Xiaomi 12S Ultra Review and Features

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a powerhouse of a smartphone, boasting an impressive 1-inch 50MP primary sensor with a massive f/1.9 aperture. This camera setup is a game-changer for photography enthusiasts.

The phone's camera capabilities are further enhanced by its ability to capture 8K video at 30fps, allowing users to record stunning footage with ease.

With a 6.73-inch AMOLED display, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra provides an immersive viewing experience, perfect for watching movies or gaming on the go.

Consider reading: 小米 12s Pro

The Xiaomi 12s Ultra is a significant departure from its predecessor, the Mi 11 Ultra. It ditches the small second screen on the back and moves to a more premium design.

The phone is thick, measuring around 9.1mm, but that's not the whole story - it actually clocks in at about 1.3cm thick when you include the camera bump. This makes it a weighty phone, weighing in at 225g.

The 6.73-inch screen is large and impressive, but not as expansive as some other flagships. It's a palm and pocket filler, to say the least.

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The design is elegant, with a matte metal frame that tapers in nicely at the sides. The power button and volume rocker are conveniently located on the right side.

One of the standout features of the 12s Ultra is its Leica-branded camera system. It uses a new 1-inch sensor developed by Sony, with optics from Leica.

The phone's chassis is crafted out of aluminum, with symmetrical speaker grills on top and bottom. They're also tuned by Harmon/Kardon.

Here are some key specs to keep in mind:

The 12s Ultra's screen is a second-generation LTPO AMOLED display with a 2K resolution. It's bold, vibrant, and punchy, and gets bright too - climbing up to over 1,000 nits.

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The camera technology on the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a major highlight of the phone. The phone features a 50MP Sony IMX989 sensor, which is a 1-inch sensor, allowing for stronger and more natural bokeh.

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This larger sensor takes in more light, resulting in greater dynamic range and image details. It also produces a shallower focus pane for that depth-of-field bokeh effect professional photographers love. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra's bokeh is consistently stronger, with a more natural focus drop-off.

The phone's main camera also features optical image stabilization (OIS), an f/1.9 aperture, a lens that comprises eight elements, and phase detection autofocus (PDAF). The 48MP ultra-wide and 48MP 5X Periscope cameras are very good, but not necessarily better than rival offerings.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra can shoot videos up to 8K resolution, but the reviewer prefers to shoot at 4K/30 for crisp videos with good stabilization and noticeable bokeh. The audio recording is a bit below par compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but this may not be an issue for most users.

Here are the key camera specifications of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra:

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra's camera software also offers two photo modes, Leica Natural and Leica Vivid, giving users a choice between cool and subdued and vibrant and punchy photos. The reviewer prefers the Leica Vivid look, which produces photos with excellent dynamic range.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra packs a punch when it comes to performance and specs. This phone features a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which is the same power introduced on the Asus ROG Phone 6. You can get either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and storage options range from 128GB to 512GB.

The phone's superior heat management makes it gaming-ready, and it handles titles like Genshin Impact and Tower of Fantasy very well. The 4860mAh battery and 67W fast charging capabilities make it a competitive package, even if it's not class-leading.

One of the standout features of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is its battery life. With the Surge G1 and P1 chips handling battery management and charging, this phone can consistently go an entire 13-hour day out for heavy users like myself.

Here are the key specs of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra at a glance:

The phone runs MIUI 13 based on Android 12, which provides fast and zippy performance.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra boasts an impressive battery life, consistently delivering around 14 hours of use on a single charge.

With a high-performance SoC and Xiaomi's Surge G1 chip, this phone can handle heavy use without draining the battery too quickly.

I've found that keeping the display resolution and refresh rate at the highest possible setting doesn't seem to impact battery life as much as I thought it would.

In fact, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra can manage six and a half hours of screen-on time, which is impressive considering its WQHD+ screen.

No other phone with a 120Hz, WQHD+ screen comes close to matching this level of battery life, not even the Galaxy S22 Ultra or OnePlus 10 Pro.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the only mainstream flagship phone that I'm confident gives me better battery life, but it doesn't have a WQHD+ display.

The phone comes with a 67W charger that can top the battery from 0-100% in just 28 minutes, which is incredibly fast.

You also get support for 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, although I didn't get to test the 50W wireless charging feature.

Related reading: 小米 14t Pro

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra's device components are top-notch. The phone's speakers are among the loudest and fullest on the market.

Xiaomi's haptics are great, providing a smooth and responsive experience. Thermals are also well-handled, with the phone rarely getting uncomfortably hot.

