iQOO 10 vs Xiaomi 12S Ultra: A Deep Dive into Speed and Stamina

Both the vivo iQOO 10 and the Xiaomi 12S Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android flagship performance from 2022, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. However, they diverge significantly in their approach to battery technology and charging speeds, creating a clear distinction for potential buyers. This comparison will dissect these differences, alongside performance and display characteristics, to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing rapid replenishment, the iQOO 10 is the clear winner with its groundbreaking 120W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 19 minutes. However, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra counters with a respectable 93-hour endurance rating and the convenience of 50W wireless charging, making it a strong contender for those valuing longevity and versatility.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 10 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, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 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
Dimensions164.5 x 77.1 x 8.4 mm (6.48 x 3.04 x 0.33 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
Weight206 g (7.27 oz)225 g (7.94 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR, 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, OriginOS OceanAndroid 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)50 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)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 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)32 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
 24-bit/192kHz 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 port-Yes
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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 7 min, 100% in 19 min67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 41 min 50W wireless, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wireless
Type4700 mAhLi-Po 4860 mAh
Misc
ColorsWhite (BMW M branding), Orange, BlackBlack, Dark Green
ModelsV2217A2203121C
PriceAbout 580 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

  • Incredibly fast 120W wired charging
  • Potentially optimized thermal management for gaming
  • Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 provides flagship performance

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Camera specifications are unknown

Xiaomi 12S Ultra

  • Excellent 93-hour battery endurance
  • Convenient 50W wireless charging
  • Likely superior camera system based on brand reputation

  • Slower 67W wired charging
  • May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 1065 nits, suggesting a vibrant and easily viewable display even in direct sunlight. While the iQOO 10’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume it also offers a high brightness level to compete in the flagship segment. The 12S Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a strong OLED panel, likely with excellent black levels. Without PWM frequency data for the iQOO 10, it’s difficult to assess potential flicker-related eye strain, a crucial factor for sensitive users.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is explicitly marketed for its camera capabilities, though specific sensor details are absent. Given Xiaomi’s history, it likely features a large main sensor with advanced image processing algorithms. The iQOO 10’s camera is mentioned only as ‘Photo / Video’, lacking any specifics. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information for either device, a definitive camera comparison is impossible. It’s safe to assume both offer a versatile camera system, but the 12S Ultra likely holds an edge due to Xiaomi’s established camera expertise.

Performance

Both devices are equipped with the Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration identical in clock speeds (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510). This means raw processing power will be virtually indistinguishable between the two. However, thermal management – not detailed in the provided data – will be the deciding factor in sustained performance. The iQOO brand often prioritizes gaming, suggesting potentially more aggressive cooling solutions. Both likely utilize LPDDR5x RAM, contributing to fast application loading and multitasking.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra achieves an impressive endurance rating of 93 hours, indicating excellent battery optimization despite not having a specified mAh capacity. The iQOO 10, however, prioritizes charging speed. Its 120W wired charging is a game-changer, delivering a 50% charge in just 7 minutes and a full charge in 19 minutes. This is significantly faster than the 12S Ultra’s 67W wired charging (41 minutes to 100%). The 12S Ultra also offers 50W wireless charging (52 minutes to 100%) and 10W reverse wireless charging, providing added convenience. The iQOO 10 lacks wireless charging, a trade-off for its blistering wired speeds.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 10 if you absolutely need the fastest possible charging speeds and frequently find yourself needing to top up your battery throughout the day. Buy the Xiaomi 12S Ultra if you prioritize all-day battery life, appreciate the flexibility of wireless charging, and value a potentially more refined camera experience (given Xiaomi's historical focus on imaging).

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How does the 120W charging of the iQOO 10 affect battery health over the long term?
While 120W charging is incredibly fast, modern charging algorithms incorporate safeguards to minimize battery degradation. The iQOO 10 likely employs dynamic charging control, reducing the charging rate as the battery nears full capacity. However, consistently using extremely fast charging *may* contribute to slightly faster battery wear compared to slower methods, though the impact is often minimal for typical usage patterns.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 12S Ultra's camera support 8K video recording?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, flagship Xiaomi devices typically support 8K video recording. Given the 12S Ultra’s focus on camera capabilities, it’s highly probable that it includes this feature. However, the quality of 8K footage will depend on factors like sensor size, image stabilization, and video processing algorithms.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in either phone throttle during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a powerful chip, but it can be prone to thermal throttling under sustained load. The extent of throttling will depend on the device’s cooling system. The iQOO 10, with its gaming-focused branding, may have a more robust cooling solution than the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, potentially mitigating throttling during long gaming sessions.