iPhone 13 Vs Xiaomi 12T Pro

iPhone 13
iPhone 13
Starting at

Refurbished price:246.00

Versus €769.00 new

See options
Xiaomi 12T Pro
Xiaomi 12T Pro
Starting at

Refurbished price:201.00

Versus €1,199.00 new

See options

Ratings

The iPhone 13, released in September 2021, and the Xiaomi 12T Pro, launched in October 2022, are distinct smartphones offering different user experiences. While the iPhone 13 operates on Apple's iOS ecosystem, the Xiaomi 12T Pro runs on Android with Xiaomi's MIUI interface. These devices cater to varying preferences, primarily differing in their camera systems, display technologies, and overall approach to performance and battery management.

Scores

Durability

The longevity of a smartphone is influenced by its release timeline, software support, and physical durability features.

  • Release and Software Support: The iPhone 13, released in September 2021, typically receives iOS updates for approximately five to six years from its launch, ensuring a prolonged period of software relevance. The Xiaomi 12T Pro, launched in October 2022, generally receives three major Android OS updates and four years of security updates, offering a slightly shorter but still substantial support window.
  • Physical Durability: The iPhone 13 features a Ceramic Shield front cover and boasts an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, indicating a high level of protection against environmental elements. The Xiaomi 12T Pro comes with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and has an IP53 rating, providing splash resistance but less comprehensive protection than the iPhone.
  • Repairability: The iPhone 13 initially received a repairability score of 5 out of 10 from iFixit, which later improved to 6 out of 10 with an iOS 15.2 update addressing Face ID repair issues. The Xiaomi 12T Pro has a repairability score of 7 out of 10, suggesting a more straightforward repair process for common components.

Year of Release

2021

2022

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

iOS

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

Both devices offer robust performance, but their underlying architectures and user experiences differ in daily operation.

  • Processing Power: The iPhone 13 is equipped with a powerful processor that handles demanding applications and multitasking smoothly, providing a responsive user experience. The Xiaomi 12T Pro features a current-generation processor designed for efficient handling of intensive tasks and gaming, contributing to overall system responsiveness.
  • Battery Performance and Charging: The iPhone 13 offers battery life that typically lasts through a full day of mixed usage. The Xiaomi 12T Pro, with its larger battery capacity, often provides extended usage beyond a single day for many users and supports exceptionally fast charging, capable of reaching a full charge in a short period.
  • Storage and Multitasking: The iPhone 13 is available with storage options up to 512GB, paired with 4GB of RAM, which is optimized for efficient multitasking within its operating system. The Xiaomi 12T Pro offers up to 256GB of storage and comes with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, allowing for extensive app usage and smooth transitions between applications.

Memory (GB)

4 GB

8 GB

Screen quality

The visual experience on these smartphones is shaped by their display technologies and specifications.

  • Display Technology and Resolution: The iPhone 13 features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors with a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels. The Xiaomi 12T Pro sports a larger 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels, providing a sharp and expansive viewing area.
  • Refresh Rate and Smoothness: The iPhone 13 has a standard 60Hz refresh rate, which provides a consistent visual experience. In contrast, the Xiaomi 12T Pro features a 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in smoother scrolling and more fluid animations, particularly noticeable during gaming or fast-paced content consumption.
  • Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The iPhone 13 offers a typical brightness of 800 nits and a peak brightness of 1200 nits for HDR content, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions. The Xiaomi 12T Pro provides a typical brightness of 500 nits and a peak brightness of 900 nits, which is generally sufficient for outdoor use, though slightly less bright than the iPhone in peak scenarios.

Resolution

1170 x 2532

1220 x 2712

Screen type

Super Retina XDR OLED

AMOLED

Audiovisual

Both devices offer capable camera systems, but they approach photography with different hardware and software philosophies.

  • Rear Camera Systems: The iPhone 13 features a dual 12MP camera system, including a wide and an ultra-wide lens, with sensor-shift optical image stabilization on the main camera for improved low-light performance and stability. The Xiaomi 12T Pro boasts a triple camera setup, highlighted by a 200MP main sensor with optical image stabilization, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro lens, offering high-resolution capture capabilities.
  • Photography Features and Performance: The iPhone 13 includes features like Cinematic mode for video with shallow depth of field and Photographic Styles for personalized image looks. Users often praise its consistent image processing and natural color reproduction. The Xiaomi 12T Pro's 200MP sensor allows for significant cropping flexibility and detailed images, particularly in good lighting, and offers features like Xiaomi ProCut and enhanced night photography. However, some users note that the ultra-wide and macro lenses may not perform as strongly as the main sensor, and some selfie camera processing can be overly smoothing.
  • Video Recording: The iPhone 13 supports HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 frames per second, along with Cinematic mode at 1080p. The Xiaomi 12T Pro is capable of recording 8K video at 24 frames per second, providing a higher resolution option for video content creators.

Main camera

12 megapixels

200 megapixels

Front camera

12 megapixels

20 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements contribute to the overall user experience of these smartphones.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both devices support 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6 for fast wireless data transfer. The iPhone 13 utilizes a Lightning port for charging and data transfer. The Xiaomi 12T Pro features a USB-C port, which is a widely adopted standard for many electronic devices.
  • Biometric Security: The iPhone 13 relies on Face ID for secure facial recognition. The Xiaomi 12T Pro offers an in-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication, alongside face unlock.
  • Design and Handling: The iPhone 13 has dimensions of 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm and weighs 174g, offering a compact and relatively lightweight feel. The Xiaomi 12T Pro is a larger and heavier device, measuring 163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm and weighing 205g, which might appeal to users preferring a more substantial device. Both phones feature flat edges, with the iPhone 13 having a Ceramic Shield front and the Xiaomi 12T Pro using Gorilla Glass 5.

Weight

173 g

204 g

Screen size (in)

6.1

6.67

Network

5G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIM

Dual Physical SIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

The iPhone 13 and Xiaomi 12T Pro offer distinct advantages tailored to different user priorities. Users often praise the iPhone 13 for its consistent software experience, robust ecosystem, and reliable camera performance, particularly its video capabilities and natural image processing. Criticisms sometimes point to its 60Hz display and the proprietary Lightning port as areas where it lags behind some competitors.

The Xiaomi 12T Pro is frequently lauded for its high-resolution main camera, exceptionally fast charging, and smooth 120Hz display, which enhance daily interactions and media consumption. Some users have noted that the secondary cameras might not match the main sensor's quality, and while battery life is generally strong, some initial user reports mentioned quicker depletion depending on usage patterns.

Users prioritizing a compact device with a long software support window and a highly integrated ecosystem may find the iPhone 13 well-suited to their needs. Conversely, those who value a larger, high-refresh-rate display, rapid charging, and a high-megapixel main camera for detailed photography might lean towards the Xiaomi 12T Pro. Both devices are available as quality-assured refurbished options, providing an eco-friendly alternative for consumers.

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