iQOO 10 Pro vs. Xiaomi 12S Ultra: A Deep Dive into Speed and Photography

The vivo iQOO 10 Pro and Xiaomi 12S Ultra represent distinct approaches to the flagship Android experience. The iQOO 10 Pro aggressively pushes charging technology with its 200W capabilities, while the Xiaomi 12S Ultra focuses on delivering a top-tier photographic experience. Both are powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, but their implementations and priorities diverge significantly, making this a compelling comparison for power users.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing convenience and minimizing downtime, the vivo iQOO 10 Pro is the clear winner. Its 200W charging is a game-changer, fully replenishing the battery in just 10 minutes. However, photography enthusiasts will find the Xiaomi 12S Ultra's camera system more compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 10 Pro Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, July 192022, July 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 25Available. Released 2022, July 09
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions164.9 x 75.5 x 9.5 mm (6.49 x 2.97 x 0.37 in)163.2 x 75 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.36 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight215.4 g or 216.2 g (7.58 oz)225 g (7.94 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO3 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Funtouch 12 (International), OriginOS Ocean (China)Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 (V6)UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED lash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 14.6 MP, f/2.2, 69mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.3, 15mm, 150˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@3840fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K, 1080p)
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging200W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 10 min 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 41 min 50W wireless, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wireless
Type4700 mAhLi-Po 4860 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White (BMW M branding)Black, Dark Green
ModelsV2218A2203121C
PriceAbout 870 EUR$ 288.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 93h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1039412 (v9) GeekBench: 4300 (v5.1) GFXBench: 51fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO 10 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 200W wired charging
  • Potentially superior sustained performance due to iQOO’s thermal focus
  • 50W wireless charging

  • Camera details are unknown, potentially lagging behind the Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  • Display specs are limited, making a direct comparison difficult

Xiaomi 12S Ultra

  • Exceptional camera system focused on photo and video quality
  • High peak display brightness (1065 nits)
  • Excellent battery endurance (93h)

  • Significantly slower charging speeds (67W wired, 41 minutes)
  • May throttle under sustained load compared to iQOO 10 Pro

Display Comparison

Both devices utilize the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, so display performance is likely similar in terms of GPU load. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 1065 nits, suggesting a potentially more visible outdoor experience. While the iQOO 10 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s reasonable to assume a comparable high brightness level given its flagship status. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a high-quality OLED panel, but without specific details on color accuracy or PWM dimming frequency for either device, a definitive display winner is difficult to declare.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is explicitly positioned as a photography powerhouse, though specific sensor details are missing. Its focus on 'Photo / Video' suggests a more sophisticated camera system. The iQOO 10 Pro’s camera specs are not provided, making a direct comparison challenging. However, given Xiaomi’s history with large sensors and advanced image processing, the 12S Ultra likely offers superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The absence of details on the iQOO 10 Pro’s camera system suggests it may not be a primary selling point.

Performance

Both the iQOO 10 Pro and Xiaomi 12S Ultra are equipped with the Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) chipset, featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510). This means raw processing power will be nearly identical. The key differentiator will be thermal management. The iQOO brand often prioritizes sustained performance, potentially employing a more aggressive cooling solution to mitigate throttling during extended gaming sessions. However, without detailed thermal testing data, it’s impossible to definitively say which device maintains peak performance for longer.

Battery Life

Both phones have an endurance rating of 93h, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing charging speeds. However, the charging experience is where they drastically diverge. The iQOO 10 Pro’s 200W wired charging is revolutionary, achieving a full charge in just 10 minutes. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s 67W wired charging takes 41 minutes for a full charge. This difference is substantial. While the Xiaomi 12S Ultra offers 50W wireless charging (52 minutes to full) and both support 10W reverse wireless charging, the iQOO 10 Pro’s wired charging speed is a significant advantage for users who value convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 10 Pro if you need the absolute fastest charging speeds available, frequently find yourself needing to top up quickly, and value a smooth, responsive experience. Buy the Xiaomi 12S Ultra if you prioritize camera quality above all else, demand excellent image detail and dynamic range, and are willing to trade off charging speed for photographic prowess.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much faster is the iQOO 10 Pro's 200W charging compared to typical fast charging?
The iQOO 10 Pro's 200W charging is significantly faster than most fast charging solutions. A typical 65W-67W charger takes around 35-45 minutes for a full charge, while the iQOO 10 Pro achieves 100% in just 10 minutes. This represents a 3.5x speed increase, making it ideal for users who need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 12S Ultra's camera perform well in low-light conditions?
Given Xiaomi's track record with flagship camera phones, the 12S Ultra is expected to excel in low-light photography. While specific sensor details are unavailable, Xiaomi often utilizes large sensors and advanced image processing algorithms to capture detailed and vibrant images even in challenging lighting environments.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the iQOO 10 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is known to generate heat under sustained load. However, iQOO often prioritizes thermal management in their devices, potentially incorporating a more robust cooling system to mitigate throttling. Without specific thermal testing data, it's difficult to say definitively, but the iQOO 10 Pro is likely designed to handle demanding gaming sessions.