iQOO 12 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The Verdict
iQOO 12 delivers superior performance and value at nearly half the price of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with Adreno 750 GPU substantially outperforms the older Gen 2 chip, while the 6.78-inch 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display with 3000 nits brightness eclipses the Flip's 1600-nit screens. Camera system proves more versatile with 64MP telephoto, 50MP main sensor with OIS, and 8K video recording versus the Flip's modest 12MP setup. Battery capacity advantage is dramatic: 5000mAh with 120W charging versus 3700mAh with 25W charging. Galaxy Z Flip 5 offers innovative foldable design, IPX8 water resistance, and refined One UI software, but these benefits don't justify the $470 premium given inferior raw performance metrics. iQOO 12 emerges as the clear recommendation for mainstream users prioritizing performance, display quality, and value.
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 Z Flip 5 if…
- →Much larger 3.4-inch cover screen allows full app use when folded
- →Compact pocketable flip form factor
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship chip
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 Z Flip 5
Pros
- Much larger 3.4-inch cover screen allows full app use when folded
- Compact pocketable flip form factor
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship chip
- IPX8 water resistance
- Stylish design with many color options
Cons
- Small 3700 mAh battery drains quickly
- Only 12 MP main camera, no telephoto
- Slow 25W charging
- Inner display crease still noticeable
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 13, One UI 5.1.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 187 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | None | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm unfolded |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.57, 3x optical zoom, OIS | — |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 3700 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.7 inches inner, 3.4 inches cover |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 2640 x 1080 inner, 720 x 748 cover |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 3000 | 1600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz + 3x3.2 GHz + 2x3.0 GHz + 2x2.3 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| 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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