Released in March 2022, the Xiaomi 12 Pro arrives in our Ultra-Premium segment ($ 800 and up) and, as such, comes with a number of interesting features. Let’s see how well it performed across our full range of display tests.
Overview
Main display specifications:
- 6.73 inch AMOLED LTPO screen
- Resolution: 3200 x 1440 pixels (522 ppi)
- Aspect Ratio: 20: 9
- Refresh rate: up to 120Hz
Pros
- Faithful color rendering inside
- Fluid tactile interactions
- Smooth light transitions outdoors
Cons
- Low brightness level for HDR10 videos
- Lack of brightness in most conditions tested
- Difficulty dealing with dropped frames when watching videos
Xiaomi 12 Pro offers users smooth interactions and good internal color rendering, but its overall performance is marred by too low brightness at default settings, and this is especially true when it comes to watching HDR10 videos. It’s reasonably comfortable to use as a gaming device, but the visible alias and some issues with touch selection along the bottom and edges prevent it from being ideal. It is readable outdoors, but its high brightness mode reduces color cast.
The overall score of the Xiaomi 12 Pro SBMARK display comes from the scores of the six attributes of readability, color, video, motion, touch and artifacts. In this section, we take a closer look at these display quality sub-scores and explain what they mean to the user, and compare the Xiaomi 12 Pro to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra and to two of its rivals, the OnePlus 9 Pro and l ‘Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Test summary
About SBMARK visualization tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone and other display reviews, SBMARK engineers perform a series of objective and perceptual tests in controlled laboratory and under real-life conditions. This article highlights the most important results of our tests. Please note that we evaluate display attributes using only the device’s built-in display hardware and related still image (gallery) and video apps with default settings. (For in-depth information on how we rate smartphones and other displays, see our articles, “How SBMARK Tests Display Quality” and “A Closer Look at SBMARK Display Tests.”)
The following sections collect key elements of our exhaustive tests and analyzes performed in SBMARK laboratories. Detailed performance evaluations in the form of reports are available upon request; Do not hesitate to contact us.
How the screen readability score is composed
Readability evaluates the ease and comfort with which users can read stationary content (photos and web) on the display under various real-life conditions. SBMARK uses its Display Bench to recreate ambient light conditions ranging from total darkness to bright sunlight. In addition to laboratory tests, perceptual analyzes are also performed in real-life environments.
The brightness of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is slightly low in most lighting conditions. Inside, several small steps are visible as it adjusts to the falling light, but the device is fluid during transitions outdoors. Although the 12 Pro is mostly uniform in terms of brightness, it does show some darker areas along the edges.
The comparison charts below show the performance of the Xiaomi 12 Pro Cons the competition at 0 lux (low light) and 30,000 lux (wide daylight):
The brightness of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is slightly low when viewed in low light conditions.
Readability in low light conditions at night, from left to right: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, OnePlus 9 Pro, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
The device lacks brightness inside.
Indoor readability, from left to right: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, OnePlus 9 Pro, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
In outdoor conditions, the device’s high brightness mode increases readability, but images appear flatter.
Readability in sunlight, from left to right: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, OnePlus 9 Pro, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Holding the Xiaomi 12 Pro at an angle results in a strong loss of brightness which degrades the readability of the contents.
Readability on axis, (top) and corner (top), from left to right: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, OnePlus 9 Pro, Apple
iPhone 13 Pro Max
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
False color luminance uniformity for 20% gray
This graph shows the uniformity of the display with a gray pattern of 20%.
The more green the color is visible, the smoother the display.
How the Display Color score is composed
The color attribute evaluates the device’s ability to accurately reproduce colors. The measurements made are for fidelity, white point color and gamma coverage. We perform color assessments for different lighting conditions to see how well the device can handle color in its surroundings. Colors are measured using a spectrophotometer in a controlled lighting environment. The perceptual analysis of the color rendering is compared to the reference model displayed on a calibrated professional monitor.
Xiaomi 12 Pro has a faithful color rendering inside, although a slight pink cast is sometimes visible.
Color rendering inside, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Outside, when viewed in sunlight, some contents are altered by adaptation to sunlight. Also, all photos displayed showed a green cast.
Color rendering in sunlight, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
The graphs below show the measured color fidelity of the Xiaomi 12 Pro at 1000 lux in both the RGB and P3 color spaces. The farther the tip of an arrow is outside the circle, the more noticeable is the difference between the color rendering of the device and the original material. The 12 Pro does not automatically adapt the color rendition to the color space of the content, so sRGB photos will appear more saturated.
