Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Announced July 4, 2022
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra stands out as a landmark mobile device, pairing a massive one-inch camera sensor with high-end performance hardware that delivers exceptional image quality. That said, the phone is limited to a Chinese release, which presents significant hurdles regarding software compatibility and global availability for international users.
Weighted from 23 reviewer scores
Pros
- Fast, high-performance Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
- Vibrant and sharp 120Hz AMOLED display
- Phenomenal primary camera performance featuring a groundbreaking one-inch sensor
- Premium build quality with ergonomic, grippy vegan leather finish
- Robust battery life supported by fast wired and wireless charging
Cons
- Underwhelming selfie camera limited to 1080p video recording
- Limited to a Chinese market release without official global software support
- Inconsistent image quality and color science across secondary lenses
- Heavy, bulky design that is difficult to use one-handed
- Susceptible to thermal throttling during extended high-intensity tasks
- Launch price $900 (USD)
- Main camera 50MP f/1.9 + 48MP Ultrawide + 48MP 5x Telephoto
- Video 8K 24p
- Display 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED 120Hz
- Chipset Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 8GB, 12GB, 16GB
What the Reviewers Say
All 23 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 8.5/10
If not for the limited release, the 12S Ultra could be the best camera phone of 2022 thus far.
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The Xiaomi 12s Ultra is a landmark smartphone. Not only does it feature the very best camera we've ever used on a mobile, it also combines it with a compelling package.
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In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's the best camera phone I've ever used, and after over a decade of testing out every major flagship smartphone around, that's a mighty accolade – but it's still missing something.
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Xiaomi's camera efforts have picked up an additional boost thanks to the Leica partnership, and overall, the 12S Ultra offers one of the strongest packages today. That said, the phone is limited to China, and you don't get the Play Store out of the box.
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The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a breathtaking flagship that, at least camera wise, pushes the boundaries and what can be achieved on a smartphone.
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It's still the largest camera sensor in a smartphone, tied with the Sharp Aquos R6 that practically nobody outside of Japan has seen and the Xperia Pro-I that's gotten more publicity, but has likely sold even fewer units.
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If you watch a lot of my videos you'll know that I'm not afraid to outright say that one phone is better than another, but in this case I just I just love them both and I really wish the two companies could come together and meld all the best features into one.
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It would be a real shame if the Xiaomi 12S Ultra doesn't get an international release.
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When it comes to camera sensors, bigger is better. If you want a shallow depth of field and best-in-class low-light photos and videos, the Xiaomi 12s Ultra really is top of the class.
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Beyond the camera, there’s probably not enough the 12S Ultra does that’s unique to justify the hassle of importing a unit from China for most people, especially with capable alternatives from Samsung and Vivo more widely available.
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For everyone else, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a rare all-around flagship phone. It’s a little less amazing than last year, but as long as you can afford it, you can’t go wrong with it.
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Till then, this 12S Ultra unorthodoxically has easily stolen the crown for best cameras from the Galaxy S22 in our opinion. But then again, the season of smartphones has just begun.
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The Xiaomi 12S Ultra has checked all the boxes in terms of design, performance, camera, and battery, and we could not find anything to fault it.
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The photo quality overall is just indeed one of the best I've seen in the market right now.
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The camera sensors on the back of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra are absolutely phenomenal. They take incredible photos and videos regardless of the sensor being used.
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So with this, besides that, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is probably the best Android smartphone for now, but with the limited software experience, we can't really take advantage of all of the great hardware features that the phone has to offer.
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Let's kind of wrap this up, shoes kind of sleepy, let's go ahead and wrap this up. Overall, on a scale of 1-10, I'm giving the Xiaomi 12S Ultra a major major major major go, that's a quad major, that's the highest ranking on my channel.
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I think it isn't so far. I really think if someone said to me, "Hey, here's a thousand euros or a thousand US dollars, go and buy a flagship," I would probably overlook this and I would probably go for a Samsung or an Apple for the software experience, have more stable software.
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The Xiaomi 12s Ultra produces stellar snaps that are leaps and bounds better than what we’ve seen from the brand’s flagships. It’s a great start to their partnership with Leica and we cannot wait to see what they come up with next.
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Guys if you find this video helpful do give me a like and subscribe to my channel and I'll see you on the next one I'll press this one and you're watching what's up.
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If you're looking to upgrade from a 3 or 4 year old phone, well, this is newer than that and it works fantastically well.
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Now, if you're looking to step up your mobile photography game, this is the way to go.
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If you have trouble choosing a high-end smartphone, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the best choice.
