iQOO 12 review: a performance powerhouse

iQOO 12

 iQOO 12 Review:

The iQOO 12 seems to be a compelling smartphone, offering a range of features and improvements over its predecessor. Here's a breakdown of the review:

Design (8.5/10):

The iQOO 12 showcases a revamped design that exudes premium aesthetics. The combination of a glass back panel and a shiny aluminum frame not only enhances the device's visual appeal but also provides a solid grip. The raised camera platform, although noticeable, integrates seamlessly with the overall design, featuring a sleek all-black finish with chrome edges and elegant etching. The inclusion of '100x Tele Lens' adds a distinctive touch.

However, the aluminum frame is susceptible to fingerprints and smudges, potentially impacting the device's appearance. The IP64 water and dust resistance rating is a noteworthy addition, ensuring durability. The placement of the USB Type-C port on the bottom edge, coupled with an optical fingerprint scanner, adds to the overall user-friendly design.

Display (8.5/10):

The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display is a standout feature of the iQOO 12. With a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 144Hz, the display adapts to content, delivering a smooth viewing experience. The resolution of 1,200 x 2,800p might seem slightly underwhelming for a flagship device, but the display compensates with crisp visuals, vivid colors, and excellent sunlight legibility.

The only notable drawback is the punch-hole for the selfie camera, which covers more screen real estate than typical punch-holes found in competing devices. Despite this, the display impresses with up to 3,000 nits brightness, 2,160Hz PWM dimming, and HDR10+ support, making it a strong point for multimedia consumption.

Software (8.0/10):

The iQOO 12 runs on FunTouchOS 14 based on Android 14, offering a user-friendly interface with several refinements. Notably, there's a reduction in bloatware and ad notifications, contributing to a cleaner user experience. The animations are smoother, and new lock screen customizations have been introduced.

While the software updates promise three years of major OS updates and four years of security updates, it falls slightly short compared to some competitors. Overall, the software enhancements contribute positively to the device's performance, aligning with its focus on delivering a smooth user experience.

Performance (9.0/10):

The iQOO 12 is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, making it a performance powerhouse. Benchmark scores, including an AnTuTu score of 20,73,660 and impressive Geekbench results, place it at the forefront of smartphones in the country. The device effortlessly handles multitasking and demanding tasks without stuttering or slowdowns.

The inclusion of a 6,010mm square vapor chamber system ensures efficient cooling, maintaining optimal temperatures even during intense gaming sessions. Gaming-centric features, such as the SuperComputing Chip Q1, Motion Control, Gyroscope enhancement, and 4D Game vibration, enhance the overall gaming experience. The two available RAM and storage configurations (12GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB) cater to different user needs.

Cameras (8.0/10):

The camera setup on the iQOO 12 is noteworthy, featuring a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 64MP telephoto lens. Images captured exhibit detailed, sharp, and well-saturated qualities across various lighting conditions. The dynamic range and contrast ratio are commendable, contributing to overall image quality.

However, there is a mention of the cameras' tendency to overprocess images, leading to shadows being crushed. The primary camera defaults to outputting 12.5MP images, and both the primary and ultra-wide cameras exhibit pleasing results with minimal warping. The 64MP telephoto lens performs well with 3x optical zoom, while the 10x lossless zoom is considered usable in well-lit environments.

Lowlight photography is impressive, with all three cameras automatically activating night mode for brighter results with minimal noise. The portrait images, both from the primary and telephoto lenses, offer sharpness and a natural bokeh effect. The 16MP front-facing camera delivers slightly beautified results with good facial detailing, catering to selfie and video calling needs.

Battery (8.5/10):

The iQOO 12 houses a 5,000mAh battery, maintaining the same capacity as its predecessor. Despite this, the device provides a respectable battery backup, lasting a day and a half with mixed usage, including gaming, streaming, browsing, and social media. The PC Mark battery test returned a score of 14 hours and 14 minutes.

Charging is a highlight, with the support of a 120W fast-charging solution. The device can achieve a full charge from 0 to 100 percent in just 27 minutes, ensuring quick turnaround times for users. The inclusion of the fast charger in the box adds to the overall value.

Final Verdict:

The iQOO 12 surpasses expectations, presenting itself as a worthy upgrade from its predecessor. Its polished design, enhanced display, impressive camera capabilities, and top-notch performance make it a go-to device for those seeking the best-in-class experience. Despite some drawbacks, such as the absence of wireless charging and minimal bloatware, the overall package makes the iQOO 12 a strong contender in the flagship smartphone market.

Pros:

• Impressive build, IP64 rated
• Gorgeous screen
• Good cameras
• Incredibly fast performance & charging speeds

Cons:

• No wireless charging
• Bloatware

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