iQOO 12 review: The ultimate value flagship of 2024 shows up early

I usually like what Vivo does with the iQOO sub-brand. It has constantly delivered attractive designs, highly effective {hardware}, and respectable cameras, and the very best half is the worth; iQOO telephones have at all times been among the many most inexpensive to function Qualcomm’s newest silicon.That’s nonetheless the case as we head into 2024. The iQOO 12 is the primary machine I’m utilizing that options the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and it retains the model’s long-standing collaboration with BMW’s M division, resulting in a placing design. The cellphone has loads of upgrades throughout the board — together with a 3x telephoto with OIS and 50MP wide-angle lens — and also you get Android 14 out of the field.That give attention to worth hasn’t modified both; coming in at simply $660, the iQOO 12 considerably undercuts its rapid rivals, and I do not assume we’ll see one other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-toting machine for this low. So should you’re due for an improve and need the newest {hardware} and digicam tech, here is why it is best to contemplate the iQOO 12.iQOO 12: Specs, value, and launch date(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The iQOO 12 was unveiled in China on November 7, and the cellphone made its debut in international markets on December 6. The cellphone is now accessible in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and launched in India on December 12. It prices the equal of $660 in most Southeast Asian markets. In India, there are two variations on provide: the 12GB/256GB mannequin is estimated to retail at ₹52,999 ($635), and the 16GB/512GB model is out there for ₹57,999 ($695). That’s lower than what the iQOO 11 launched eventually yr, and given the upgrades on provide, it makes the iQOO 12 a downright cut price.As there is not a lot differentiating both mannequin, I’d counsel selecting up the 16GB/512GB mannequin should you’re eyeing the iQOO 12. It is a incredible worth, and whereas the likes of the OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14 have not made their solution to India simply but, I doubt they are going to be wherever as inexpensive — notably contemplating all of the upgrades they’re rocking this yr.Like earlier years, international availability goes to be restricted to pick out areas in Asia, and whereas the machine would clearly discover an viewers in international locations just like the U.Ok. and Germany, it does not appear to be Vivo is able to carry its newest worth flagship to that a part of the world but.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryiQOO 12OSFuntouch OS 14 primarily based on Android 14Display6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED (2800×1200), 144Hz refresh, HDR10+, 1400 nits auto brightness, 3000 nits max brightnessChipsetSnapdragon 8 Gen 3, 4nmRAM12GB/16GB LPDDR5Storage256GB/512GB UFS 4.0Rear digicam 150MP f/1.7 23mm, 1/1.3-inch, OIS, 8K at 30fps, 4K at 60fpsRear digicam 250MP f/2.0 15mm wide-angle, 119-degree FoV, autofocusRear digicam 364MP f/2.6 70mm telephoto, 3x optical zoom, 10x zoom, OISFront digicam16MP f/2.5, 1080p videoIngress protectionIP64 mud and water resistanceConnectivityWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, Sub-6 5G, Dual-band GPSSecurityIn-screen optical fingerprint sensorAudioUSB-C, stereo sound, 24-bit/192kHz audioBattery5000mAh, 120W chargingDimensions163.2 x 75.9 x 8.4mm, 203gColorsWhite, BlackiQOO 12: Design(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Vivo overhauled the design of the iQOO 12, and when you nonetheless get the BMW M branding, it is restricted to the brand on the backside and a tiny tri-color sample subsequent to it. The again of the cellphone is quite a bit cleaner consequently, and it appears to be like far more upmarket than its predecessors. You do not get a textured leather-based again both, with the iQOO 12 as an alternative providing an enamel glass made up of “countless three-dimensional pyramid nano-optical textures” — consider it as a center floor between a totally shiny and a matte end.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The texture makes holding and utilizing the cellphone somewhat simpler, and it prevents smudges from displaying up in opposition to the white again. Another change on the again is the introduction of a “porthole” design for the rear digicam module, and the bigger housing together with the metal ring encircling it offers the cellphone a whole lot of character. The dimension of the digicam housing means the cellphone does not wobble when it is on a flat floor.