vivo iQOO 9 Pro vs Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity): A Detailed Showdown

The flagship smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the vivo iQOO 9 Pro and Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) are two contenders vying for your attention. Both offer premium features and impressive specs, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iQOO 9 Pro takes the lead with its blazing-fast 120W charging and exceptional battery life. While the Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) boasts a slightly more refined software experience and potentially better camera processing, the iQOO 9 Pro's raw power and charging speed make it a compelling choice for many.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 9 Pro Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)
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, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 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, January 052022, July 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, January 12Available. Released 2022, July 13
Body
BuildGlass front (Panda Glass), aluminum frame, glass back or aramid fiber back-
Dimensions164.8 x 75.2 x 8.8 mm163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight204 g or 210 g (7.20 oz)201 g (7.09 oz)
 Splash and dust resistant-
Display
ProtectionPanda GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 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 (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.20 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Mali-G710 MC10
OSAndroid 12, Funtouch 12 (International), OriginOS Ocean (China)Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 (V6)UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED lash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 60mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.3, 15mm, 150˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps
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
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE
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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 8 min, 100% in 20 min 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Type4700 mAhLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsLegend (White w/ BMW M branding), Dark Cruise, OrangeGray, Blue
ModelsV2172A, I20222207122MC
PriceAbout 630 EURAbout 570 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 97h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.8 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 862324 (v8), 997948 (v9) GeekBench: 3708 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

vivo iQOO 9 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Exceptional battery life
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • High brightness display

  • Potential for thermal throttling
  • Software might not be as polished as Xiaomi's

Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)

  • Slightly more refined software experience
  • Potentially better camera processing
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Powerful Dimensity 9000+ chipset

  • Slower 67W charging
  • Shorter battery life
  • May not be as ideal for hardcore gamers

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent AMOLED displays. The iQOO 9 Pro boasts a measured 1000 nits peak brightness, offering superior outdoor visibility. The Xiaomi 12 Pro likely has slightly better color accuracy and calibration, but the iQOO 9 Pro's brightness advantage is noticeable. Both have high refresh rates (likely 120Hz) for smooth scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is subjective. The iQOO 9 Pro likely excels in fast-action shots due to its processing. The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) is expected to have a more versatile camera system with potentially better image processing and low-light performance. Both phones likely offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

The iQOO 9 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a powerhouse, known for its raw performance. The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) with the Dimensity 9000+ is also incredibly fast, and in some benchmarks, it might even edge out the Snapdragon. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 has a reputation for thermal throttling under sustained load, which could impact long gaming sessions. Both phones offer ample RAM and storage for demanding tasks.

Battery Life

The iQOO 9 Pro absolutely dominates in this category. Its 97h endurance rating is exceptional, and the 120W wired charging is a game-changer, fully charging the phone in just 20 minutes. The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity)'s 67W charging is significantly slower, and its battery life is likely shorter.

Buying Guide

The vivo iQOO 9 Pro is ideal for gamers and power users who prioritize charging speed and long battery life. The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) is a better fit for users who value a polished software experience, a more versatile camera system, and a slightly more premium design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The iQOO 9 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers raw power, but potential thermal throttling could be a concern. The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Dimensity) is also excellent, and its sustained performance might be slightly better.
❓ Is the Xiaomi 12 Pro's software better than the iQOO 9 Pro's?
Generally, Xiaomi's MIUI is considered more polished and feature-rich than vivo's Funtouch OS. However, both have improved significantly in recent years.