1-inch sensors are the holy grail of small digital cameras; are they really that good? We’re about to find out, as we already have a Xiaomi 12S Ultra to review. Unlike the recent Xperia Pro-I (which reused the Sony RX100 VII sensor), this phone is the first to use Sony’s new IMX989.
The sensor is not everything, but processing matters so much, if not more in these form factors. This is where Leica comes in, the veteran German lens maker changed equipment and gave its experience to the entire 12S series.
This includes the Xiaomi 12S and 12S Pro, which are based on the original 12 and 12 Pro, though they are also upgraded to the new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset for slightly more performance and much better efficiency.
But let’s focus first on the Ultra. Compared to the 12S Pro, it changes the telephoto lens with a 5x periscope (120mm, in front of a 48 MP sensor), the ultra-wide module is also different, although this one is less impressive. The other change is in the battery. The new cell has slightly more capacity (4,860 mAh compared to 4,600 mAh), but is slower to charge: 0-100% in 41 minutes with a cable (compared to 19 min) or in 52 minutes wirelessly (compared to 42 min).
The 12S Ultra uses the same 6.73-inch screen as the 12S Pro: a 1-120 Hz LTPO panel with a resolution of 1,440 x 3,200 pixels. The Xiaomi 12S is smaller with a 6.28-inch AMOLED display at 120 Hz. All three are compatible with HDR10 + and Dolby Vision.
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra will be launched in China alone at a price of 6,000 CNY. For comparison, this is in the state of $ 900 / € 880 (note: prices in China are lower than world prices). If you could, would you buy one?
The only direct comparison is with the Sony Xperia Pro-I, which also has a 1 ”sensor, but does not make full use of it (using only 12MP of the 20MP sensor). It also has a basic 2x telephoto lens (not the Xperia 1 IV’s continuous zoom module) and an ultra-large 12 MP. This also uses last year’s Snapdragon 888, but has a 21K 9K OLED display, which allows it to serve as an external monitor for Sony cameras. Considering that it is also designed as a professional, it sells for $ 1,600 / € 1,500.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra can’t compete in sensor size, but the 108MP 1 / 1.33 “sensor is nothing to sneeze at. The phone also includes two telephoto lenses: 3x and 10x (both with 10MP sensors) and an ultra large 12MP.This may be Samsung’s best camera, but not everyone wants it (only) for their camera.Some want the S Pen, some support software, some like One UI / DeX, etc. The S22 Ultra costs $ 1,200 / € 1,250.
The vivo X80 Pro has a 50MP 1 / 1.3 ”sensor, an ultra large 48MP and two TV lenses: 12MP at 2x and 8MP at 5x. A legendary German lens manufacturer also has its name attached to it, Zeiss, which provided the coating for the T * lens and helps with image processing (which is also managed with the custom V1 + custom chip). The X80 Pro retails for between € 1,100 and € 1,300 depending on its exact region.
Sony Xperia Pro-I • Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G • vivo X80 Pro
Are you interested in the Xiaomi 12S Ultra? Note: You can also vote here.
If you’re looking for the Xiaomi 12S Ultra for its chip set, the Asus ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro also work with the same 8+ Gen 1, as does another gaming phone: the Red Magic 7S Pro. And the other two 12S phones this week, of course, should be available worldwide.
The Xiaomi 12S Pro will retail for CNY 4,700 ($ 700 / € 700). The overall price has yet to be revealed, but the 12 Pro retails for € 900, so expect the 12S Pro to be at the same point (as we said, prices in China are lower than in the US). foreign).
The Samsung Galaxy S22 + uses the original Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in some regions and the Exynos 2200 in Europe. It doesn’t have an LTPO panel like the Xiaomi, while the cameras are a mixed bag: the main 50MP has a smaller sensor (1 / 1.56 ”vs. 1 / 1.28”), the telephoto lens has a 3x lens but only 10MP. sensor (compared to 2x 50MP) and the ultra wide has a basic 12MP sensor (vs. 50MP). The Galaxy also doesn’t have the 120W fast charge of the 12S Pro, which advances to 45 W. And it doesn’t even have an advantage in capacity. The S22 + costs $ 1,000 / € 1,050.
The Oppo Find X5 Pro has an LTPO panel (6.7-inch 120Hz QHD +, just like the Xiaomi) and uses the 8 Gen 1 chip no more. The main sensor of the 50 MP camera is not as big (1 / 1.56 “versus 1 / 1.28”), the ultra wide 50 M camera is not as wide (110 ° vs. 115 °), but has a large 1 / 1.56 ”sensor. The telephoto lens is a standard 2x with a 13MP sensor (compared to 2x 50MP). The X5 Pro can be yours for € 1,300.
The Honor Magic4 Pro also has an LTPO panel (6.81 “120 Hz, not much QHD +) and is aimed at a 50 MP (1 / 1.56”) main, 50 MP ultra wide and a 64 periscope MP (3.5x). It also has a fast charge of 100 W, which is close to Ultra (00-100% in 30 min, instead of 19 min). You can get one for € 1,100.
Samsung Galaxy S22 + 5G • Oppo Find X5 Pro • Honor Magic4 Pro
Hands-free: Who cares about the Xiaomi 12S Pro? Note: You can also vote here.
The Xiaomi 12S will cost CNY 3,700 in China ($ 550 / € 550), the original Xiaomi 12 is € 700. It has a 6.28 ”screen, which is small for a flagship, but the phone is not as compact as the Galaxy S22, which costs $ 800 / € 850. The S22 and S22 + have the same cameras as the 12S and 12S Pro, the main difference being on the screen and battery.
There is really no Snapdragon 8 (+) Gen 1 phone of this size and Xiaomi will win most of the price struggles. The Realme GT2 Pro has a suggested retail price of € 750 and includes a 50MP main (1 / 1.56 “) and 50MP ultra wide (150 °), but it doesn’t have a telephoto lens.
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G • Realme GT2 Pro
Would you buy a Xiaomi 12S? Note: You can also vote here.