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)But the most important design change is the swap to flat sides — the iQOO 12 does not have easily flowing curves from the again to the mid-frame. That mentioned, you continue to get beveled edges that make the machine straightforward to make use of, and because of the added width on the perimeters with the aluminum mid-frame, the machine is far more snug than the iQOO 11.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The proper homes the facility and quantity buttons, and also you get the SIM card tray and USB-C charging port on the backside. There’s an IR blaster up high together with a secondary mic, and the cellphone has IP64 ingress safety. That’s not fairly on par with the IP68 score that is a mainstay on flagships, however it’s a far sight higher than what we obtained final yr.Image 1 of 3(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The use of metal on the perimeters provides to the machine’s premium credentials, and Vivo deserves credit score for the best way it developed the design — the iQOO 12 looks like a mature cellphone, and it appears to be like simply nearly as good as telephones that value much more.iQOO 12: Display(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The iQOO 12 retains the identical 6.78-inch display dimension as its predecessor, however it’s utilizing a brand-new AMOLED panel. The key spotlight of the display is that it is ready to hit 3000 nits of peak brightness, a sizeable achievement. It can handle 1400 nits in each day use, and also you get HDR10+, 144Hz refresh with dynamic refresh that goes all the way down to 1Hz when viewing photographs.Color accuracy is superb out of the field, however should you favor cooler or hotter hues, you possibly can tweak the settings to your liking. There are three modes accessible — Standard, Pro, and Bright — and Standard is chosen by default. At 2800 x 1260, the display decision itself is decrease than final yr (3200 x 1440), however you do not discover the distinction when utilizing each telephones side-by-side.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The cellphone did an incredible job switching refresh price dynamically primarily based on the content material taking part in on the display, and also you additionally get the power to lock it to 60Hz or 144Hz. You get the same old upscaling impact that is normal on Vivo, OnePlus, and OPPO telephones, and there is movement smoothing as effectively — which makes a distinction should you like streaming sports activities in your cellphone.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)On that notice, streaming HDR content material on the iQOO 12 is a delight, and the cellphone does an incredible job balancing colours and brightness in dynamic scenes. Playing video games is equally enjoyable, and fortunately there isn’t any 60fps limitation — if a sport goes as much as 144fps, you possibly can unlock its full potential on the iQOO 12.The onboard sound is fairly good too, and also you get clear stereo separation though the second speaker is noticeably smaller. With 2,160Hz PWM, the iQOO 12 is simpler on the eyes as effectively — notably should you’re delicate to PWM dimming.iQOO 12: Performance and battery(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)As for the {hardware}, the important thing speaking level is the truth that the iQOO 12 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It has a novel 1 + 5 + 2 core configuration, makes use of all-new Cortex X4, A720, and A520 cores, and the Adreno 750 has appreciable upgrades that make a distinction whereas gaming.The cellphone is fluid in each day use, and I did not run into any lag or overheating points within the week I used it. That mentioned, it does not really feel fairly as well-optimized because the iQOO 11, however this may be simply sorted out with firmware updates — Vivo rolled out two updates with stability fixes within the testing window, so by the point the cellphone goes out to retail clients, it ought to be capable of take full benefit of the {hardware}. Regardless, I’ll revisit the cellphone after a month and see if there’s any distinction.Outside of that small quibble, there aren’t any points with the iQOO 12. It has glorious efficiency in demanding video games, and it does not throttle simply both, so that you get good sustained framerates. In 3DMark’s Wild Life Extreme stress take a look at, it had a stability rating of 55.9%, and that is simply high-quality. You’ll discover the cellphone getting a bit sizzling throughout prolonged gaming classes, however it is not too completely different to current-gen telephones.