Xiaomi 15 UltravsOnePlus 12
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
OnePlus 12 wins
Verdict
OnePlus 12 wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
OnePlus 12 is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — display is its standout. At USD 699, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Xiaomi 15 Ultra takes Performance — led by storage (512 GB).
- OnePlus 12 takes Display — led by peak brightness (4,500 nits).
- Xiaomi 15 Ultra takes Camera — led by camera score (155 pts).
- OnePlus 12 takes Battery — led by charging speed (100 W).
- OnePlus 12 takes Price — led by price (699 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you want…
- Choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,500,000 pts vs 2,000,000 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you want more apps open at once — 16 GB vs 12 GB.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you want more room for photos and apps — 512 GB vs 256 GB.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 522 ppi vs 510 ppi.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you want better video quality — 96 pts vs 94 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you want a better camera — 155 pts vs 143 pts.
Choose OnePlus 12 if you want…
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a bigger screen — 6.82 in vs 6.73 in.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 4,500 nits vs 3,200 nits.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want faster charging — 100 W vs 90 W.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a lower price — 699 USD vs 1,399 USD.
At a glance
- Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- OnePlus 12
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra if performance matters most. It costs USD 1,399.
OnePlus 12
Choose OnePlus 12 if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 699, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- Best-in-class zoom
- Elite chipset
- 5,410 mAh + 90 W
- Very expensive
- Heavy
- Software bloat
OnePlus 12
- Fast chipset
- 5,400 mAh + 100 W
- Bright display
- Cameras trail rivals
- Curved screen
- OxygenOS changes