iQOO 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S26+
The Verdict
The iQOO 12 and Samsung Galaxy S26+ sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The iQOO 12 is the cheaper of the two at $529 versus $1,000, a difference of about $471. The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. iQOO 12 stands out for snapdragon 8 gen 3 delivers top-tier gaming and productivity performance, while Samsung Galaxy S26+ is praised for larger 6.7-inch qhd+ display. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
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 S26+ if…
- →Larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display
- →45W fast charging
- →4900 mAh battery
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 S26+
Pros
- Larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display
- 45W fast charging
- 4900 mAh battery
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Cons
- Same 12MP ultrawide as base S26
- No S Pen support
- Incremental upgrade over S25+
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Samsung Galaxy S26+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 190 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | None | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 157 x 75 x 7.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.57, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4900 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 1440 x 3120 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 3000 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz + 3x3.2 GHz + 2x3.0 GHz + 2x2.3 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
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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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