The phone's design is a major upgrade, with a premium look and feel that sets it apart from other Android phones. The faux-leather back is a nice touch, and it may even help with heat dissipation.

The Leica partnership has truly improved the color science and image processing of Xiaomi cameras. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra camera is confident and produces shots with more intentionality behind them.

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The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is available for purchase in China, with prices starting at 5,999 yuan for the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.

The phone comes in two colors: Classic Black and Verdant Green, both of which feature a leather-styled back.

You can choose from three different storage options: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, but unfortunately, the article doesn't mention the 1TB option, only 256GB and 512GB.

Here are the prices for the different storage options:

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is Xiaomi's best slab offering of the year, and it brings brand new camera with a 1-inch sensor and Leica optics.

Unfortunately, the article doesn't mention any international availability, so if you're interested in purchasing the phone outside of China, you might need to look into importing options.

The Xiaomi 12s Ultra is a powerhouse of a phone, and here are some of its standout features.

Its best-in-class camera hardware makes it a top contender for photography enthusiasts.

The phone's premium styling and build make it a stylish addition to any pocket or purse.

A quality 120Hz AMOLED display ensures a smooth and vibrant visual experience.

Mighty performance is provided by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 power, which is a significant upgrade over its predecessor.

Here are some of the key pros of the Xiaomi 12s Ultra in a list:

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a powerhouse of a phone, and its pros are numerous. It boasts best-in-class camera hardware, making it a top choice for photography enthusiasts.

Its premium styling and build are also noteworthy, giving it a luxurious feel in the hand. This phone is a statement piece, to say the least.

A quality 120Hz AMOLED display is another key feature, providing a smooth and vibrant viewing experience. Whether you're gaming or watching videos, this display delivers.

Mighty performance is also on offer, thanks to the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 power. This chip is a beast, offering fast speeds and efficient battery life.

Here are some of the key specs that make the Xiaomi 12S Ultra a top contender:

The Xiaomi 12s Ultra has its downsides, and I want to share them with you.

One of the main cons is that there's no Western release planned for the phone, which means you won't be able to buy it in the UK or US.

The phone's design is also a bit of a drawback, with a thick profile and heavy weight that might make it uncomfortable to hold and carry.

Camera quality is another issue, with inconsistent quality across the cameras, which can be frustrating to deal with.

Pre-installed bloatware is also a problem, taking up space and potentially slowing down the phone.

Here are the cons of the Xiaomi 12s Ultra in a nutshell:

If you're considering the Xiaomi 12S Ultra but want to explore other options, there are several phones in the same price range that are worth looking into.

The Poco F6 is one such option, priced at $323.97. It's a great choice for those who want a powerful phone without breaking the bank.

The Infinix Hot 50 is another phone in the same price range, priced at $346.81. It's a good option for those who want a phone with a strong battery life.

Here are some other phones in the same price range as the Xiaomi 12S Ultra:

The Realme C75x is a great option for those who want a phone with a high-quality camera, priced at $310.35.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra's camera is a real treat, with a large 1-inch sensor that produces natural bokeh. This is a game-changer for photography enthusiasts who want to capture professional-looking shots.

However, the Vivo X80 Pro is still the top dog when it comes to HDR. Its ability to find the perfect balance in every shot is uncanny, and it's yet to blow out highlights in over a thousand photos taken in the past 10 months.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra's HDR, on the other hand, can struggle in difficult lighting conditions. In a scene with a brightly lit food stall located in a dark street corner, it blows out the store lights and has dark shadows. This is in stark contrast to the Vivo X80 Pro, which manages to expose everything perfectly.

But here's the thing: the Xiaomi 12S Ultra's camera feels more organic and natural, making it a great choice for those who want to experiment with shooting more. Its shots may not be as polished as the Vivo X80 Pro's, but they have a certain charm to them.

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The Xiaomi 12s Ultra runs MIUI 13.0.3 over Android 12, making it a powerful and feature-rich smartphone. It's a great option for those who want a seamless Android experience, but be aware that the Chinese version may require some tinkering to get everything working smoothly.

The phone's performance is fast and zippy, thanks to its new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset. This is the same power introduced on the excellent Asus ROG Phone 6, giving you a competitive edge in gaming and other demanding tasks.

You can expect really good battery life from the 4860mAh battery, which is complemented by 67W fast charging. This means you can quickly top up your battery when you're on the go, and get back to using your phone without any hassle.

Here are some key specs to keep in mind:

Just remember that importing the Xiaomi 12s Ultra may require some technical know-how, as you'll need to side-load Google apps and configure the phone to your liking. But if you're up for the challenge, it's a great way to get your hands on a cutting-edge smartphone with a huge 1-inch camera sensor.