iQOO 12 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance, Camera, and Battery Life
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing unadulterated speed and gaming prowess, the iQOO 12 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 120W charging are unmatched. However, the Pixel 8 Pro excels in camera versatility and software features, making it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo iQOO 12 | Google Pixel 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - India | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, November 07 | 2023, October 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, November 14 | Available. Released 2023, October 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.2 x 75.9 x 8.1 mm or 8.4 mm | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 198.5 g or 203.7 g (7.02 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 15 (International), OriginOS 4 (China) | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Multi-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, multi-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 | 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless (market/region dependent) | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 5050 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, White (BMW M branding) | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint |
| Models | V2307A | GC3VE, G1MNW |
| Price | About 640 EUR | € 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999 |
vivo iQOO 12
- Blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance
- Incredibly fast 120W wired charging
- Longer active use battery life
- Software experience may not be as refined as Pixel
- Camera may lack the AI-powered features of the Pixel
Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Exceptional camera with AI-powered features
- Clean and consistently updated software
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower charging speed compared to iQOO 12
- Less powerful chipset for demanding tasks
Display Comparison
Both phones feature vibrant displays, but the Pixel 8 Pro edges out the iQOO 12 in peak brightness, reaching 1600 nits compared to the iQOO 12’s 1425 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize a 4nm process, the display tech isn’t specified for the iQOO 12, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s Super Actua display likely incorporates LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, potentially improving battery efficiency. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display is also known for its excellent color accuracy, a key consideration for content creators.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are equipped for excellent photo and video capture, but their approaches differ. The Pixel 8 Pro leverages Google’s renowned computational photography, utilizing AI to enhance image quality and provide features like Magic Eraser and Best Take. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system is known for its consistent performance across all lenses and its exceptional low-light capabilities. The iQOO 12’s camera system, while capable, likely relies more on hardware specifications and less on software processing. The iQOO 12’s image processing style is likely geared towards vibrant, punchy colors, while the Pixel 8 Pro aims for more natural and realistic tones.
Performance
The iQOO 12’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a powerhouse, boasting an octa-core configuration with a prime Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.3 GHz. This architecture is designed for sustained peak performance, crucial for gaming and demanding applications. The Pixel 8 Pro, powered by the Google Tensor G3 (4nm), takes a different approach. Its nona-core CPU prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. While the Tensor G3 is capable, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 demonstrably outperforms it in raw CPU and GPU benchmarks, offering a smoother experience in graphically intensive games. The iQOO 12’s likely faster LPDDR5x RAM further contributes to its performance advantage.
Battery Life
The iQOO 12 offers an active use battery score of 13:30h, exceeding the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s older endurance rating of 90h suggests efficient power management. The key differentiator is charging speed: the iQOO 12’s 120W wired charging is significantly faster than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W wired charging, allowing for a full charge in a fraction of the time. The Pixel 8 Pro compensates with 23W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and 'bypass charging' which minimizes battery degradation during charging, features absent on the iQOO 12.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO 12 if you need a phone for demanding mobile gaming, frequent fast charging, and prioritize benchmark-topping performance. You'll benefit from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's power and the incredibly rapid 120W wired charging. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a superior camera experience with advanced AI features, a clean and consistently updated software experience, and value long-term software support. The Pixel 8 Pro is ideal for users who rely heavily on Google services and prioritize image quality.