vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro vs iQOO 12 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value

vivo's iQOO sub-brand consistently delivers high-performance smartphones at competitive prices. The Neo9S Pro, powered by the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9300+, challenges the iQOO 12 Pro, which boasts Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two flagships, focusing on performance, charging, and overall user experience to determine which offers the best value.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the iQOO 12 Pro emerges as the superior choice. While the Neo9S Pro delivers impressive performance with the Dimensity 9300+, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the 12 Pro offers a more refined and consistently powerful experience, coupled with the added benefit of 50W wireless charging.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro vivo iQOO 12 Pro
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, 7, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 66, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, May 202023, November 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, May 20Available. Released 2023, November 14
Body
Dimensions163.5 x 75.7 x 8 mm or 8.3 mm164.6 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm or 8.8 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g or 196 g (6.70 oz)205 g or 210 g (7.23 oz)
Display
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM)LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUImmortalis-G720 MC12Adreno 750
OSAndroid 14, OriginOS 4Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 14 (International), OriginOS 4 (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF-
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple-50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, ulti-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
Video8K, 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (closed type)Yes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 40% in 9 min Reverse wired120W wired 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless
Type5160 mAh5100 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, RedBlack, Red, White (BMW M branding)
ModelsV2339FAV2329A
PriceAbout 340 EURAbout 650 EUR

vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro

  • Potentially higher peak CPU performance due to the Dimensity 9300+’s clock speed.
  • Competitive 120W wired charging.
  • Likely offers excellent value for its price point.

  • Dimensity 9300+ may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load.
  • Lacks wireless charging capabilities.
  • Image processing may not be as refined as the Snapdragon counterpart.

vivo iQOO 12 Pro

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers superior sustained performance and thermal management.
  • Includes 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging.
  • More refined software experience and potentially better camera performance.

  • Slightly lower peak CPU clock speed compared to the Neo9S Pro.
  • Generally more expensive than the Neo9S Pro.
  • May not offer a dramatically different gaming experience for casual gamers.

Display Comparison

Both devices likely feature high refresh rate AMOLED displays, but specific details like peak brightness and color accuracy are not provided. However, given iQOO's focus on gaming, both are expected to offer excellent visual fidelity. The absence of LTPO information suggests both may not dynamically adjust refresh rates to the same extent as some competitors, potentially impacting battery life during static content viewing. Bezels are likely minimal on both, reflecting current flagship trends.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is difficult. However, iQOO typically focuses on delivering strong main camera performance. The iQOO 12 Pro is likely to feature a larger sensor and more advanced image processing capabilities, benefiting from Qualcomm’s ISP. The Neo9S Pro will likely rely heavily on MediaTek’s image signal processor. The absence of information regarding OIS suggests both may or may not include optical image stabilization, impacting low-light photography and video recording. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely inconsequential.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The iQOO 12 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) utilizes a 1+3+2+2 core configuration, peaking at 3.3 GHz. The Neo9S Pro’s Dimensity 9300+ (4nm) employs a 1+3+4 configuration, with a higher peak clock speed of 3.4 GHz on its primary Cortex-X4 core. While the Neo9S Pro's clock speed is higher, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 benefits from Qualcomm’s architectural optimizations and a more mature manufacturing process, leading to potentially better sustained performance and thermal efficiency. The iQOO 12 Pro's GPU is also expected to outperform the Mali-G720 MC12 in the Neo9S Pro, offering a smoother gaming experience. Both utilize LPDDR5x RAM, but the iQOO 12 Pro's superior thermal design will allow it to maintain peak RAM speeds for longer durations.

Battery Life

Both phones offer 120W wired charging, achieving a 40% charge in approximately 9 minutes. However, the iQOO 12 Pro adds 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, providing significantly more versatility. While battery capacity isn't specified, the iQOO 12 Pro’s more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery (based on typical iQOO 12 series sizing) will likely translate to longer real-world battery life. The addition of wireless charging on the 12 Pro is a significant convenience factor for many users.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro if you prioritize raw CPU performance for demanding tasks and are comfortable with a slightly less polished software experience. It's ideal for users who frequently engage in CPU-intensive workloads like video editing or emulation. Buy the vivo iQOO 12 Pro if you value a more balanced experience with superior thermal management, wireless charging convenience, and a generally more refined user experience, making it the better all-rounder for gaming, photography, and everyday use.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Dimensity 9300+ in the iQOO Neo9S Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 9300+ is a powerful chip, but it's known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. While iQOO likely implements cooling solutions, expect some thermal throttling during extended gaming, potentially leading to reduced frame rates over time. The iQOO 12 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is better equipped to handle sustained workloads.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the iQOO 12 Pro significantly faster than wired charging for topping up the battery?
While 120W wired charging is considerably faster for a full charge, 50W wireless charging offers a convenient alternative for quick top-ups throughout the day. It's ideal for situations where you can't access a charging cable, and it's still a respectable charging speed, adding a significant percentage to the battery in a short amount of time.
❓ Does either phone support frame interpolation to achieve 120fps playback from 60fps content?
While not explicitly stated, both devices likely support some form of frame interpolation technology to enhance the smoothness of video playback. However, the effectiveness of this feature can vary depending on the implementation and the content being played. Check user reviews for specific details on the quality of frame interpolation on each device.