Xiaomi’s new 12S smartphone lineup includes the Mi 12S, Mi 12S Pro and 12 Ultra. All three phones will feature camera modules developed in partnership with Leica. The partnership, announced Monday at a virtual event, is the first for the Chinese phone maker, calling it a “strategic upgrade.”
Of the three, the Mi 12S Ultra is the highest-end model. It has a unique design designed to mimic the big-lens aesthetic of DSLR cameras and includes a powerful camera module to boot. There’s a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens.
But the main feature is the one-inch sensor Sony IMX 989 for the main camera (wide-angle lens), which Xiaomi managed to cram into the Mi 12S Ultra’s chassis. For context, that’s the same sensor found in Sony’s $1,200 point-and-shoot RX100 VII, which means the Mi 12S Ultra has the largest image sensor on any phone.
However, be warned: a phone’s time-honored camera hardware doesn’t guarantee top-notch photos. Like any other phone, the Mi 12S Ultra’s software will also play a key role in determining the image quality of the final photo, despite Xiaomi‘s proven track record.
Other specs for the Mi 12S Ultra include a top-of-the-line processor in the form of the first-gen Snapdragon 8 Plus, which Xiaomi says will mean lower power consumption and reduced heat emissions. There’s a 4,680 mAh battery powering the phone, which is complemented by 67W fast charging. There are also two custom Surge chips for battery management.
Mi 12S Ultra key specs
Dimensions: 163.17 x 74.92 x 9.06 mm
Resolution: 3,200 x 1,440 pixels, 522ppi
Cameras: 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, 48-megapixel telephoto lens
Weight: 225 grams
Battery: 4,860mAh
Charging: 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging
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