iQOO 12 vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra
The Verdict
iQOO 12 delivers flagship performance at an aggressive price point with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display (3000 nits), and impressive 120W charging in a lighter 202g frame. Xiaomi 15 Ultra justifies its $470 premium through superior camera hardware: a 1-inch main sensor, 200MP telephoto with 5x periscope zoom, and 32MP selfie versus iQOO's 16MP. Display resolution favors Xiaomi at 3200x1440 with marginally higher brightness (3200 nits), while its larger 5810mAh battery includes 50W wireless charging absent on iQOO. Build quality advantages go to Xiaomi with titanium frame and IP68 rating, though iQOO remains compelling for users prioritizing performance efficiency and charging speed. Camera enthusiasts and those seeking premium durability should choose Xiaomi 15 Ultra; value-conscious buyers wanting excellent daily performance will find the iQOO 12 exceptional.
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 Ultra if…
- →200MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom rivals Galaxy S25 Ultra
- →1-inch main sensor with Leica optics produces stunning photos
- →Titanium frame gives a premium, durable build
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 Ultra
Pros
- 200MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom rivals Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 1-inch main sensor with Leica optics produces stunning photos
- Titanium frame gives a premium, durable build
- 4K@120fps video recording is industry-leading
- 90W fast charging and 50W wireless on a huge 5810 mAh battery
Cons
- Heavy at 229 g and thick at 9.17 mm
- Very expensive at $999 with limited global availability
- HyperOS software experience lags behind iOS and One UI
- Camera bump is extremely large
Full Specifications
| Spec | iQOO 12 | Xiaomi 15 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Funtouch OS 14 / OriginOS 4) | Android 15 (HyperOS 2) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 229 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | None | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm | 161.1 x 75.2 x 9.17 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX920 | 50 MP, f/1.63, OIS (1-inch sensor) |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps |
| Telephoto | 64 MP, f/2.57, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 200 MP, f/2.6, 5x periscope optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/2.0, 128-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5810 mAh |
| Charging | 120W FlashCharge | 90W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.73 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2800 x 1260 | 3200 x 1440 |
| 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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