Xiaomi 12S Ultra vs Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra (2022) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, while the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads — 92/100 vs 71/100 (a 21-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max has the bigger battery (8500 mAh vs 4800); the main camera is 3 MP vs 200 MP; the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is faster in AnTuTu (5,001,234 vs 1,627,862).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
What makes Xiaomi 12S Ultra better?
- Lighter: 225g vs 235g
- Better display (90/100 vs 82/100)
What makes Xiaomi 18 Pro Max better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 5001234 vs 1627862
- Better Geekbench Single: 4327 vs 1761
- Better Geekbench Multi: 12873 vs 4688
- Bigger battery: 8500 vs 4800 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 67W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 3MP
- Higher performance (100/100 vs 73/100)
- Better camera (100/100 vs 70/100)
- Longer battery life (92/100 vs 64/100)
- Better portability (33/100 vs 32/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Xiaomi 12S Ultra vs the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max scores 21 points higher (92/100 vs 71/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads (100/100 vs 73/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads (100/100 vs 70/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads (92/100 vs 64/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max notably outperforms the Xiaomi 12S Ultra (100/100 vs 73/100). In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a bit better (90/100 vs 82/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 12S Ultra (100/100 vs 70/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max notably outperforms the Xiaomi 12S Ultra (92/100 vs 64/100). In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max and the Xiaomi 12S Ultra are nearly equal (33/100 vs 32/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Xiaomi 12S Ultra | Xiaomi 18 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | |
| AnTuTu | 1627862 | 5001234 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1761 | 4327 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 4688 | 12873 | |
| Display | 6.7" LTPO2 AMOLED | 6.9" LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1208x2624 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4800 mAh | 8500 mAh | |
| Charging | 67W | 100W | |
| Wireless charging | 50W | 50W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 136 | — | |
| Main camera | 3 MP | 200 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 48 MP | 200 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 50 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 17 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 1500 nits | 4000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68/IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 163.2×75.0×9.1 mm | 163.4×77.6×8.4 mm | |
| Weight | 225 g | 235 g | |
| Launch price | — | $986 |
Camera comparison
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
- Main: 3MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 48MP
- Front: 32MP
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 200MP
- Front: 50MP
Display comparison
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
- 6.7" LTPO2 AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3200
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
- 6.9" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 1208x2624
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
- 4800 mAh
- Wired: 67W
- Wireless: 50W
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
- 8500 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 50W
Overall performance score
We compared Xiaomi 12S Ultra and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads Xiaomi 12S Ultra by 67.5% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Price unknownDetailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max notably outperforms the Xiaomi 12S Ultra (100/100 vs 73/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a bit better (90/100 vs 82/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 12S Ultra (100/100 vs 70/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max notably outperforms the Xiaomi 12S Ultra (92/100 vs 64/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max and the Xiaomi 12S Ultra are nearly equal (33/100 vs 32/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Xiaomi 12S Ultra or the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 12S Ultra by 21 points (92/100 vs 71/100).
What is the rating of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra and the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 71/100, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max — 92/100.
Which has the better camera: the Xiaomi 12S Ultra or the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads on camera score (100/100 vs 70/100).
Which is more powerful: the Xiaomi 12S Ultra or the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads on performance (100/100 vs 73/100).
Should you choose the Xiaomi 12S Ultra over the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a better fit for active users. The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.