iQOO 12 Review with Pros and Cons

iQOO wrapped up an impressive 2023 and chose to close the year with the release of its flagship iQOO 12. It notably achieved the distinction of being the first Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phone in India, preceding competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. and OnePlus 12. With 2024 expected to see the arrival of more SD8 Gen 3 phones, iQOO has positioned itself ahead of the curve by introducing an additional Q1 coprocessor, providing a competitive advantage in terms of performance.

Beyond the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the iQOO 12 brings many improvements over its predecessor, covering areas like the display, camera software, and other hardware components. The question remains: does the iQOO 12 have the capabilities to take on future challengers? Let’s move on to the iQOO 12 review.

iQOO 12 review: Design

The iQOO 12 appears to be one of the most aesthetic devices of the year. Deviating from the norm, iQOO has made a commendable effort to redefine the aesthetics of its flagship phone. The Lagend variant, which looks like glossy ceramic from a distance (although made from porcelain-glazed glass), features a mostly flat back panel with subtle taps for both visual appeal and improved grip. It's worth noting, however, that the phone is remarkably slippery without a case.

The standout feature of the rear panel is the camera module, with a circular camera island protruding into the upper left corner. A silver exterior frame with fine ridges, combined with dual LED flash and BMW M Motorsport tri-color stripes, adds to the overall visual appeal. The flat side rail, slightly curved at the end, complements the tapered edges of the glass. The antenna bands are strategically placed for optimal 5G reception.

Notable design elements include a volume rocker and power button on the left side edge, a SIM tray, a USB C port, a primary speaker and microphone on the bottom edge, and an IR Blaster , a secondary microphone and a secondary speaker at the top. The iQOO 12 boasts an IP64 rating for splash water and dust resistance, making it attractive with its well-balanced weight distribution and excellent in-hand feel.

iQOO 12 review: display and audio

iQOO has upped its display game with the iQOO 12, featuring Visionox's AMOLED panel measuring 6.78 inches diagonally. The display sports a resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels, supporting 1 billion colors and reaching a maximum brightness of 1400 nits, peaking at 3000 nits under specific conditions. 2160Hz Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) ensures low light flicker, ensuring user comfort.

The iQOO 12 offers three display color profiles: Standard, Bright and Pro. The Pro profile adheres to sRGB colors with better color accuracy. The display supports adaptive refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 144Hz, with the Smart Switch option optimizing screen refresh rates based on the content being displayed.

The strong focus on content consumption is evident, with features like Visual Enhancement, MMEC and Super Resolution optimizing frame rates, colors and contrast. The iQOO 12 holds a DRM L1 certificate, allowing streaming of HD and HDR content from platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. The device also includes an always-on display feature, optimized to save battery life at a 1Hz refresh rate.

On the audio front, the iQOO 12 combines a bottom speaker and earpiece for a stereo effect. While the speakers deliver powerful sound with good vocal separation, the bass may be limited, although the treble remains satisfactory.

iQOO 12 review: performance and software

Being the first smartphone in India equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the iQOO 12 stands out in terms of performance. Qualcomm's 2024 flagship chip features eight cores, including a Cortex . The Adreno 750 GPU, combined with a self-developed Q1 coprocessor, improves overall performance.

The iQOO 12 has 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Running on FundTouch OS 14 based on Android 14, the device promises three years of Android updates and four years of security updates. The FunTouch operating system has been optimized for a smooth experience, with the inclusion of kinetic wallpapers that change based on step count.

Customization options for home screen, lock screen and various animation effects add to the user experience. Worth noting is the reduction in bloatware, with some useful apps like Netflix, Spotify and Snapchat pre-installed.

The performance of the iQOO 12 was commendable in various tasks, including multitasking and AAA games. Gaming features like game frame interpolation, enabled by the Q1 chip, provide a seamless gaming experience, with the device handling games like Genshin Impact, COD Mobile, and BGMI without frame drops or lag issues. heating.

Benchmark tests were carried out, giving the following results:

• AnTuTu v10.1.6: 2077000
• Geekbench 6.1: 2292 (single-core) and 7169 (multi-core)
• CPU throttling test: 73% of maximum performance
• 3DMark (Wild Life Extreme Stress Test): 5161 (best loop score)

iQOO 12 review: cameras

Addressing concerns from previous flagships, iQOO has significantly improved the iQOO 12's camera system. The triple-camera setup includes a 50-megapixel Omnivision OV50H main sensor, a 64-megapixel Samsung JN1 telephoto lens, and a 64-megapixel Omnivision OV64B ultra. 50 megapixels. -wide sensor. A 16-megapixel selfie camera rounds out the camera array.

The main rear camera, equipped with Quad-PD autofocus and optical stabilization, captures 12.5 MP images with excellent dynamic range, details and vibrant colors. Noise levels are well managed.

The telephoto lens excels in portrait mode, delivering sharp images with noticeable separation between subject and background. The 64MP sensor supports up to 3X optical zoom, delivering photos with good dynamic range, low noise and sharpness. Additionally, up to 100X digital zoom is available, along with features like Supermoon Mode and Astro Mode for capturing constellations.

The ultra-wide snapper delivers 12.5MP pixel-packed photos with decent detail and sharpness. While the dynamic range is commendable, it may not match the sharpness and color accuracy of the other two sensors.

iQOO 12 test: battery and charging

The iQOO 12 has similar battery life to its predecessor, lasting more than a day for moderate users. With screen time over four and a half hours at high refresh rate settings and connected to dual 5G and Wi-Fi networks, the phone delivers reliable endurance.

For fast charging needs, the iQOO 12 includes a 120W fast charger, replenishing 50% of the battery in ten minutes and getting a full charge in 25 minutes.

iQOO 12 Review Verdict: Should You Buy It?

iQOO has raised its flagship game with the iQOO 12, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered device that checks almost all the boxes. With an attractive design, excellent LTPO AMOLED display, impressive cameras, good speakers and reliable software, the iQOO 12 presents itself as a complete smartphone under Rs 60,000. If you are looking for a complete device, the iQOO 12 is certainly worth considering.