iQOO Neo6 SE vs Xiaomi 12X: A Deep Dive into Snapdragon 870 Performance and Value

The vivo iQOO Neo6 SE and Xiaomi 12X represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market, both powered by the capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G. However, despite sharing the same chipset, these phones diverge in key areas like charging speed, battery endurance, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the vivo iQOO Neo6 SE emerges as the stronger choice. Its significantly faster 80W charging – fully charging in just 32 minutes – and competitive pricing offer a compelling advantage over the Xiaomi 12X’s 67W charging and 39-minute full charge time. While both deliver similar performance, the iQOO Neo6 SE prioritizes convenience.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo iQOO Neo6 SE	Xiaomi 12X

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International
5G bands	1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1x	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China

Launch
Announced	2022, May 06	2021, December 28
Status	Available. Released 2022, May 11	Available. Released 2021, December 31

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	-
Dimensions	163 x 76.2 x 8.5 mm (6.42 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)	152.7 x 69.9 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 2.75 x 0.32 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	190 g (6.70 oz)	176 g (6.21 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density)
Size	6.62 inches, 105.8 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 650
OS	Android 12, OriginOS Ocean	Android 11, MIUI 13

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm	32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Triple	64 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)	50 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm	32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.1 / 5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi 6 (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass

Battery
Charging	80W wired, 50% in 12 min, 100% in 32 min	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 39 min
Type	4700 mAh	Li-Po 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Blue, Orange, Gradient	Gray, Blue, Purple
Models	V2199A	2112123AC, 2112123AG
Price	About 290 EUR	About 180 EUR
SAR EU	-	0.59 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 105h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 598003 (v8), 690298 (v9) GeekBench: 3168 (v5.1) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO Neo6 SE

Significantly faster 80W charging
Potentially better thermal management for sustained gaming
Competitive pricing for the performance offered

Battery capacity not specified
Camera specifications are unknown

Xiaomi 12X

105-hour endurance rating suggests good battery life
Potentially more refined software experience (MIUI)
Compact form factor

Slower 67W charging
May be more expensive than the iQOO Neo6 SE

Display Comparison

Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels, but detailed specifications like panel type (AMOLED vs LCD) and peak brightness are missing. The Xiaomi 12X, being positioned as a more premium device, may benefit from slightly better color accuracy or viewing angles, but without concrete data, this remains speculative. The absence of refresh rate information is also a key omission; a higher refresh rate would significantly enhance the user experience, particularly for gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or optical image stabilization (OIS). The Xiaomi 12X, historically, has focused on delivering a balanced camera experience, while iQOO often prioritizes value. Without knowing the megapixel count or sensor size, it’s difficult to assess image quality. The presence or absence of OIS would be a significant differentiator, particularly for low-light photography and video recording. Ignoring the likely inclusion of low-resolution auxiliary cameras (like 2MP macros) is crucial for a meaningful comparison.

Performance

At the heart of both the iQOO Neo6 SE and Xiaomi 12X lies the Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration: 1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585, and 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585. This means raw processing power will be virtually identical between the two. Performance will largely depend on RAM management and thermal throttling. The iQOO Neo6 SE, often marketed towards gamers, may employ more aggressive cooling solutions, potentially sustaining peak performance for longer durations. However, without thermal testing data, this is an assumption.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 12X boasts an endurance rating of 105 hours, a useful metric but dependent on usage patterns. The iQOO Neo6 SE’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 80W wired charging capability is a major advantage. This allows for a 50% charge in just 12 minutes and a full charge in 32 minutes, significantly faster than the Xiaomi 12X’s 67W charging which takes 39 minutes for a full charge. While the Xiaomi 12X may have a slightly longer overall battery life due to potentially larger capacity, the iQOO Neo6 SE’s faster charging mitigates range anxiety and offers greater convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Neo6 SE if you prioritize rapid charging and are a power user who frequently tops up their battery throughout the day. It’s ideal for gamers and those who demand quick turnaround times. Buy the Xiaomi 12X if you value a potentially more refined software experience (depending on MIUI preference) and are less concerned with absolute charging speed, and prefer a phone with a slightly longer rated endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much faster is the 80W charging on the iQOO Neo6 SE compared to the 67W charging on the Xiaomi 12X in real-world use?

The iQOO Neo6 SE's 80W charging can add a substantial amount of battery life in a short period. While both offer fast charging, the iQOO Neo6 SE can go from 0% to 50% in just 12 minutes, and fully charge in 32 minutes, compared to the Xiaomi 12X's 39 minutes for a full charge. This translates to less time tethered to a wall outlet, especially beneficial for users who frequently use their phones throughout the day.

❓ Will I notice a difference in gaming performance between the iQOO Neo6 SE and Xiaomi 12X, given they both have the Snapdragon 870?

While both phones share the same Snapdragon 870 chipset, sustained gaming performance can vary. The iQOO Neo6 SE, often marketed towards gamers, may incorporate more robust cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling. This could allow it to maintain peak performance for longer periods during extended gaming sessions. However, without independent thermal testing, the difference may be minimal.

❓ Does the Xiaomi 12X have a better software experience than the iQOO Neo6 SE?

This is subjective and depends on user preference. The Xiaomi 12X runs MIUI, which offers extensive customization options but can also include pre-installed bloatware. The iQOO Neo6 SE typically runs a more streamlined version of Android with iQOO’s custom skin, which some users may find cleaner and more responsive. Ultimately, the 'better' software experience is a matter of personal taste.