iQOO 12 vs Xiaomi 15
The Verdict
iQOO 12 delivers flagship performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, exceptional 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display at 3000 nits, and blazing-fast 120W charging into a 5000 mAh battery. Its camera system impresses with a 50 MP Sony IMX920 sensor and 3x optical zoom telephoto, plus 4K@120fps video. Xiaomi 15 counters with the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite, slightly larger 5400 mAh battery, wireless charging, IP68 rating, and a compact 6.36-inch form factor. Display brightness edges higher at 3200 nits, though refresh rates max at 120Hz. Camera specs favor Xiaomi's 50 MP wide sensor and 32 MP front shooter for selfies. For gaming and raw performance, iQOO's 144Hz screen and aggressive cooling excel. Xiaomi offers better durability, wireless charging, and everyday versatility at a $70 premium. Choose iQOO 12 for display and charging prowess, Xiaomi 15 for balanced flagship features and water resistance.
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 15 if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- →Triple 50MP camera system with Leica optics at a competitive price
- →Compact 6.36-inch size with flagship specs — rare in 2025
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 15
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- Triple 50MP camera system with Leica optics at a competitive price
- Compact 6.36-inch size with flagship specs — rare in 2025
- Blazing 90W wired charging fills the 5400 mAh battery in under 30 minutes
- 3200-nit peak brightness is excellent for outdoor visibility
Cons
- HyperOS still carries some bloatware and ad placements
- 2.6x telephoto lacks the reach of 5x periscope competitors
- Limited global availability compared to Samsung and Apple
- No headphone jack
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 15 (HyperOS 2) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 191 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | None | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 152.3 x 71.2 x 8.08 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS (Light Fusion 900 sensor) |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.57, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 50 MP, f/2.0, 2.6x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/2.2, 115-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5400 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 90W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.36 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 2670 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 3000 | 3200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz + 3x3.2 GHz + 2x3.0 GHz + 2x2.3 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| 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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