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryASUS ROG Phone 7 UltimateiQOO 12iPhone 15 Pro Max CrossMark (Overall) 122413241401Productivity126613021404Creativity116113201573Responsiveness12951404984Geekbench 6 (single-core)200822522950Geekbench 6 (multi-core)5607695273813DMark Wild Life Extreme (rating)3752432936483DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS)22.4525.9221.93DMark Solar Bay (rating)4586804250243DMark Solar Bay (FPS)17.532.3319.1There’s lots to love with the remainder of the {hardware}, with the iQOO 12 that includes 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage on the bottom mannequin. I’m utilizing the 16GB/512GB model, and it has been faultless on this space. You get the newest connectivity as effectively, together with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, the AptX Lossless audio codec, NFC, dual-band GPS, and international Sub-6 5G bands.The vibration motor is fairly good as effectively, and whereas it does not ship the identical stage of granular suggestions as true flagships, you solely discover that when utilizing the cellphone subsequent to the likes of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Now, the one problem I’ve on the {hardware} aspect is the positioning of the in-screen fingerprint module; it as soon as once more sits too far down on the display, making it awkward to entry when utilizing the cellphone one-handed. I do not know why manufacturers proceed to do that; if anybody at Vivo is studying this, transfer the sensor somewhat increased subsequent yr. That mentioned, the sensor itself is quick to authenticate and dependable in each day use.Coming to the battery aspect of issues, the iQOO 12 has a 5000mAh battery that simply lasts a day. There’s no cause for battery anxiousness with this cellphone, and even on days with heavy use, I did not see the battery go beneath 15%. This has largely been the case with most telephones I used over the past 15 months, and the one units the place battery life continues to be a problem are foldables.And as for charging, you get Vivo’s 120W charging tech right here, and it takes a smidgen over 28 minutes to completely cost the iQOO 12. It goes to the 50% mark in simply over 11 minutes, so should you’re working low on cost through the day, it takes only a matter of minutes to get sufficient energy to final a number of hours. On that notice, there isn’t any wi-fi charging on the machine, and that is okay — this is not a cellphone you permit charging in a single day anyway. And as is the case with all Vivo and iQOO telephones, you get the requisite charger within the field.iQOO 12: Cameras(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)While earlier fashions within the iQOO numbered collection had respectable cameras, Vivo is not messing round with this technology. The iQOO 12 has appreciable upgrades on this entrance, and the cellphone incorporates a 50MP OmniVision OV50H predominant digicam that has significantly better gentle consumption and colour accuracy, and also you get OIS.It’s joined by a 50MP wide-angle lens with autofocus, and there is a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS. The zoom lens doubles as a 3x portrait lens, and also you get attractive portrait pictures. In an analogous vein, the wide-angle digicam can take macro pictures. The entrance digicam is unchanged to final yr, and also you get the identical 16MP module.The digicam interface itself is identical as final yr, so should you’ve used a Vivo cellphone lately, you may be acquainted with all of the toggles and buttons. What’s new this yr is the power to decide on a photograph model, and you may decide between three selections — Vivid, Textured, and Natural. The Vivid mode has pictures with excessive ranges of saturation, they usually’re nice for sharing on social media. Textured has a gritty texture to the pictures and a vignette, and I wasn’t a fan. Natural is the mode I went with more often than not because it delivered true-to-life pictures.Image 1 of 9(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Daylight pictures taken with the iQOO 12 have loads of element and dynamic vary, however that was a given anyway. Older fashions had points with foliage rendition, and that is nonetheless the case with this machine. That mentioned, the Natural mode does a greater job on this space, and actually, I preferred the pictures I obtained out of this mode than the opposite two.You get nice pictures out of the wide-angle lens as effectively, and whereas it does not measure as much as the Pixel 8 Pro or the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, it takes usable pictures in most situations. Similarly, the 3x telephoto lens is incredible, and it provides much-needed versatility to the machine. More than anything, I like that manufacturers are utilizing this module for portrait pictures, and whereas I do not take many pictures at 2x or 3x zoom, I take advantage of the portrait mode fairly a bit, and identical to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the iQOO 12 does an incredible job on this space.Low-light pictures are predictably nice, and I haven’t got any issues