In the ongoing human pursuit of the ideal tool, Xiaomi's two flagship smartphones — the newly arrived 12 Pro and the still-formidable Mi 11 Ultra — remind us that progress is rarely a clean break from what came before. Released nearly a year apart, these devices represent two different philosophies: the promise of the future versus the proven value of the recent past. For consumers navigating a $999 decision in early 2022, the question is less about which phone is better and more about which trade-offs align with how they actually live.
Xiaomi 12 Pro vs. Mi 11 Ultra: Processor leap, but Ultra still competitive
The gap is narrower than the spec sheet implies
Mark
Why does a phone released a year ago still matter? Shouldn't the newer one just be better?
Mimi
Because the Mi 11 Ultra was built to last. Its 5x optical zoom and larger battery were designed to handle real use cases the 12 Pro approaches differently. They're not the same phone with a faster chip—they're different philosophies.
Mark
So which one should someone actually buy?
Mimi
If you're keeping the phone for three or four years and want the latest software support, the 12 Pro. If you find the Ultra at a good price and you care about zoom range and wireless charging speed, the Ultra holds its own. The processor gap matters less than people think.
Mark
What's the most surprising thing about comparing them?
Mimi
How close the battery life is despite the Ultra being 400mAh larger. The 12 Pro's LTPO display is doing real work there. And the camera situation—the Ultra's telephoto lens is still better than anything the 12 Pro can do digitally.
Mark
Is there a wrong choice here?
Mimi
Not really. Both are excellent phones. The wrong choice is buying either one in North America, where they're barely available. For everyone else, it's about what you value—cutting edge or proven capability at a better price.
Mark
What would make the 12 Pro the obvious winner?
Mimi
If Xiaomi had included a telephoto lens instead of that second ultra-wide camera. The Mi 11 Ultra's zoom reach is genuinely hard to replace. The 12 Pro's main sensor is better, but it can't do what the Ultra's dedicated telephoto does.
Le Pouls
- The Xiaomi 12 Pro arrives with a newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and smarter LTPO display, but the Mi 11 Ultra refuses to step aside — its larger battery and 5x optical zoom keep it genuinely competitive.
- Charging speed becomes a surprising battleground: the 12 Pro dominates on wired at 120W, while the Mi 11 Ultra strikes back wirelessly at 67W, forcing buyers to consider how they actually power their devices.
- The camera gap cuts both ways — the 12 Pro's Sony IMX707 sensor captures cleaner low-light images, but the Mi 11 Ultra's telephoto reach at 120x digital zoom leaves the newer phone's 20x ceiling looking modest.
- Software support quietly tips the scales: the 12 Pro is guaranteed updates through 2026, while the Mi 11 Ultra's window closes in 2024, making longevity a concrete factor rather than an abstract concern.
- At $999 for the 12 Pro versus a discounted Mi 11 Ultra, the decision lands on a familiar human tension — pay more now for the future, or pay less now for a past that still performs.
In the ongoing human pursuit of the ideal tool, Xiaomi's two flagship smartphones — the newly arrived 12 Pro and the still-formidable Mi 11 Ultra — remind us that progress is rarely a clean break from what came before. Released nearly a year apart, these devices represent two different philosophies: the promise of the future versus the proven value of the recent past. For consumers navigating a $999 decision in early 2022, the question is less about which phone is better and more about which trade-offs align with how they actually live.
Xiaomi's two flagship phones sit closer together than their release dates suggest. The 12 Pro arrived in early 2022 with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and an LTPO display that intelligently adjusts refresh rates to conserve battery. The Mi 11 Ultra, nearly a year older, counters with a slightly larger 6.81-inch screen and a more substantial 5,000mAh battery. Both deliver crisp 120Hz curved displays with Gorilla Glass Victus, and both feel responsive in daily use — the processor gap only becomes meaningful in sustained gaming or heavy workloads.
Battery and charging tell a nuanced story. Despite its smaller 4,600mAh cell, the 12 Pro's 120W wired charging far outpaces the Ultra's 67W ceiling. The older phone reverses the advantage wirelessly, charging at 67W versus the 12 Pro's 50W. Both phones comfortably last a full day under heavy use.
Cameras expose the deepest difference in design philosophy. The 12 Pro's large Sony IMX707 sensor excels in low light, representing a genuine leap in main-camera quality. But the Mi 11 Ultra was built for reach — its 5x optical telephoto and 120x digital zoom give it capabilities the 12 Pro, capped at 20x, simply cannot match. The 12 Pro answers with a superior 32-megapixel front camera, while the Ultra's secondary rear display offers a clever workaround for rear-camera selfies.
