iQOO 12 vs OnePlus Nord 3
The Verdict
iQOO 12 delivers flagship performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a superior 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display peaking at 3000 nits, and a versatile camera setup featuring 64MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and 8K video recording. Its 120W fast charging and up to 16GB RAM provide modern conveniences. OnePlus Nord 3 counters with solid value at $130 less, offering MediaTek Dimensity 9000 performance, a respectable 120Hz display, and practical 80W charging. However, it lacks telephoto capability, tops out at 8GB RAM, and trails significantly in display brightness and refresh rate technology. For content creators and power users seeking cutting-edge specs, iQOO 12 justifies its premium. Budget-conscious buyers accepting mid-range performance will appreciate Nord 3's reasonable feature set.
Who Should Buy
Buy the iQOO 12 if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers top-tier gaming and productivity performance
- →144Hz LTPO AMOLED with 3000-nit brightness is a display powerhouse
- →120W fast charging fills the 5000 mAh battery in around 25 minutes
Buy the OnePlus Nord 3 if…
- →Dimensity 9000 delivers flagship-tier performance
- →80W fast charging for rapid top-ups
- →50 MP Sony IMX890 sensor for good low-light
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
iQOO 12
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers top-tier gaming and productivity performance
- 144Hz LTPO AMOLED with 3000-nit brightness is a display powerhouse
- 120W fast charging fills the 5000 mAh battery in around 25 minutes
- 64 MP 3x telephoto periscope zoom is excellent for the price
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 for future-proof connectivity
Cons
- No IP rating for water or dust resistance
- No wireless charging despite flagship-level pricing
- Limited global availability and after-sales network
- 13 MP ultrawide is a weak point in the camera system
- OriginOS/Funtouch is heavily skinned
OnePlus Nord 3
Pros
- Dimensity 9000 delivers flagship-tier performance
- 80W fast charging for rapid top-ups
- 50 MP Sony IMX890 sensor for good low-light
- 5000 mAh battery with great endurance
- Bright 1450 nit AMOLED display
Cons
- No wireless charging
- No official IP rating
- 8 MP ultrawide and 2 MP macro are weak
- Not available in North America
- USB 2.0 data speeds
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | OnePlus Nord 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 193.5 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Plastic frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | None | No official rating |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 162.9 x 75 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS (Sony IMX890) |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 16 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.57, 3x optical zoom, OIS | — |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 80W SuperVOOC wired |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.74 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 2772 x 1240 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 3000 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz + 3x3.2 GHz + 2x3.0 GHz + 2x2.3 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.05 GHz + 3x2.85 GHz + 4x1.80 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Mali-G710 MC10 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | MediaTek Dimensity 9000 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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