iQOO 12 vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Flagships

Both the vivo iQOO 12 and the Xiaomi 14 Pro represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. However, they diverge in their approach to battery technology, charging speeds, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device delivers the most compelling package for demanding users.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing rapid charging and wireless convenience, the Xiaomi 14 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 50W wireless charging and comprehensive charging standards offer a more versatile experience. However, the iQOO 12’s strong battery life makes it a viable alternative for those who prioritize longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 12 Xiaomi 14 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - India1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, November 072023, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, November 14Available. Released 2023, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions163.2 x 75.9 x 8.1 mm or 8.4 mm161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198.5 g or 203.7 g (7.02 oz)223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)
Display
Protection-Shatterproof glass
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Adreno 750
OSAndroid 14, upgradable to Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 15 (International), OriginOS 4 (China)Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 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), AF50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless (market/region dependent)5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging120W wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 4880 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Red, White (BMW M branding)Black, Silver, Titanium, Green
ModelsV2307A23116PN5BC
PriceAbout 640 EURAbout 650 EUR

vivo iQOO 12

  • Excellent battery life (13:30h active use)
  • Fast 120W wired charging
  • Potentially optimized for sustained gaming performance

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Limited charging protocol support

Xiaomi 14 Pro

  • Versatile charging: 120W wired, 50W wireless, reverse wireless
  • Support for PD3.0 and QC4 charging standards
  • Likely superior camera system (based on Xiaomi’s history)

  • Potentially shorter battery life compared to iQOO 12
  • May prioritize features over raw gaming performance

Display Comparison

Both phones utilize high-end displays, but the iQOO 12 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1425 nits. While the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s display specifications aren’t provided, Xiaomi flagships typically prioritize color accuracy and high refresh rates. The iQOO 12’s brightness advantage will be most noticeable in direct sunlight, offering superior visibility. Without knowing the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s panel technology (LTPO or not), it’s difficult to assess power efficiency differences, but both are expected to offer smooth 120Hz experiences.

Camera Comparison

Context data lacks specific camera details for both devices. However, Xiaomi flagships are renowned for their camera systems, often featuring large sensors and advanced image processing. Given Xiaomi’s history, the 14 Pro likely features a more sophisticated camera setup than the iQOO 12, potentially including features like variable aperture or advanced computational photography algorithms. The iQOO 12 will likely focus on delivering a solid, reliable camera experience, but may not match the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s image quality in challenging conditions. We can assume both will offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both the iQOO 12 and Xiaomi 14 Pro are equipped with the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) chipset, featuring the same CPU configuration: 1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520. This means raw processing power will be nearly identical. Performance differences will likely stem from thermal management and RAM optimization. The iQOO series often prioritizes sustained performance for gaming, potentially employing more aggressive cooling solutions. Without RAM specifications, it’s difficult to assess memory bandwidth differences, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5x.

Battery Life

The iQOO 12 achieves an active use battery score of 13:30h, indicating strong battery life. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, but its charging capabilities are significantly more versatile. Both support 120W wired charging, but the Xiaomi 14 Pro adds 50W wireless charging (100% in 40 minutes) and 10W reverse wireless charging, alongside PD3.0 and QC4 support. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s charging suite offers greater convenience and flexibility, while the iQOO 12 relies solely on wired charging. The 18-minute 0-100% claim for the Xiaomi 14 Pro is a significant advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 12 if you need exceptional battery endurance for all-day use and prioritize a streamlined, gaming-focused experience. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you prefer a more feature-rich package with faster wireless charging, broader charging protocol support, and a more polished software experience, even if it means slightly less battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How does the Xiaomi 14 Pro's 50W wireless charging compare to other wireless charging solutions?
50W wireless charging is significantly faster than the 30W or 40W solutions found on many competing flagships. It allows for a full charge in approximately 40 minutes, making it a convenient alternative to wired charging, especially for users who frequently top up their devices throughout the day. The inclusion of reverse wireless charging is also a bonus for charging accessories.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in either phone experience throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a powerful chipset, sustained performance depends heavily on thermal management. The iQOO series often prioritizes cooling, potentially giving it an edge in long gaming sessions. However, Xiaomi also employs advanced cooling solutions. Real-world throttling will vary based on game settings, ambient temperature, and the phone's cooling system effectiveness.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 14 Pro support all fast charging protocols, or are adapters required?
The Xiaomi 14 Pro supports PD3.0 and QC4, covering a wide range of chargers. However, to achieve the full 120W wired charging speed, you'll likely need a compatible Xiaomi charger. Using a standard USB-PD charger may result in slower charging speeds.