Smartphones  >  Xiaomi 12 Pro  >  Display Test Results
Ultra-Premium ?

Xiaomi 12 Pro Display test

This device has been retested in the latest version of our protocol. Overall, sub-scores and attributes are up to date. For detailed information, check the What’s New article
OTHER AVAILABLE TESTS FOR THIS DEVICE

Released in March 2022, the Xiaomi 12 Pro lands in our Ultra-Premium ($800 and higher) segment, and as such, it comes with a host of attractive features. Let’s see how well it did in our comprehensive array of Display tests.

Overview

Key display specifications:

  • 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED screen
  • Resolution: 3200 x 1440 pixels (522 ppi)
  • Aspect ratio: 20:9
  • Refresh rate: up to 120 Hz

Scoring

Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.

Xiaomi 12 Pro
122
display
124

163

140

164

107

162

132

159

107

170

116

163

Please be aware that beyond this point, we have not modified the initial test results. While data and products remain fully comparable, you might encounter mentions and references to the previous scores.

Pros

  • Faithful color rendering indoors
  • Smooth touch interactions
  • Smooth light transitions outdoors

Cons

  • Low brightness level for HDR10 videos
  • Lack of brightness in most tested conditions
  • Difficulty handling frame drops when watching videos

The Xiaomi 12 Pro provides users with smooth interactions and good indoor color rendering, but its overall performance is marred by too-low brightness at its default settings, and this is particularly true when it comes to watching HDR10 videos. It is reasonably comfortable to use as a gaming device, but visible aliasing and some problems with touch selection along the bottom and edges keep it from being ideal. It is readable outdoors, but its high brightness mode reduces color nuances.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro’s DXOMARK Display overall score is derived from its scores across 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 for the user, and we compare the Xiaomi 12 Pro with the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra and with two of its rivals, the OnePlus 9 Pro and the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Test summary

About DXOMARK Display tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone and other display reviews, DXOMARK engineers perform a variety of objective and perceptual tests under controlled lab and real-life conditions. This article highlights the most important results of our testing. Note that we evaluate display attributes using only the device’s built-in display hardware and its still image (gallery) and video apps at their default settings. (For in-depth information about how we evaluate smartphone and other displays, check out our articles, “How DXOMARK tests display quality” and “A closer look at DXOMARK Display testing.”)

The following sections gather key elements of our exhaustive tests and analyses performed in DXOMARK laboratories. Detailed performance evaluations in the form of reports are available upon request; do not hesitate to contact us.

Readability

124

Xiaomi 12 Pro

163

Samsung Galaxy S24+
How Display Readability score is composed

Readability evaluates how easily and comfortably users can read still content (photos & web) on the display under different real-life conditions. DXOMARK uses its Display Bench to recreate ambient light conditions ranging from total darkness to bright sunlight. In addition to laboratory tests, perceptual analyses are also performed in real-life environments.

Brightness on the Xiaomi 12 Pro is slightly low in most lighting conditions. Indoors, several tiny steps are visible as it adjusts to falling light, but the device is smooth during transitions outdoors. Although the 12 Pro is mostly uniform in brightness, it shows some darker areas along the edges.

The comparison charts below show the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s performance vs. the competition at 0 lux (low light) and at 30,000 lux (broad daylight):

Luminance under various lighting conditions
Contrast under various lighting conditions

The Xiaomi 12 Pro’s brightness is slightly low when viewed in low-light conditions.

Readability in low light at night, from left to right: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, OnePlus 9 Pro, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

(Photos for illustration only)

The device lacks brightness indoors.

Readability in indoor conditions, from left to right: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, OnePlus 9 Pro, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

(Photos for illustration only)

In outdoor conditions, the device’s high brightness mode increases the readability, but images appear flatter.

Readability under sunlight, from left to right: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, OnePlus 9 Pro, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

(Photos for illustration only)

Holding the Xiaomi 12 Pro at an angle results in a strong loss of brightness that degrades content readability.

Readability on axis, (top) and on angle (above), from left to right: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, OnePlus 9 Pro, Apple
iPhone 13 Pro Max
(Photos for illustration only)
Luminance uniformity in false color for 20% gray
This graph shows the uniformity of the display with a 20% gray pattern.
The more visible the green color is, the more uniform is the display.

Color

140

Xiaomi 12 Pro

164

Google Pixel 8 Pro
How Display Color score is composed

The color attribute evaluates the capacity of the device to accurately reproduce colors. The measurements taken are for fidelity, white point color, and gamut coverage. We perform color evaluations for different lighting conditions to see how well the device can manage color in the surrounding environment. Colors are measured using a spectrophotometer in a controlled lighting environment. Perceptual analysis of color rendering is against the reference pattern displayed on a calibrated professional monitor.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro has faithful color rendering indoors, although a slight pink cast is sometimes visible.

Color rendering indoors, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro

(Photos for illustration only)

Outdoors, when viewed under sunlight, some content is altered by the sunlight adaptation. In addition, all viewed photos showed a green cast.

