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Xiaomi is going from strength to strength, with the Chinese company recently passing Apple to take the number two spot for worldwide smartphone shipments in Q2 2021, close on the heels of Samsung – so all eyes are turning to the brand’s next flagship, the Xiaomi Mi 12.
The success isn’t too surprising, as Xiaomi has an impressive range of products, not least at the premium end of the market where it has been making huge strides in recent years. This looks set to continue now with the anticipated release of the Xiaomi Mi 12, recently rumoured to be the first phone in the world to use an entirely new type of RAM.
Here’s all we know so far about the upcoming flagship phone.
When is the release date for the Xiaomi Mi 12?
We’ve yet to receive a firm date on when we’ll see the Mi 12. But we can use its predecessors as an indication of when it might appear. Here’s when they all made their debuts:
Xiaomi Mi 11 – December 2020 (China), March 2021 (Global)
Xiaomi Mi 10 – February 2020 (China), March 2020 (Global)
Xiaomi Mi 9 – March 2019 (China), April 2019 (Global)
Xiaomi Mi 8 – May 2018 (China), November 2018 (Global)
As you can see there is something of a pattern that’s been established, with the global version of the new Mi devices generally arriving in March or April. With this as our guide, it seems likely that Xiaomi will continue with this schedule and release the Mi 12 December 2021 with a global release following a few months later in 2022.
You’re also sure to be offered a range of options when the launch arrives, as Xiaomi has bolstered its Mi lineup in recent year to include Pro, Lite, SE, T and Ultra models that all hit different price points and include specs to match. They spread the releases out across the year though, so they may not line up side-by-side when the Mi 12 is unveiled – and in fact it’s already been rumoured that the Mi 12 Ultra will arrive in June 2022.
Remember that for the moment Xiaomi doesn’t tend to launch its phones officially in the US, so while we’re expecting a global launch, it’s unlikely that this will include North America.
How much will the Xiaomi Mi 12 cost?
Again, there’s no official price for the Mi 12, as it’s still a while before we expect it to be launched. So, once more, we turn to the previous models.
Xiaomi Mi 11 – £749/€749 (around $910)
Xiaomi Mi 10 – £799/€799 (around $1,095)
Xiaomi Mi 9 – £499/€449 (around $685)
Xiaomi Mi 8 – £459/€459 (around $630)
Over time the range has risen in price. The main jump was between the Mi 9 and the Mi 10, with the Mi 11 staying around the same price point. As a Mi 12 Ultra is also rumoured to follow on from the Mi 11 Ultra, which cost £1,199/€1,199, we hope that Xiaomi can keep the price tag the same when the new model arrives.
What are the specs for the Xiaomi Mi 12?
We’ve seen a few rumours already circulating that could give us some pointers on the intentions of Xiaomi. Chinese tech site MyDrivers reports on a potential leak that the Mi 12 could come with the world’s first 200MP main camera, which would be a jump up from the 108MP shooter in the Mi 11. We’ve already seen similar rumours for the Samsung S22 Ultra, although this is in flux as there are counter-rumours that the Korean company has decided not to use the sensor on its next generation devices.
If that’s the case, then it leaves the door open for Xiaomi to steal in and claim the 200MP crown. Of course, larger amounts of pixels don’t necessarily equate to better images, although the new 1in sensor is also thought to use 16-in-1 pixel binning technology, which means it could achieve some impressive results if the software is up to scratch.
Another potential first for Xiaomi could be that the Mi 12 launches with the brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 898 processor that’s expected to arrive by the end of 2021, superseding the current king of the hill the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+.
The processor will use a 4nm manufacturing process and is expected to bring improvements both in terms of performance and energy efficiency. These margins can make a big difference in the fiercely contested area of the market that the Mi 12 will be entering, although it won’t hold the advantage for long as all the premium handsets will no doubt come equipped with the new silicon.
It’s subsequently been reported that the Mi 12 will also be one of the first phones to support the new, faster LPDDR5X RAM standard – and thus that the Snapdragon 898 will also support the format. This new RAM type has a max data rate of 8,533 Mbps – a substantial increase from the 6,400 Mbps cap in LPDDR5.
MyDrivers also reports that the Mi 12 could feature an LTPO panel, which enables variable refresh rates, although the top will remain 120Hz. There’s also rumours on Spanish site XiaomiAdictos that the display could boast a 2K resolution and that one of the cameras will have a telephoto lens with ‘high optical magnification capacity’.
As for battery, MyDrivers also reports that the Mi 12 will come equipped with 120W fast charging and possibly 100W wireless charging. The Ultra is set to be even more impressive, and the site claims it will be the first mass production phone to feature Xiaomi’s 200W wired HyperCharge tech, capable of fully charging a 4000mAh battery in just eight minutes.
No rumours on other specs yet but do check back regularly as we’ll be updating this feature when more details become available. In the meantime, try reading our guide to the best Xiaomi phones and best new phones coming soon to see what else could be tugging at your credit card.
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