iQOO 12 vs Poco F5
The Verdict
iQOO 12 justifies its $180 premium with meaningful upgrades across nearly every dimension. The display advantage is substantial: 144Hz LTPO refresh rate versus 120Hz, 3000 nits peak brightness versus 1000 nits, and sharper 2800x1260 resolution versus 2400x1080. Processing power clearly favors iQOO with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Adreno 750 GPU versus Poco's 7+ Gen 2 and Adreno 725. Camera setup differs significantly, with iQOO offering a dedicated 64MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 50MP main with Sony IMX920 sensor, and 8K video at 24fps compared to Poco's simpler quad setup and 4K maximum. Charging speed is dramatic: 120W FlashCharge fills iQOO's battery in roughly 20 minutes versus Poco's 67W taking nearly an hour. Both pack 5000mAh batteries and solid 12GB RAM (iQOO base), though Poco's IP53 rating provides dust and water resistance where iQOO lacks any rating. Storage maxes at 512GB on iQOO versus 256GB on Poco. Poco F5 remains exceptional value for budget-conscious buyers needing reliable daily performance, but iQOO 12 delivers flagship features that justify the higher price for users prioritizing display quality, computational photography, and raw speed.
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 Poco F5 if…
- →Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 delivers near-flagship performance
- →Bright 1000-nit 120Hz AMOLED display
- →67W fast charging at a budget price
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
Poco F5
Pros
- Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 delivers near-flagship performance
- Bright 1000-nit 120Hz AMOLED display
- 67W fast charging at a budget price
- Lightweight and slim design
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
Cons
- Weak 8 MP ultrawide camera
- No wireless charging
- IP53 splash resistance is minimal
- MIUI heavy software experience
- No telephoto lens
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Poco F5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 13 (MIUI 14 for POCO) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 181 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Plastic back, aluminum frame |
| IP rating | None | IP53 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 161.9 x 75.4 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 64 MP, f/1.79, OIS |
| 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 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 67W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.67 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 3000 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz + 3x3.2 GHz + 2x3.0 GHz + 2x2.3 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.91 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.49 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 725 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
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.
Explore more in phones, see all iQOO products or all Xiaomi products. View full details for the iQOO 12 or the Poco F5.