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Xiaomi has put a lot of effort into making the 12s Ultra a great camera. Xiaomi means business, from its relationship with legendary camera maker Leica to its investment in Sony’s imaging division, which helped fund the development of the 12s Ultra’s huge 1-inch IMX 989 sensor.
Even so, we didn’t think the 12s Ultra would be as good as it is, especially after the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra didn’t quite meet our expectations. The Mi 11 Ultra was supposed to be amazing. It had the best hardware in its class, including another huge Sony sensor, but it had problems with picture processing and getting too hot. Xiaomi seems to have learned from its mistakes this time.
Xiaomi 12S Ultra Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.81 inches, 3200 x 1440 px |
| Processor | Octa-core 3.2 GHz |
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Rear Camera | 108 MP + 12 MP + 50 MP triple camera |
| Front Camera | 20 MP |
Design and Build
The Xiaomi 12s Ultra, especially in black, reminds us of a deconstructed Leica M11 with its leather-like back, bold circular camera frame, and unrepentant thickness.
This phone feels very sturdy and comes in both black and grey, which Xiaomi calls green. With its big camera bump, it’s one of the heaviest smartphones on the market at about 1.3 cm, but we like how heavy the camera is. Just by looking at it, you can tell it’s a powerful camera, and that’s exactly what you get. You can buy this phone from its official website
Xiaomi 12S Ultra: Display
The big screen Xiaomi put in the 12S Ultra is a big reason why the phone is so big. The 6.73-inch screen isn’t the biggest on any Android phone, but it is at the top of the list. It has a WQHD+ screen and, according to Xiaomi, an impressive peak brightness of 1500 nits. It also works with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
In short, there aren’t many things this screen doesn’t have. The only thing you could really want is 4K, which only Sony’s Xperia 1 line really cares about right now. This screen is bright, sharp, and quick, so everything on it looks pretty good. I’d prefer a smaller screen and phone, but if you like big phones, this is a good choice.
Xiaomi 12S Ultra: Cameras
As the first phone with the new Sony IMX 989 1-inch camera sensor and the first Xiaomi phone with Leica’s colour science as part of a relationship between the two brands, the 12s Ultra’s camera should shake things up, both in terms of hardware and software.
In terms of gear, the main camera has a Sony 1-inch camera sensor, a Leica professional optical lens, and an aperture of f/1.9. It has 1.6-micron pixels at 50.3MP, and when taking shots at the default 12.5MP, the size of all the pixels goes up to 3.2 microns.
Xiaomi 12S Ultra: Performance
Basically, the 8+ Gen 1 uses a lot less power to do the same amount of work, which makes it one of the best mobile chipsets you can get right now. And if you want to play games that require a lot of power to look good, the 8+ Gen 1 has a lot of place to grow. This thing isn’t going to slow down any time soon.
This amazing performance shows up in everyday life. The phone was able to handle anything I threw at it without breaking a sweat. When doing everyday jobs or playing games, there was no lag, jitter, or stutter. Also, even though the phone gets warm after an hour of gaming, it wasn’t uncomfortable at all.
Pricing and Availability
Even more interesting is that the Xiaomi 12s Ultra is cheaper than most Western phones in its class, even though it has the best camera we’ve ever tried. Starting at 5,999 Yuan (about $890 or £735) for the 8GB RAM/256GB version, you’d be getting a great deal on a camera phone if you bought one at that price. Even though the 12s Ultra can be imported to some degree, for most people it is more of a glimpse into the future than a real choice right now.
Final Words
The big screen has great specs and looks great. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip gives it great speed, and the size of the phone, combined with the chip, gives it great battery life. Many people only care about the camera, and the 12S Ultra gives a unique experience. The main camera is great almost no matter what the lighting is like, and the big sensor gives a natural bokeh effect that no other phone can match. Photos look and feel more than ever like they were taken on a bigger, dedicated camera. However, this takes away some of the “just works” feeling you’re used to with a smartphone.
Xiaomi 12S Ultra review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Powerful telephoto camera
- No major product flaws
The Bad
- Only available in China
FAQS
On the first one, there is a 108MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide-angle camera, a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 10MP periscope camera with 10x optical zoom that can be increased to 100x zoom with digital cutting.
It also has 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of disc space. The 12s Ultra is ready for gaming and does very well with games like Genshin Impact and Tower of Fantasy. It takes heat better than the Mi 11 Ultra. The 12s Ultra has a 67W fast charger and a 4860mAh cell.