Software support may be the most practical differentiator. Both run MIUI on Android, but the 12 Pro ships with Android 12 and MIUI 13, and Xiaomi's support commitment carries it through April 2026 — two full years beyond the Mi 11 Ultra's April 2024 cutoff. For anyone planning to hold onto a phone for several years, that gap is real.
At $999, the 12 Pro is the safer long-term investment — newer internals, faster wired charging, longer support. But the Mi 11 Ultra, available at a meaningful discount, remains a formidable device for those willing to accept a narrowing support window in exchange for superior zoom and wireless charging speed. The choice, as ever, comes down to how you use a phone and how long you intend to keep it.
Xiaomi's two flagship phones sit closer together than their release dates suggest. The 12 Pro arrived in early 2022 with a fresh processor and a sharper display, but the Mi 11 Ultra, released nearly a year earlier, refuses to fade into obsolescence. For anyone trying to decide between them, the gap is narrower than the spec sheet implies.
The most obvious difference lives inside: the 12 Pro runs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, while the Mi 11 Ultra uses the previous generation Snapdragon 888. On paper, this is a meaningful leap. In practice, both phones feel snappy and responsive for everyday tasks. The real advantage of the newer processor emerges in gaming and sustained performance, but for most users, the difference is subtle. Where the 12 Pro pulls ahead is its LTPO display—a technology that intelligently adjusts refresh rates based on what's on screen, helping preserve battery life. The Mi 11 Ultra's screen is larger at 6.81 inches versus 6.73 inches, but both deliver crisp 120Hz curved displays with Gorilla Glass Victus protection. The 12 Pro feels noticeably slimmer in hand, a small but real comfort advantage.
Battery capacity tells an interesting story. The Mi 11 Ultra packs a 5,000mAh cell; the 12 Pro settles for 4,600mAh. Yet both last a full day under heavy use, especially if you dial back the resolution to FHD+. Where they diverge sharply is charging speed. The 12 Pro supports an aggressive 120W wired charge, while the Mi 11 Ultra maxes out at 67W—still rapid, but noticeably slower. Wireless charging favors the Ultra at 67W versus the 12 Pro's 50W. Both support 10W reverse wireless charging, a nice feature for topping up accessories. The trade-off is real: the newer phone charges faster on a cable, the older one charges faster wirelessly.
Cameras reveal the deepest philosophical difference between these devices. The 12 Pro debuts Sony's new IMX707 sensor, a large 1/1.28-inch chip that excels at gathering light and producing clean low-light shots. It's a genuine upgrade in main sensor quality. But the Mi 11 Ultra's camera system is built around versatility. Its 5x optical telephoto lens and 120x digital zoom give it reach the 12 Pro cannot match—the newer phone tops out at 20x digital zoom. For most photography, both phones produce excellent results. But if you care about zooming into distant subjects or capturing detail from afar, the Mi 11 Ultra's dedicated telephoto lens is a real asset. The 12 Pro compensates with a superior 32-megapixel selfie camera, while the Mi 11 Ultra includes a clever secondary display on the back that doubles as a framing tool for rear-camera selfies.
Software is where the 12 Pro gains a concrete advantage. Both run MIUI, Xiaomi's feature-rich Android skin, but the 12 Pro ships with Android 12 and MIUI 13, while the Mi 11 Ultra launched with Android 11 and MIUI 12.5. Xiaomi recently committed to three years of OS upgrades and four years of security patches for its flagships. This means the 12 Pro will receive support until April 2026, while the Mi 11 Ultra's window closes in April 2024. For anyone planning to keep a phone for several years, this is a meaningful difference. Security updates arrive every 90 days on both—slower than Samsung's monthly cadence, but respectable.
Price and availability complicate the decision. The 12 Pro retails for $999 globally, a premium price for a premium device. The Mi 11 Ultra, now a year old, costs considerably less. In North America, neither phone is easily available through official channels; Xiaomi's limited Amazon presence and import options come with caveats around network compatibility and support. For those outside the US, the 12 Pro represents the safer long-term investment—newer processor, longer software support, faster charging. But if you can find the Mi 11 Ultra at a discount and don't mind its support window closing sooner, you're getting a phone that still competes admirably. The choice hinges on whether you value the newest technology and longevity, or whether a year-old flagship at a lower price makes more sense for your needs.
Citations marquantes
The newer processor emerges in gaming and sustained performance, but for most users, the difference is subtle.— 9to5Google analysis
The Mi 11 Ultra's camera system is built around versatility, with its 5x optical telephoto lens giving it reach the 12 Pro cannot match.— 9to5Google analysis
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