iQOO 12 vs Sony Xperia 1 VI
The Verdict
Both phones share the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 5000mAh battery, but differ significantly in philosophy and price. iQOO 12 delivers flagship performance at half the cost, featuring a brighter 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display (3000 nits), faster 120W charging, and a more versatile camera system with a 64MP telephoto and 13MP ultrawide. Sony Xperia 1 VI emphasizes professional imaging with its 1/1.35" Exmor T sensor, continuous optical zoom, and IP68 rating, though it trades raw specs for premium materials and wireless charging. The iQOO's 2800x1260 resolution and higher refresh rate feel snappier, while Sony's 2340x1080 LTPO OLED remains sharp but less vibrant at 2100 nits. Sony justifies its $870 premium through durability certification, superior build quality with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and camera software refinement. For value-conscious buyers seeking raw performance and brightness, iQOO 12 wins decisively. Photography enthusiasts willing to pay for Sony's computational imaging expertise and rugged design should choose the Xperia 1 VI.
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 Sony Xperia 1 VI if…
- →Continuous optical zoom telephoto (85-170mm)
- →Pro-grade camera apps for photo and video
- →3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card support
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
Sony Xperia 1 VI
Pros
- Continuous optical zoom telephoto (85-170mm)
- Pro-grade camera apps for photo and video
- 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card support
- Compact form factor for a flagship
- Very long battery life
Cons
- Resolution dropped from 4K to FHD+ vs predecessor
- Slow 30W charging
- Premium price
- Niche appeal outside enthusiasts
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Sony Xperia 1 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 14 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 192 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back |
| IP rating | None | IP65/IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 48 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.35" Exmor T |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | 4K@120fps HDR |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.57, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 12 MP, f/2.3-3.5, 85-170mm continuous optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | Qi wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 3000 | 2100 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz + 3x3.2 GHz + 2x3.0 GHz + 2x2.3 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 + 5x3.2 GHz A720 + 2x2.3 GHz A520) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 750 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| 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 |
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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