with the caliber of the primary digicam or the wide-angle lens on this space. Overall, the iQOO 12 does a terrific job with pictures, and whereas movies might have acquired somewhat extra consideration, it isn’t an enormous disadvantage. The cellphone is not on the identical stage as true flagships, however contemplating what it prices, the cameras are fairly nice.iQOO 12: Software(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Vivo made a whole lot of constructive strides on the software program entrance with its Android 14-based Funtouch OS 14, and consequently, the iQOO 12 feels far more polished than its predecessors. The software program has a cleaner design and appears fashionable, and it has a constant design aesthetic. While you aren’t getting a lot in the best way of Material You right here, the software program nonetheless feels good to make use of, and it does not come throughout as a poorly-implemented iOS clone.The notification pane now has two giant rectangular tiles — very like what you get in OxygenOS 14 — together with the same old rounded tiles on the backside, and you may simply customise the toggles primarily based in your preferences. The app drawer is basically unchanged, and also you get a row of suggestions on the high, and you continue to get the power to entry widgets through a devoted web page; and no, I do not know why this function nonetheless exists.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)This would not be a Vivo assessment with out mentioning bloatware, and you will find loads of that on the iQOO 12. Thankfully, you possibly can uninstall all of the apps that come pre-installed on the cellphone, however it’s irksome that vivo continues to do that. In an analogous vein, Jovi Home is undamaged, however it is not as seen as earlier years; it is simply tucked away within the settings. Vivo additionally continues to bundle its personal dialer and SMS app as an alternative of Google’s default, however once more, it is simple sufficient to modify these out.Moving on to the positives, there’s loads of customizability on provide, and you may arrange dynamic lighting results for nearly each side of the cellphone — unlocking the display, charging the cellphone, plugging in a USB machine, and so forth. There’s additionally a nifty possibility within the overview menu that allows you to swap to a horizontally-scrolling configuration, very like MIUI.Overall although, Funtouch OS 14 feels nearer to ColorOS 14 than earlier variations of the interface, and that is an incredible factor. Another constructive is that the iQOO 12 will get long-term software program updates, with Vivo guaranteeing three Android OS updates and 4 years of safety patches.iQOO 12: The competitors(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The iQOO 12 is the primary out the door, so it does not actually have any rivals as of writing. The remainder of the units powered by Qualcomm’s newest silicon are on account of launch on the finish of January, so should you’re involved in getting your palms on the newest {hardware} and digicam tech and do not wish to wait one other two months, that is the machine to get.Otherwise, it is best to maintain out for the OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14. Both units have a whole lot of attention-grabbing upgrades, and no less than within the case of the OnePlus 12, the Indian launch will probably be similtaneously the worldwide unveil, so it needs to be accessible by the top of January. With Xiaomi, nevertheless, there isn’t any telling when — or if — the Xiaomi 14 will make its solution to the nation.iQOO 12: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)You can buy this if:You want a robust cellphone that is terrific for gamingYou need versatile cameras that take nice pictures in any scenarioYou want stellar battery life and ultra-fast chargingYou need an AMOLED display that is straightforward on the eyesYou’re in search of long-term software program updatesYou should not purchase this if:You want wi-fi chargingYou desire a cellphone with Material You interfaceIf different telephones observe an analogous sample because the iQOO 12, 2024 will probably be a fairly attention-grabbing yr. The iQOO 12 has appreciable upgrades on provide, whether or not it is the brighter AMOLED panel, higher predominant digicam and the addition of the 3x telephoto lens, upgraded internals, or the refreshed design that appears far more premium.It’s not usually that we get as many upgrades, however what in the end differentiates the iQOO 12 is that it has the identical nice worth regardless that you get significantly better cameras and a brighter display. More than anything, it is this worth that offers the iQOO 12 a definite edge, and I can not see how another cellphone can come near the machine on this specific space.