If a smartphone maker goes to take design inspiration from the flat-sided Apple iPhone 13 collection, then it at the least ought to make some enhancements to it. The look of the Xiaomi 12 Lite has clearly been influenced by the iPhone 13, so has the corporate accomplished the first rate factor?
I’m more than happy to say it has overwhelmed Apple in a single essential facet: in-hand consolation. Plus, the telephone itself is primed and able to tackle a number of of essentially the most anticipated Android telephones of 2022. It’s undoubtedly scorching, however is it only a bit too scorching?
Extra snug than the iPhone 13
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13’s squared-off, flat-sided look is great. However in the event you maintain any of the telephones with out a case, they will shortly develop into uncomfortable because the sharp edges quickly dig into your palm. It’s removed from the top of the world, and in the event you use a case — which most will — you received’t even discover. Nevertheless, after the intense consolation of the iPhone 11 collection, the redesign for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 was jarring to long-time Apple telephone house owners.
Step ahead Xiaomi and the Xiaomi 12 Lite. The telephone has flat sides, however some cautious chamfering has rounded the sharper edges that include this design alternative, and it has labored wonders for the in-hand really feel. Maintain an iPhone along with it and the distinction is obvious, because the Xiaomi 12 Lite nestles quite than digs into your fingers and palm. It means you’ll be able to comfortably use it with out a case.
The Xiaomi 12 Lite weighs 173 grams and is simply 7.2mm thick, which helps with its consolation, and makes it simple to slide into your pocket. It’s out there in three colours, the attractive Lite Inexperienced in our images, a Lite Pink, or a easy black model. Regardless of the Lite title, the telephone is constituted of glass and aluminum, and never plastic as you might anticipate. The digicam module stands pleased with the flat rear panel and accommodates three cameras, whereas the etched line separating them provides it an uncommon look.
The Xiaomi 12 Lite could not have essentially the most authentic design, but it surely does repair the one dangerous factor about flat-sided telephones, and that makes the type alternative a lot simpler to forgive.
Blended digicam efficiency
The primary digicam is the Xiaomi 12 Lite’s headline characteristic. It’s a 108-megapixel, Samsung-produced HM2 sensor, full with options like eye monitoring to assist with pinpoint focusing when taking images of individuals. It’s joined by an 8MP wide-angle digicam and a 2MP macro digicam. On the entrance is a 32MP selfie digicam in a top-center hole-punch cutout.
Primarily based on the brief time I’ve used the digicam, I’ve come away pretty happy. Pictures have that very distinct Xiaomi look to them, that means electrical blues and greens, and an usually detail-obscuring method to publicity. The wide-angle digicam is the worst wrongdoer, and due to the low megapixel depend, it doesn’t pull in a lot element both. The primary digicam actually does amplify colours, and if that’s not your factor, you most likely received’t just like the outcomes very a lot.
It’s value mentioning the attention monitoring, which isn’t one thing seen on many telephones exterior of some Sony Xperia units. It’s helpful if you need to take nice portrait photographs, as skilled photographers use the attention as a focus to make sure somebody’s face actually stands out within the picture. It really works shortly and successfully on the Xiaomi 12 Lite, so in the event you take quite a lot of images of your pals, you might discover the 12 Lite punches above its weight right here.
Too scorching to deal with
Contained in the Xiaomi 12 Lite is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor with both 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB space for storing, relying on which model you purchase. You have a look at a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 2400 x 1080 pixel decision, a 120Hz refresh price, plus a 240Hz contact sampling price, and HDR10+ certification. There’s a 4,300mAh battery with 67W quick charging, designed to take the battery to full in about 40 minutes.
The processor appears to work fairly laborious contained in the Xiaomi 12 Lite, as throughout my early checks it’s got noticeably heat, and bordering on scorching when taking part in video games. A brief 30-minute session with Asphalt 9: Legends noticed the again of the telephone get toasty, with a lot of the warmth gathering on the high finish of the telephone, and subsequently straight beneath the place you maintain the gadget. It was by no means too scorching to carry, however the heat was far increased than most telephones I take advantage of, and undoubtedly noticeable virtually instantly.
What may trigger this? It might be a software program challenge, quite than something to do with the processor or telephone design. My evaluate telephone has the newest model of Xiaomi’s MIUI over Android 12 however has not been up to date since I’ve used it, and this has been forward of the ultimate public launch. I haven’t used the Xiaomi 12 Lite for lengthy sufficient to determine reliability, or how lengthy the battery will final. The software program is identical as that discovered on the Xiaomi 12 Professional and I’d anticipate to face the identical points. Past that, the battery capability is sort of small in comparison with telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy A53, and it might wrestle to final past a full day in the event you play quite a lot of video games. Particularly if it at all times runs scorching.
Again on the constructive aspect, the display may be very engaging, though by default it’s set at 60Hz, so be sure you change this to 120Hz instantly. With out it, textual content blurs unpleasantly if you scroll. Watching video exhibits off the Xiaomi 12 Lite’s stereo audio system. Sadly, they don’t have plenty of bass as you’d anticipate, and above about 70% quantity, distortion quickly makes you flip it down. They undoubtedly get loud, but it surely’s not essentially the most refined audio expertise.
A aggressive deal (if you will get it)
Xiaomi has priced the 12 Lite at $399 for the 6GB/128GB model, and as much as $499 for the highest 8GB/256GB mannequin. Though Xiaomi has offered U.S. costs, the 12 Lite virtually definitely received’t be launched within the nation. On the very least, it will be out there “internationally.” Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed precisely the place but, however we anticipate Europe and India to be on the listing, and probably the UK, too.
At this value, the Xiaomi 12 Lite goes up in opposition to the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, and based mostly on the specs, it’s prone to face competitors from the forthcoming Nothing Cellphone 1 and the Google Pixel 6a. Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G is a superb purchase, however even within the brief time I’ve used the Xiaomi 12 Lite, the efficiency from the Snapdragon 778G chip is noticeably smoother and quicker than the A53’s Exynos chip. Nevertheless, the actual fact it will get fairly scorching can’t be ignored, because the A53 runs significantly cooler.
When you’re within the Xiaomi 12 Lite, we’d counsel not solely contemplating the Galaxy A53, but in addition holding out and seeing what Nothing delivers with the Cellphone 1, and in addition how good the Pixel 6a’s digicam seems to be.
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