iQOO 12 vs Sony Xperia 5 IV
The Verdict
iQOO 12 delivers superior value at nearly half the price of Sony Xperia 5 IV. Performance-wise, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with Adreno 750 GPU demolishes the older Gen 1 chipset, enabling smooth 144Hz display scrolling versus 120Hz. Display brightness reaches an impressive 3000 nits on iQOO compared to 1000 nits on Sony, with superior LTPO AMOLED technology. Camera specs favor iQOO: 50MP main with IMX920 sensor and 64MP 3x telephoto outclass Sony's triple 12MP setup. Both share 5000mAh batteries, but iQOO's 120W charging crushes Sony's 30W wired plus 15W wireless. Sony offers IP68 durability and wireless charging, advantages negated by iQOO's overall performance gains. For gaming, content creation, and daily use, iQOO 12 provides flagship capabilities at mid-range pricing. Sony targets those prioritizing compact design (172g) and IP68 waterproofing. iQOO 12 is the clear winner for most consumers.
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 5 IV if…
- →Compact 6.1-inch form factor at 172 g
- →5000 mAh battery in a compact body
- →3.5mm headphone jack
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 5 IV
Pros
- Compact 6.1-inch form factor at 172 g
- 5000 mAh battery in a compact body
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Wireless charging added (absent on 5 III)
- Excellent manual camera controls
Cons
- 12 MP cameras feel dated in 2022
- Slow 30W charging
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 thermal issues
- Niche appeal limits accessories and cases
- Auto camera mode behind iPhone and Pixel
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Sony Xperia 5 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 172 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | None | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 156 x 67 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | 4K@120fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.57, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2.5x optical zoom |
| 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 | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 2520 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 (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
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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