Color rendering under sunlight, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro

(Photos for illustration only)

The charts below show the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s measured color faithfulness at 1000 lux in both the RGB and P3 color spaces. The further the tip of an arrow is outside the circle, the more noticeable the difference between the device’s color rendering and the original source material. The 12 Pro does not automatically adapt the color rendering to the content color space, thus sRGB photos will look 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 charts below show the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s color tendencies when held at an angle. Each dot represents a measurement taken at a discrete angle and distance from the device. Dots inside the inner circle exhibit no color shift in angle; those between the inner and outer circle have shifts that only trained experts will see; but those falling outside the outer circle are readily noticeable. Color on the Xiaomi 12 Pro shows a strong shift that moves from pink to blue when the device is viewed at an angle.

Xiaomi 12 Pro, closeup of white point on angle
In the uniformity graphs below, the color fidelity measurements are taken in dark conditions. Each dot represents a measurement on a specific area of the screen. Dots that are clustered together in the inner circle indicate a screen that is uniform in color. Dots outside the inner circle indicate less uniformity. The measurements below are shown for a gray pattern and white pattern. Here, the Xiaomi 12 Pro display shows good color uniformity.
Xiaomi 12 Pro, scatter uniformity gray
Xiaomi 12 Pro, scatter uniformity

Video

107

Xiaomi 12 Pro

162

Samsung Galaxy S23 (Snapdragon)
How Display Video score is composed

Our video attribute evaluates the Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR10) video handling of each device in indoor and low-light conditions. We measure tone mapping, color gamut, brightness and contrast of the display. We perform perceptual analysis against our professional reference monitor (Sony BVM-HX310) to ensure that the rendering respects the artistic intent.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro comes in far below the top performers for this attribute, as its auto-brightness is too low for video content. In addition, its brightness rendering differs depending on the video format, as you can see in the photos of the screens below:

Xiaomi 12 Pro rendering of SDR and HDR10 video content

(Photos for illustration only)

The HDR10 rendering is darker than the 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.

Video brightness at 10% APL in the dark ( < 5 lux)

The Xiaomi 12 Pro’s dark rendering is especially apparent when compared to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra and the rival comparison devices:

Video brightness, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro

(Photos for illustration 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

(Photos for illustration only)

Further, a green cast is noticeable, degrading skin tone rendering.

Video skin tone color rendering, clockwise from top left: Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, OnePlus 9 Pro

(Photos for illustration only)

Motion

132

Xiaomi 12 Pro

159

Honor Magic6 Pro
How Display Motion score is composed

The motion attribute evaluates the handling of dynamic contents. Frame drops, motion blur, and playback artifacts are scrutinized using games and videos.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro shows a lot of frame mismatches when playing 30 fps and 60 fps content, as seen below, but frame mismatches are rarely visible when playing video games.

Xiaomi 12 Pro, frame drops at 30 fps
Xiaomi 12 Pro, frame drops at 60 fps

The Xiaomi 12 Pro manages motion blur well. There is a long delay before the device resumes video playback after moving forwards or backwards in the timeline.

Touch

107

Xiaomi 12 Pro

170

Samsung Galaxy S24+
How Display Touch score is composed

To evaluate touch, DXOMARK uses a touch robot and a high-speed camera to play and record a set of scenarios for smoothness, accuracy and response-time evaluation.

Average Touch Response Time Xiaomi 12 Pro
70 ms
Fast
Good
Bad
Slow
This response time test precisely evaluates the time elapsed between a single touch of the robot on the screen and the displayed action. This test is applied to activities that require high reactivity, such as gaming.

The adaptative refresh rate showed no glitch 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:

Adaptative refresh 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 hard to select. It has a smooth feel when browsing the web, but lacks smoothness in the gallery app and when gaming.

Artifacts

116

Xiaomi 12 Pro

163

OnePlus Open
How Display Artifacts score is composed

Evaluating artifacts means checking for the performance, image rendering, and motion flaws that can affect the end-user experience. DXOMARK measures precisely the device’s reflectance and the presence of flicker, as well as assesses any residual aliasing when playing video games, among other artifact indicators.

Average Reflectance (SCI) Xiaomi 12 Pro
4.8 %
Low
Good
Bad
High
Reflection from a simple glass sheet is around 4%, while it reaches about 6% for a plastic sheet. Although smartphones’ first surface is made of glass, their total reflection (without coating) is usually around 5% due to multiple reflections created by the complex optical stack.
Reflectance (SCI)
Measurements above show the reflection of the device within the visible spectrum range (400 nm to 700 nm). It includes both diffuse and specular reflection.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro manages judder well at 24, 30, and 60 fps, but frame mismatches are frequent.

The device flickers, which may be noticeable to sensitive people.

Flicker Frequency Xiaomi 12 Pro
360 Hz
Bad
Good
Bad
Great
Temporal Light Modulation
This graph represents the frequencies of lighting variation; the highest peak gives the main flicker frequency. The combination of a low frequency and a high peak is susceptible to inducing eye fatigue. Displays flicker for 2 main reasons: refresh rate and Pulse Width Modulation. This measurement is important for comfort because flickering at low frequencies can be perceived by some individuals, and in the most extreme cases, can induce seizures. Some experiments show that discomfort can appear at a higher frequency. A high PWM frequency (>1500 Hz) tends to be safer for users.

Finally, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is responsive to ghost touches, and aliasing is visible when playing video games.

Xiaomi 12 Pro, aliasing closeup
Xiaomi 12 Pro, aliasing closeup
Xiaomi 12 Pro, aliasing closeup

DXOMARK encourages its readers to share comments on the articles. To read or post comments, Disqus cookies are required. Change your Cookies Preferences and read more about our Comment Policy.