Earlier this year, Xiaomi announced the Xiaomi 12 Lite after launching the 12S series. The Xiaomi 12 Lite is the latest addition to the Xiaomi 12 line of smartphones. Its the successor to the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE launched inst October 2021. Xiaomi is set to launch the Xiaomi 12 Lite in the Philippines and here are our first impressions of the device.
Xiaomi 12 Lite Specs
- Chipset – Snapdragon 778
- RAM – 6/8GB
- Storage – 128/256GB
- Display – 6.55-inch 120Hz refresh rate
- Battery – 4,300mAh with 67W fast charging support
- Rear Camera –
- 108MP main camera
- 8MP ultrawide
- 2MP macro
- Front Camera – 32MP
Xiaomi 12 Lite Unboxing and First Impressions
The Xiaomi 12 Lite comes in a white premium-looking design with its bronze font.
Contents of the packaging are as follows:
Contents of the packaging are as follows
- Xiaomi 12 Lite Smartphone
- 67W Charger
- USB Type-C Charging Cable
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Warranty, Manual, and Safety Information
- Transparent Silicon Case
The Xiaomi 12 Lite is a premium-looking phone with an almost boxy design thanks to its symmetrical edges and surprisingly thinner chin. The Xiaomi 12 Lite sports a 6.55″120Hz AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Being an AMOLED display, the Xiaomi 12 Lite should support HD10+ with brightness levels of around 1000 nits for its peak.
Based on Global releases, the Xiaomi 12 Lite will come in three configurations, Black, Lite Green, and Lite Pink. Our specific review sample is the Lite green variant. The back of the phone shows a different gradient depending on the amount of light shined on the device.
All of the buttons are housed on the right side of the Xiaomi 12 Lite leaving the entire left side of the device clean. The volume rockers are positioned on the upper side where most devices have the lock button located. The lock placement feels unnatural as I often misclick when I intend to lock the device. People with smaller hands however might have a better time as they don’t have to reach as hard to use the lock button.
The Xiaomi 12 Lite uses a USB Type-C port for charging. It supports 67 watts of fast charging with a 50% charge in 13 minutes according to the brand.
Xiaomi 12 Lite Camera
Xiaomi markets the Xioami 12 Lite as a photography-driven smartphone with its #MyStyleMyShot tagline. The device has a triple studio-level camera setup. It uses a 108MP camera for its main sensor paired with an 8MP-ultrawide angle and 2MP macro camera.
Xiaomi 12 Lite Camera Sample Shots
The 108MP main camera does a wonderful job of capturing the details of the environment. However, our initial pics show different color profiles when switching from 1x to the ultrawide 0.6x and 2x. Compared to the main camera reference, the ultrawide has a darker color profile while the zoomed-in photo is lighter. I do hope that the colors would be more uniform in a future software update. That aside, the 108MP camera performs spectacularly in our initial test. We’ll follow up with more samples in different lighting conditions in the full review.
AI mode adjusts the exposure and some slight color changes when enabled. Personally, I prefer the non-AI shot as it has more color range and is overall more vibrant.
Initial Verdict – Lite but Heavy on Details
The Xiaomi 12 Lite looks to be a very competitive device especially if you’re into photography. Its premium aesthetic and build quality don’t make it feel like it’s a “light” slash mid-tier device. While it’s not geared towards pro-level photography, capturing daily moments with its 108MP camera should leave you satisfied with its crisp colors and image quality. Depending on its price, the Xiaomi 12 Lite could be your go-to daily photography smartphone provided photos are your number one reason for buying a smartphone. That said, stay tuned for our full review of the Xiaomi 12 Lite which will include performance metrics such as benchmarks, games, and even more camera photos.
Grant is a Financial Management graduate from UST. His passion for gadgets and tech crossed him over in the industry where he could apply his knowledge as an enthusiast and in-depth analytic skills as a Finance Major. His passion allows him to earn at the same time help Gadget Pilipinas' readers in making smart, value-based decisions and purchases with his reviews and guides.
