Xiaomi unveiled the 12S line of high-end smartphones on Monday, which include Sony photography sensors and Leica lenses. The top 12S series models cost between RMB 3,999 and RMB 6,999 ($598 and $1046).
Why it is significant: Xiaomi hopes to compete with rivals by selling high-end smartphones at a reasonable price with the new series. The series is focused on high-quality lenses and image capabilities.
Xiaomi’s new series is the first to feature Qualcomm’s newest chipset, potentially making them the quickest Android phones available.
The three variants – the Xiaomi 12S, 12S Pro, and 12S Ultra – have the same chipset but differ somewhat in other aspects like as charging speed, cameras, display specifications, and cooling system. According to Android Authority, the three variants will be available only in China on Wednesday, with the Ultra arriving in two colours and the other two models coming in four.
The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s newest chipset, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The theoretical performance of the Xiaomi 12S Pro outperforms all existing Android phones, achieving 1.1 million points on Antutu, a benchmarking tool.
The camera is an improvement over the Xiaomi 12 series. The series is the first Xiaomi phones to include Leica lenses after Xiaomi announced a long-term strategic partnership with Leica in May.
The 12S series incorporates Leica’s
Behind the primary camera, the Ultra model additionally features a reasonably big 1-inch CMOS image sensor – the Sony IMX989. A big sensor contributes to improved image performance, particularly in low light. Other manufacturers, like as Sony and Sharp, sought to incorporate a big image sensor into smartphones, but the two companies have very tiny smartphone sales.
The screen specifications for the 12S series adhere to industry standards and feature less highlights. The 6.73-inch LTPO display with curved edges on the Xiaomi 12S Pro and Ultra supports adaptive refresh rate and 2k resolution. The display can also deliver material with up to 1,500 nit peak brightness and native 10-bit colour depth, ensuring a rich colour spectrum and seamless transition, according to the manufacturer.
