Both Xiaomi and Samsung have reduced the size of their headline smartphones for 2022. Which is the bigger success?
Flagship phones have generally been getting bigger and bolder over the years, but the Xiaomi 12 and Samsung Galaxy S22 epitomize a new emerging trend. These handsets continue to pack flagship-level features and components, but they do so in surprisingly compact form factors, and with slightly lower price tags to boot. The only question that really matters here is, which pint-sized flagship phone is best? For a full verdict on each phone, check out our detailed reviews linked above, but below we’ve can taken a deep dive into their relative specifications. The Xiaomi 12 hit its home Chinese market on December 31. A global launch was announced on March 15, and we’re expecting to see the phone hit the UK sometime in April. There won’t be a US launch for the phone, which makes the company’s choice to supply US pricing more than a little confusing. Prices will start from $749 (about £570, AU$1,030), for what it’s worth. The Samsung Galaxy S22 was announced on February 9, 2022. Prices start from $799 / £769 / AU$1,249 for the 128GB model, and move up to $849 / £819 / AU$1,349 for 256GB. As you can see, the Xiaomi 12 is set to undercut the Samsung Galaxy S22 by around $50, although they’re clearly in the same ballpark. Both phones are among the smallest Android flagships on the market. The Xiaomi 12 measures 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2mm, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 comes in at 146 x 70.6 x 7.6mm. Samsung’s phone is the smaller of the two overall, then. It’s also quite a bit lighter, at 168g rather than 179g. We’d also probably give the nod to the Galaxy S22 on the design front. Its ‘Contour Cut’ camera module beautifully melds into a slightly squared-off metal frame. It looks quite distinctive, unless it’s sat alongside last year’s Galaxy S21, which pioneered the look. Whatever the case, it’s more special-looking than the Xiaomi 12, which has stepped back from the Xiaomi Mi 11 ’s appealingly stand-out design. Sure, there’s a certain minimalistic appeal to its matte finish and industrial camera module, but the basic shape is all too familiar.