Xiaomi 12 Pro, color fidelity at 1000 lux in the sRGB color space
Xiaomi 12 Pro, color fidelity at 1000 lux in the P3 color space
The graphs below show the color trends of the Xiaomi 12 Pro when held at an angle. Each point represents a measurement taken at a discrete angle and distance from the device. The points inside the inner circle show no color change in the corner; those between the inner and outer circle have shifts that only trained experts will see; but those that fall outside the outer circle are easily seen. The color on the Xiaomi 12 Pro shows a strong shift from pink to blue when the device is viewed at an angle.
Xiaomi 12 Pro, close-up of the white dot on the corner
In the uniformity graphs below, color fidelity measurements are made in dark conditions. Each point represents a measurement on a specific area of the screen. Dots clustered in the inner circle indicate a solid color screen. Points outside the inner circle indicate less uniformity. The following measurements are shown for a gray pattern and a white pattern. Here, the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s display shows good color uniformity.
Xiaomi 12 Pro, gray scatter uniformity
Xiaomi 12 Pro, uniformity of dispersion
How the Display Video score is composed
Our video attribute evaluates the Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR10) video handling of each device indoors and in low light conditions. We measure the tone mapping, color gamut, brightness and contrast of the display. We perform perceptual analysis Cons our professional reference monitor (Sony BVM-HX310) to ensure that the rendering respects the artistic intent.
Xiaomi 12 Pro falls far short of the best performance for this attribute, as its automatic brightness is too low for video content. Furthermore, its brightness rendering differs depending on the video format, as you can see in the photos of the following screenshots:
Xiaomi 12 Pro rendering of SDR and HDR10 video content
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
HDR10 rendering is darker than SDR rendering, although the scene is exactly the same. This is explained by the fact that the maximum brightness setting for both formats is the same (3 cd / m2), but the tone curve for HDR10 is steeper than for SDR.
The dark rendering of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is particularly noticeable compared to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra and rival comparison devices:
Video brightness, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Mid-tones lack contrast and dark details are lost in the 12 Pro’s rendering.
Video contrast, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
In addition, there is a green cast, which degrades the yield of the skin tone.
Video skin tone color rendering, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
How the score of Display Motion is composed
The motion attribute evaluates the handling of dynamic content. Frame drops, motion blur, and playback artifacts are investigated using games and videos.
Xiaomi 12 Pro exhibits many frame discrepancies when playing content at 30fps and 60fps, as shown below, but frame discrepancies are rarely seen when playing video games.
Xiaomi 12 Pro, the frame drops to 30 fps
Xiaomi 12 Pro, the frame drops to 60 fps
Xiaomi 12 Pro handles motion blur well. There is a long delay before the device resumes playing the video after moving forward or backward in the timeline.
How the Display Touch score is composed
To evaluate touch, SBMARK uses a touch robot and a high-speed camera to reproduce and record a series of scenarios for the evaluation of fluidity, accuracy and response time.
This response time test accurately evaluates the time elapsed between the robot touching the screen and the displayed action. This test is applied to activities that require high responsiveness, such as play.
The adaptive refresh rate showed no hiccups when browsing the web: while scrolling it peaked at 120Hz and as soon as there was no interaction with the device it dropped to 10Hz, as you can see below:
Adaptive update rate of the Xiaomi 12 Pro while browsing the web
When playing video games, the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s screen reacts accurately, but the bottom can be difficult to select. It has a smooth feel when browsing the web, but lacks fluidity in the gallery app and while playing.
How the Display Artifacts score is composed
Evaluating artifacts means checking performance, image rendering, and motion defects that can impact the end-user experience. SBMARK accurately measures device reflectance and the presence of flicker, as well as evaluating any residual aliasing when playing video games, among other indicators of artifacts.
The measurements above show the reflection of the device within the visible spectrum range (400nm to 700nm). It includes both diffuse and specular reflection.
Xiaomi 12 Pro handles vibrations well at 24, 30 and 60 fps, but frame mismatches are frequent.
The device flickers, which may be noticeable by sensitive people.
This graph represents the variation frequencies of the illumination; the highest peak gives the main flicker frequency.
Finally, Xiaomi 12 Pro is sensitive to ghost touches and aliasing is visible when playing video games.
Xiaomi 12 Pro, first floor alias
Xiaomi 12 Pro, first floor alias
Xiaomi 12 Pro, first floor alias
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