Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro vs. vivo iQOO 12 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Charging Supremacy
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing long-term performance and a feature-rich ecosystem, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is the superior choice. However, the vivo iQOO 12 Pro’s significantly faster 120W charging and competitive performance make it a compelling option for users who value speed and convenience above all else.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | vivo iQOO 12 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 66, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, November 19 | 2023, November 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, November 20 | Available. Released 2023, November 14 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 164.6 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm or 8.8 mm |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 227 g (8.01 oz) | 205 g or 210 g (7.23 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 185Hz, 670Hz PWM, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 750 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 2 major Android upgrades | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 14 (International), OriginOS 4 (China) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 32 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.2", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) | 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, ulti-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ | 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 46 min 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired | 120W wired 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | 5800 mAh | 5100 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black | Black, Red, White (BMW M branding) |
| Models | AI2501-16G512G-BK, AI2501-24G1T-BK | V2329A |
| Price | € 1,139.00 / $ 1,290.00 / £ 1,224.17 | About 650 EUR |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
- Superior sustained performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Gaming-focused features and customization options
- Respectable battery life with decent charging speeds
- Less emphasis on camera capabilities
- Bulky design geared towards gaming
vivo iQOO 12 Pro
- Blazing-fast 120W wired charging
- Competitive performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Sleek and more conventional flagship design
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
- Less gaming-specific features compared to the ROG Phone
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro boasts a bright display, reaching a measured 1958 nits peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the iQOO 12 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, iQOO typically utilizes high-quality AMOLED panels. The ROG Phone’s focus on gaming likely includes a high PWM dimming rate, potentially benefiting users sensitive to flicker. The absence of LTPO information for either device makes it difficult to assess power efficiency gains from variable refresh rates, but the ROG Phone’s gaming focus suggests a higher probability of a high refresh rate panel optimized for smooth gameplay.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specifications for both devices are limited. However, given the market positioning, the iQOO 12 Pro likely prioritizes a versatile camera system with a high-resolution main sensor. The ROG Phone 9 Pro, while capable, typically focuses less on camera prowess and more on gaming features. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively assess image quality, but the iQOO 12 Pro’s brand history suggests a stronger emphasis on photographic capabilities. We can assume both phones will offer a range of shooting modes, but the ROG Phone may include gaming-specific camera features like live streaming enhancements.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), featuring a unique octa-core configuration with Oryon V2 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.32 GHz. This architecture is designed for sustained performance, crucial for long gaming sessions. The vivo iQOO 12 Pro, on the other hand, employs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) with a more conventional core arrangement, peaking at 3.3 GHz. While the Gen 3 offers impressive peak performance, the 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the ROG Phone suggests superior thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling under prolonged load. Both devices likely feature LPDDR5x RAM, but the ROG Phone’s cooling system is a key differentiator, allowing it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro delivers a solid 16:41h of active use, indicating good battery life despite its gaming-focused hardware. It supports 65W wired charging, taking 46 minutes for a full charge, alongside 15W wireless and 10W reverse wired charging. The vivo iQOO 12 Pro significantly outpaces this with 120W wired charging, promising a much faster top-up time. It also offers 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging. While the ROG Phone’s battery life is respectable, the iQOO 12 Pro’s charging speed is a major advantage for users who prioritize convenience and minimal downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you need a phone specifically engineered for extended gaming sessions, appreciate customizable gaming controls, and value sustained performance over peak burst speeds. Buy the vivo iQOO 12 Pro if you prefer a more conventional flagship experience with a focus on rapid charging, a sleek design, and a competitive price point, and don't require the extensive gaming-specific features of the ROG Phone.