iQOO 12 vs Xiaomi 12
The Verdict
iQOO 12 delivers substantially better value at $220 less. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with Adreno 750 GPU crushes the older Gen 1 chipset in the Xiaomi 12, offering 30-40% better performance for gaming and demanding apps. The display is noticeably superior: 6.78 inches with 2800x1260 resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and 3000 nits brightness versus Xiaomi's 6.28 inches, 2400x1080, 120Hz, and 1100 nits. iQOO's 5000 mAh battery with 120W charging far outpaces Xiaomi's 4500 mAh with 67W wired charging, providing longer endurance and faster replenishment. Camera systems are competitive, though iQOO includes a dedicated 64 MP 3x telephoto lens while Xiaomi relies on a macro lens. iQOO supports Wi-Fi 7 and offers 12-16 GB RAM options versus Xiaomi's 8 GB maximum. Xiaomi's only advantages are lighter weight (180g vs 202g), wireless charging (absent on iQOO), and older but still capable Android 12 software versus newer Android 14. For anyone prioritizing performance, display quality, and battery life, iQOO 12 is the clear winner at a significantly lower price point.
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 Xiaomi 12 if…
- →Compact flagship at 6.28 inches
- →67W wired and 50W wireless charging
- →Good 50 MP main camera with OIS
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
Xiaomi 12
Pros
- Compact flagship at 6.28 inches
- 67W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Good 50 MP main camera with OIS
- Lightweight at 180 g
- Harman Kardon stereo speakers
Cons
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 runs hot
- No telephoto camera
- 13 MP ultrawide is weak
- No official IP rating
- MIUI 13 bloatware
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Xiaomi 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 180 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | None | No official rating |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 152.7 x 69.9 x 8.16 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX766) |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 32 MP, f/2.45 |
| 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 | 13 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 67W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.28 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 3000 | 1100 |
| 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 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
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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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