Redmi devices. An example that was missing from Xiaomi 11 Lite before is the Optimized Charging feature, which was previously offered on 120W charging, but it is increasingly being offered on devices with 67W as well. Also a feature that I know is new for the Lite series is the pulse scanner using the under-screen fingerprint scanner.
In the Xiaomi Camera application, there is also a little addition to control the dual-LED flash that is built on the top of the device's bezel. This system is Xiaomi Selfie Glow to give extra light when taking selfies in the dark.
Game Turbo on the device is also more in line with many other Xiaomi devices this year. It features one-button performance enhancements, a more user-friendly interface and is more neatly organized for easier access during gaming sessions.
The first play performance like Asphalt 9 is also quite satisfactory with no heating problems at all after several play sessions. The lag problem also did not occur on this device after several other initial sessions. Loading times for heavier games like PUBG Mobile are a little slow, and graphics settings can't be used at their highest levels either.
Bench mark
Since the Xiaomi 12 Lite still uses the same processing chip as the previous model, this device will have roughly the same benchmark score. On Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE Geekbench 5 score is 702/2193, while on AnTuTU 3D it is 483,647. For this device, Geekbench 5 recorded a score of 748/2840 and AnTuTu 3D with a score of 515,149. Just a little higher and the previous device also offers quite satisfying real-time usage.
If I compare this device with competitors like Nothing Phone (1) which uses a chip in the same series, but slightly improved which is Snapdragon 778G+ – this device recorded better Geekbench 5 and AnTuTu 3D scores. You can see the comparison below;
AnTuTu 3D
Xiaomi 12 Lite: 515,149
Noting Phone (1): 583,079
Geekbench 5
Xiaomi 12 Lite: 748/2840
Nothing Phone (1): 819/2935
The first reason why the Snapdragon 778G+ is better is because of the chip design that provides a more efficient use of power which is 1+3+4, while the Snapdragon 778G uses a 4+4 configuration. The second is because competing devices use LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 storage which gives a significant difference in performance.
Telephony And GPS
Strangely enough, the Xiaomi 12 Lite also didn't give me mobile data network and telephony problems like it does with the majority of Xiaomi's mid-range devices. Internet is stable, phone calls are clear and WiFi connection is also fast without any problems. As for the GPS, it is able to lock the location well and the Google Maps application is still able to give smooth directions without causing me to get lost. At this time the 12 Lite is still not supported by DNB's 5G network even though it is equipped with a 5G modem.
Camera
For the camera, the Xiaomi 12 Lite tries to offer the best for a device in this premium mid-range class. The rear camera configuration is 108+8+2 Megapixel and the front is 32 Megapixel. A little disappointing that there is no OIS, but what it offers is quite good and those who use this device will be grateful.
The latest thing that this device has is the Xiaomi Selfie Glow system that uses a dual-LED flash system to provide additional light for selfies. The MIUI system also now provides better beauty effects and they try to provide more realistic results. Here are some recorded samples.
On the main camera, the 108MP sensor used is quite impressive despite the lack of OIS. The camera is capable of producing quality images without any problems. Fairly bright colors, preserved details, as well as a good blur effect even without using portrait mode.
The ability to focus is also good without any problems when using the camera. For ultra-wide angle mode, it's just average and macro doesn't have satisfactory results. Xiaomi's artificial intelligence system this time is also much better and more consistent than before. Night mode also looks more attractive, brighter and more confident to share to social media.
Battery
The Xiaomi 12 Lite's battery life on me is pretty normal for a device in this class. For my usage pattern which is often quite extreme with lots of network settings and connections I have on, manual brightness, lots of social media apps, various apps open and locked to always run in the background – this device can last more than a day. In my usage, it can last up to 6 hours SOT if not playing first and around 5 hours SOT if actively playing first.
If the battery saving mode is activated and the user of the device is more disciplined, I'm sure it will have no problem lasting up to 7 hours of SOT per day. The charging on this device is 67W Xiaomi AdaptiveCharge, which can charge the device from 0% to 100% in just 41 minutes. Although for me 100W and above is faster, even this 67W is actually enough. Compared to other competitors, it is still only around 20W-30W.
Audio
The stereo speaker system on this device surprised me with its capabilities. It's loud enough even at around 50% and most importantly it's balanced giving the experience of listening to music and watching videos more immersive. Although it's a bit sharp, it's not too sharp – this is because the device's speaker doesn't have enough deep bass to make it the best speaker.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi 12 Lite is a pretty good mid-range device. Especially for those who value the camera and don't have a budget of RM2000. The main camera of this device is 108MP which has a lot of details and the selfie camera is 32MP with high quality without much noise effect even if there is not enough light.
Performance is still more or less the same, but the big problem of MIUI 13 is already diminishing. So if those who want to try a Xiaomi device for the first time will not feel strange using this device. Memory is also now only 8GB RAM with 3GB virtual memory support and no more 6GB RAM starting model, which is a good thing for a device in this class.
Xiaomi 12 Lite's screen is also of good quality and now has faster charging support, surely it will attract people's attention. The sale price starts at RM1,699 for the 8/128 GB, while RM1,899 for the 8/256 GB model. If you're a Xiaomi Mi 11 or Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE user – there's probably no need to switch unless you want a better camera.
Pro
Better quality camera.
Has a dual-LED flash on the front.
Beautiful and fast 120Hz Dolby Vision AMOLED screen.
Long lasting battery with super fast charging.
MIUI 13 is getting better.
Cons
Still using the old 11 Lite 5G design.
Same chip as last model.
The camera does not have OIS.a