Xiaomi 12 does not have only three older brothers. this Xiaomi 12Lite It is coming to complete the rest of its range with a more harmonious and economical model for those who do not need as much power in their daily life as before. We had the opportunity to test it briefly, now we can give you our first impressions.

Xiaomi 12 Lite, technical sheet

A risk-free, but in line with what Xiaomi offers

The back of the Xiaomi 12 Lite changes color depending on how the light is reflected. Because of how visually appealing it is and how comfortable it is to hold, it makes you think twice about putting a case on it.

The Xiaomi 12 Lite is not a small mobile: it has a respectable 6.55-inch AMOLED display (very good size for intermediate level), although this does not make it heavy, at least if we are accustomed to using a large-format smartphone. The coating on its back is in polished glass, in straight lines but without “sharp” edges.

The result is a very comfortable grip and touch, a cell phone that makes you feel like you want to use it without a case. Its size and weight also allow for one-handed use for certain tasks, but we’ll definitely use both hands most of the time to go faster.

The buttons have a hard and easy ‘click’ feel (thanks when you turn the volume up and down), and despite the blow from the cameras, putting it on the table doesn’t make the phone dance too much. The general feeling is that we are facing a mobile device. no big ambitions but well built.

950 nits of the screen (a data not visible in official specifications but provided to us by Xiaomi) is sufficient. use in broad daylight, even when wearing sunglasses that block your vision. The AMOLED panel provides very vibrant colors, which is more than enough for the general user, and the FullHD+ resolution means every single pixel is indistinguishable.

By the way, I am grateful that Xiaomi chose a completely flat screen without the frivolous curves that we see in mobile phones of other brands. And the company could save 120Hz Xiaomi claims that we are facing a “lite” version of the 12, but it did not, and this is a huge asset for this mobile. Also, you don’t see a problem with the bottom bezel, which is slightly thicker than the other bezels: It gives the impression that we have a full screen.

Too bad we didn’t get a chance to check the speed of the fingerprint sensor under that screen, which is something we’ll be doing in our full review.

A ‘daily drive’ that seems to be left for the general public

Due to the short tests we could do with the Xiaomi 12 Lite, we could not put the Snapdragon 778G to rigorous tests, but we managed to use it by opening various applications and recording videos with maximum quality. gives us good performance. Everything opens at reasonable speeds, and the interface didn’t ‘chop’ in its animations as often. We know the 778G is a chip of a certain age, but it shouldn’t be a dilemma for the type of user the Xiaomi 12 Lite is targeting.

The same brevity in the tests does not allow me to be precise about autonomy, but after a rather eventful day I can say that the Xiaomi 12 Lite has consumed 40% of its battery. With this, we can predict that, in the absence of our next full analysis, this device will have enough battery one day.

We’ll probably charge it every night, as with almost any other terminal, we will take advantage of its 67W fast charge to charge it in a matter of minutes, or when we need it. And yes, there is a charger in your box.

Promising photos by day, more organized at night

Photos taken with Xiaomi 12 Lite. Good result in daytime and low light at sunset.

Xiaomi hasn’t overlooked megapixels in its main rear camera, and this translates to good camera behavior in daytime scenarios. Main lens has 108MPand the 2MP Macro lens doesn’t disappoint either:

For macro photography, we shouldn’t underestimate the 2 MP rear lens either. Very good contrast between foreground and blurred background.

for front camera selfie Moreover does a good job of blurring the background to achieve a portrait style, distinguishes very well the border between my body and background. It has a nice post-processing job:

One of the functions of the Xiaomi 12 Lite allows us to use a pair of LEDs integrated in the screen as a flash, not only when taking pictures, but even when focusing. Xiaomi claims that this regulates the amount of light better and improves the quality of the portrait, but a decrease in quality has been noted in night environments we’ll have to check better in our full test:

Valuable cameras for a ‘Lite’ model? We can bet on this in daylight situations and in the absence of a more comprehensive test. In night environments, this Xiaomi 12 Lite may stumble.

Xiaomi 12 Lite’s ‘Lite’ makes a lot of sense

Xiaomi 12 Lite can shoot at mid range. Its price of 449 euros is much sweeter than the 799 euro price of its big brother, the Xiaomi 12; and the sacrifices made in features shouldn’t bother a general user looking for an Android on a daily basis without too much ambition.

The ‘Lite’ in its name already says that it is not a mobile phone, especially for those looking for maximum performance and the highest quality with a night camera. For them there is the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. This 12 Lite is a mobile that makes some sacrifices, but still knows how to do things where the general user shouldn’t notice.

Our full analysis is pending to have a clearer idea of ​​the capabilities of this Xiaomi 12 Lite, but in advance you can earn a good place in the mid-range market. Especially for 108 MP, where its screen does not compromise on diagonal and guarantees a certain (certain) level of photo quality.