iQOO 12 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The Verdict
Despite being a newer flagship, the iQOO 12 at $529 delivers substantially better value than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra at $1299. Performance differences are stark: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with Adreno 750 GPU crushes the dated 865+ chipset, while 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display with 3000 nits peak brightness obliterates the Note's 120Hz panel at 1500 nits. Camera quality remains competitive, with iQOO's 50MP Sony IMX920 main sensor and 3x telephoto matching or exceeding older 108MP and 5x periscope tech. Charging speeds favor iQOO dramatically: 120W FlashCharge versus 25W wired. Battery capacity slightly favors iQOO (5000 vs 4500 mAh). Only advantages for the Note include IP68 rating, wireless charging, and legacy S Pen functionality. For practical use today, the iQOO 12 offers superior performance, display quality, and charging at less than half the price.
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 Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra if…
- →S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- →120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- →108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
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
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Pros
- S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- 120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- 108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
- 5x optical periscope telephoto
- Samsung DeX for desktop-like experience
Cons
- Slow 25W charging for a $1299 device
- No charger in the box in some regions
- Large and heavy
- S Pen silo location changed
- microSD slot removed
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 10, One UI 2.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 208 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Stainless steel frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | None | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS, laser AF |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.57, 3x optical zoom, OIS | — |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 12 MP, f/3.0, 5x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 3000 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz + 3x3.2 GHz + 2x3.0 GHz + 2x2.3 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
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 Samsung products. View full details for the iQOO 12 or the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.