The new Xiaomi 14 Civi (review) is the first smartphone to introduce Leica cameras in the sub-Rs 45,000 segment. It is also among the few smartphones utilising Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC. This ensures that the smartphone is equally performance-focused, be it for daily work or gaming. The biggest challenge it faces is from OnePlus, specifically the OnePlus 12R (review), which is a popular choice for productivity-focused users.
Based on specifications, both smartphones are neck-and-neck. But is there a difference in real-life usage? Here’s a detailed performance comparison between the Xiaomi 14 Civi and OnePlus 12R.
Table of Contents
Xiaomi 14 Civi vs OnePlus 12R specifications
| Smartphone | Xiaomi 14 Civi | OnePlus 12R |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC |
| GPU | Andreno 735 GPU | Andreno 740 GPU |
| Memory | Up to 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage | Upto 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage |
Geekbench
In Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests, which essentially evaluate the CPU performance under heavy load, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC-powered Xiaomi 14 Civi was ahead of the OnePlus 12R (images below). That was despite the OnePlus 12R having 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Both smartphones are also running on Android 14-based custom UI.
The scores suggest the Xiaomi 14 Civi may handle basic tasks, including browsing and app-loading, as well as demanding tasks, such as gaming and editing better.
Winner: Xiaomi 14 Civi
AnTuTu
The AnTuTu benchmark evaluates graphics and memory speeds, unlike Geekbench. Notably, the Xiaomi 14 Civi again emerged as the winner. It achieved a score of 1.43 million. The OnePlus 12R achieved 1.24 million points.
Notably, the OnePlus 12R achieved a better GPU score (6.06 lakh) compared to the Xiaomi 14 Civi (5.01 lakh). We will see the real-life performance in the dedicated gaming section.
Winner: Xiaomi 14 Civi
Throttling test
We used the Burnout app to test CPU performance and stability under heavy load. The Xiaomi 14 Civi registered an output of 40.8 percent under throttle. The OnePlus 12R demonstrated much better stability, with an output of 70 percent under heavy load.
The difference in the output under throttling is likely because of OnePlus’s decision to underclock the chipset’s performance. This also explains the AnTuTu and Geekbench scores, as the iQOO Neo 9 Pro with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC achieved higher in our tests.
Winner: OnePlus 12R
Gaming
In the synthetic benchmarks, the Xiaomi 14 Civi is ahead of the OnePlus 12R, but is there a difference in real life? We tested the performance by playing popular titles, including BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) and Call of Duty, for 30 minutes each.
After 30 minutes of BGMI session, the OnePlus 12R managed thermals better. Its internal temperature rose by 6.5 degrees Celcius, while the Xiaomi 14 Civi’s internal temperature increased by 7.2 Celcius. After 30 minutes of COD playtime, a similar trend followed. The Xiaomi 14 Civi’s temperature rose by 6.6 degrees Celcius, and the OnePlus 12R’s temperature increased by 5.1 degrees Celcius.
Both smartphones offer a curved display, which could lead to occasional mistouches while gaming. The Xiaomi 14 Civi and OnePlus 12R offer “extreme plus” fps with smooth graphics and “extreme” fps with HDR graphics in BGMI— both provide similar settings. However, I found the OnePlus 12R’s tall display and haptics better for gaming.
Winner: OnePlus 12R
Verdict
In terms of benchmarks (Geekbench and AnTuTu), the Xiaomi 14 Civi emerged as the winner. However, in real-life gaming performance, the OnePlus 12R offered superior performance. In app-loading and boot tests, there weren’t substantial differences to distinguish between the two. Both smartphones are also promised three years of Android updates and four years of security updates, which is decent considering the price.
Therefore, there is a tie between the two smartphones, and potential customers must consider other factors, including cameras. We also already have a battery comparison between the two, and you can find more information here.
