The Xiaomi 12S lineup has just been revealed, but another Xiaomi 12 series spin-off – the Xiaomi 12T – could be just around the corner.
This is good news for Xiaomi fans, as the 12S models are only available in China, while the Xiaomi 12T and its siblings are likely to see a wider rollout.
Below, we’ve detailed everything we’ve heard about these phones so far, including when they might land, how much they might cost, and what specs and features they’re likely to have. We will update this article whenever new information emerges as well.
We then created a wish list of things we want to see in the Xiaomi 12T, to make it a decent upgrade and a worthwhile purchase.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next upper mid-range Xiaomi phone
- When do you leave? Probably before the end of 2022
- How much does it cost? Expect a mid-range price
Xiaomi 12T: release date and price
It’s unclear exactly when the Xiaomi 12T will arrive, but the Xiaomi 11T was unveiled in September 2021 and went on sale in October, so a similar timeline in 2022 is possible for the Xiaomi 12T.
There is also evidence for this type of time as a Xiaomi phone believed to be the 12T has been certified by the FCC (opens in new tab) (Federal Communications Commission), and this usually happens a few months after launch.
There’s no word on pricing, but it might be in line with the Xiaomi 11T, which started at £499 (approximately $595/AU$875). There will likely also be a Xiaomi 12T Pro, which can follow the Xiaomi 11T Pro from around £599 (around $830, AU$1,130).
Don’t count on seeing any of these phones in the US as Xiaomi doesn’t really have a presence there, but a UK launch is likely and an Australian launch is possible.
Xiaomi 12T: news and leaks
We haven’t heard much about the Xiaomi 12T yet, but leaker and journalist @kacskrz (opens in new tab) claims that the phone will have a Dimensity 8100-Ultra chipset, which is a tall but not very high-end chipset.
Xiaomi 12T (provisional name)8GB/128GB8GB/256GB12GB RAM is also possibleAndroid 12/MIUI 13NFCSnapdragon 8+ Gen 1120Hz AMOLED120W fast chargingOIS.#Xiaomi #Xiaomi12TJune 27, 2022
That said, about a week earlier, we heard from the leaker Mukul Sharma (opens in new tab) that the Xiaomi 12T would have a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset.
So one of these sources could be wrong, or it could be that the Snapdragon model is actually the Xiaomi 12T Pro, as the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is a high-end chipset.
According to Sharma, this phone will also have 8GB of RAM (although they claim there could also be a 12GB version), a choice of 128GB or 256GB of storage, a 120Hz AMOLED display, 120W charging. , a camera with optical image stabilization and Android 12.
Xiaomi 12T: what we want to see
We still don’t know for sure what the Xiaomi 12T and Xiaomi 12T Pro will offer, but we hope that Xiaomi has made the following changes.
1. Less heat
In our review of the Xiaomi 11T Pro, we noticed that it got quite hot when performing demanding tasks, and this is not only something that can make it uncomfortable to hold, it can also lead to the phone limiting its performance until it cools down.
There’s not much point in having a high-end chipset if you can’t use it to its full potential, so hopefully this is something Xiaomi has ironed out for the 12T lineup.
There’s a good chance that this happened, as the Snapdragon 888 in the Xiaomi 11T Pro was known for overheating, while the chipsets that are said to be coming here aren’t as well known for it.
2. A better positioned fingerprint sensor
The Xiaomi 11T range places the fingerprint sensor on the side of the phone, but we found in our Xiaomi 11T Pro review that this can be difficult to stretch for users with smaller hands, so we’d like to see this rethought for the Xiaomi 12T.
Ideally, we would like the fingerprint sensor to be placed under the screen, as with most high-end remote devices.
3. Smarter software
Xiaomi’s MIUI – the software it puts on Android – was never made for the fanciest interfaces, so while we’re sure MIUI isn’t going anywhere, we’d like to see it improved for the Xiaomi 12T.
We’re thinking about fewer pre-installed apps, less intrusive security features (like the way the Xiaomi 11T scans for newly installed apps), and fewer bugs.
4. Wireless charging
Neither the Xiaomi 11T nor the Xiaomi 11T Pro have wireless charging, so this is an obvious addition to the Xiaomi 12T lineup – or at least the Pro model. Wireless charging can often be more convenient and preferable to wired charging, and at the very least, it’s nice to have the option.
5. Make it less of a fingerprint magnet
Another issue we had with the Xiaomi 11T Pro was that the back tends to attract a lot of fingerprints, so we’d like to see this addressed in the Xiaomi 12T range, perhaps changing the material or colors used on the back.
If the Xiaomi 12T does it all, it could be one of the best Xiaomi phones.