Xiaomi today officially launched the new 12T series in the Philippines, capping the year with another set of sub-flagship smartphones that promise high-end performance and design for less money.

(Update, November 21: Our Xiaomi 12T Pro review is up!)

This also marks the debut of a 200-megapixel camera sensor on a Xiaomi device, but keep in mind that it’s exclusive to the Pro variant. The vanilla version is equipped with a 108-megapixel main camera.

Locally, the standard Xiaomi 12T is priced at P26,999 (around $469), while the Xiaomi 12T Pro has a suggested retail price of P37,999 ($660).

As an introductory offer, those who preorder the phones from November 18 until the 29th will receive a free Xiaomi S1 Active smartwatch worth P8,999 ($156). The new 12T lineup is available in three colors — Black, Blue, and Silver.

In terms of looks and size, both smartphones share a similar design language and dimensions. They also pack stereo speakers and a 5,000mAh battery and include support for fast cable charging up to 120 watts. Xiaomi says the 12T Pro and 12T can get a full charge back in under 20 minutes — impressive for any smartphone regardless of price.

Both models pack a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 1220p resolution, HDR10+, and 900 nits of peak brightness, to go along with a 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The Xiaomi 12T Pro comes with Dolby Vision support to deliver a superior viewing experience.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi 11T series a year and a price drop after: Buy or skip?

At the back, the 12T series features a triple-camera setup sporting dedicated ultrawide and macro lenses and a 20-megapixel selfie shooter with wide f/2.2 lens.

Obviously, performance is another highlight here on both models. The Pro variant impresses with a top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset — the same SoC that powers the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, ASUS ROG Phone 6 Pro, and OnePlus 10T, among others. Both phones arrive with 256GB of internal storage, but the Xiaomi 12T Pro upgrades to a 12GB/256GB kit to match its higher price tag.

Check back in a few days for our review of the Pro model, in case you’re interested.

Xiaomi 12T specs

• 6.67-inch AMOLED display, 1220 x 2712 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
• 5nm MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Ultra with 5G
• Mali-G610 GPU
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• Triple 108-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro rear cameras
• 20-megapixel front camera
• Under-display fingerprint reader
• 5,000mAh battery with 120-watt USB-C charging
• MIUI 13 based on Android 12
• Color options: Black, Silver, Blue

Xiaomi 12T Pro specs

• 6.67-inch AMOLED display, 1220 x 2712 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
• 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor with 5G
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• Triple 200-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro rear cameras
• 20-megapixel front camera
• Under-display fingerprint reader
• 5,000mAh battery with 120-watt USB-C charging
• MIUI 13 based on Android 12
• Color options: Black, Silver, Blue

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