Good news — the latest flagship smartphone from Xiaomi can re-juice at up to 120W. Bad news — it’s currently only available in mainland China.
Xiaomi has launched its new Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro smartphones, and the top-of-the-line model features blisteringly quick 120W charging. China-based Xiaomi launched its first phone just a little over a decade ago, and during that time, it has cemented itself as one of the most innovative device-makers in the world. The company has released everything from laptops and lamps to electric scooters and smart glasses. Even so, the core of Xiaomi’s business is smartphones, and it seems determined to show there’s still plenty of room for experimentation in the space.
A smartphone — metaphorically and literally — lives and dies by its battery. So it’s no use having cutting-edge features like an under-screen camera or a folding display if the device doesn’t stay on for very long. One solution has been to add larger power cells to phones, but that also makes for bigger, bulkier handsets. The other approach is to ensure the phone can recharge as quickly as possible — and that’s something Xiaomi has been working on for a while.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro features a single 4,600mAh battery cell beneath its 6.3-inch display, which promises all-day usage for the average consumer. However, to help ensure users are not caught short, the phone maker also includes a 120W charger in the box for lightning-fast charging. By comparison, the OnePlus 9 Pro can charge at 65W, promising a full charge in just under 30 minutes.
Available In China Only
Those hoping to get their hands on the roughly $740 Xiaomi 12 Pro or its sibling, the approximately $580 Xiaomi 12, might face some challenges. At launch, the smartphones were only being sold in mainland China, and currently, there’s no indication they will be available in other markets. Of course, buyers can always go the import route, but costs will undoubtedly increase — especially as tech companies are already dealing with supply chain issues.
Still, if fast charging is essential for phone buyers, it’s worth noting that Xiaomi is not the only firm pushing the envelope. Reports indicate that Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S22 series will support 45W charging. In addition, the aforementioned OnePlus is expected to launch the OnePlus 10 in January, which should at least continue the 65W rate of its predecessor. Of course, neither are as rapid as the 120W of the Xiaomi 12 Pro, but they both still beat out the relatively pedestrian iPhone line, which tops out at 27W with the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Source: Xiaomi
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