Performance Meets Design When It Comes to the iQOO 12 Smartphone [Review]

Gaming smartphones are always a safe bank, even if you are not even a gamer. Why? Because they pack a punch and can support you with performance and capacity beyond what someone could consider the standard. Today, we are looking at the new iQOO 12 flagship and what makes it stand out. iQOO, a sub-brand of Vivo, has always been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of style, speed, and performance in their devices. Their primary focus is creating excellent smartphones catering to the gaming community and esports enthusiasts. By prioritizing high-performance specs and innovative features, iQOO has carved out a niche for itself in the competitive smartphone market.

iQOO 12 review and test

We want to extend our gratitude to the team at iQOO and their press team for providing us with a test unit of the iQOO 12 before its release. This early access allowed us the opportunity to thoroughly test the device and provide a comprehensive review for our readers. Our hands-on experience with the iQOO 12 gave us an in-depth understanding of its features, capabilities, and overall user experience. Just to make sure we are all on the same page, this review will focus on the iQOO 12 Legend Edition.

The design story of the iQOO 12

The iQOO 12 Legend Edition design stands out in the smartphone market, embodying a unique blend of technological innovation and passionate design. This is largely due to its successful partnership with BMW M Motorsport, which has resulted in a device that marries performance with style. One of the most striking features of the iQOO 12 Legend Edition is the porthole camera design. This innovative concept is more than just an aesthetic addition; it carries deep symbolism. The porthole design represents the efforts of explorers across history – from astronauts to sailors – who have peered through a window to capture the unknown and unpredictable. In the context of the iQOO 12, the porthole design on the rear camera module symbolizes a window to a new world and era, igniting curiosity and encouraging exploration. I actually liked the whole meaning of this design decision, as I can also identify with this aspect of exploration and curiosity. I’m sure many of you could also feel that, perhaps.

Complementing the porthole camera design is the iconic tri-color stripe pattern. These stripes are not just a design element, but they convey the racing spirit of BMW M Motorsport and the established style of the iQOO series. Each color in the stripe pattern holds specific symbolism: red represents the passion and excitement for racing, black represents the relentless pursuit of technological innovation, and blue stands for the joy of exploring the unknown. The partnership with BMW M Motorsport has been instrumental in shaping the design philosophy of the iQOO 12 Legend Edition. It combines ergonomic perfection and high performance, resulting in a powerful, visually impressive smartphone that’s not just “the new one that looks like all the others.” The design elements, including the porthole camera design and tri-color stripes, are a testament to this fruitful collaboration, creating a smartphone that embodies exceptional design and performance.

But how does the porthole camera work?

The iQOO 12 smartphone comes with a triple rear camera system, integrating an astronomy camera (50 MP), an ultrawide-angle camera (50 MP), and a periscope telephoto camera (64 MP). This combination of cameras allows for varied photography options to cater to different scenarios and needs. The Astrography Camera has a large 1/1.3-inch sensor, which helps in improving color reproduction and low-light image quality. It also contributes to a better signal-to-noise ratio, ensuring clarity in captured images. The camera supports 8K video recording at 30 FPS and other resolutions like 4K at 30/60 FPS and 720p and 1080p up to 240 FPS.

The Periscope Telephoto Camera provides a range of zoom capabilities. With 3x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom, users can get closer to their subjects without moving physically closer. Additionally, with the help of the N.I.C.E. (Neural Image Computational Engine) algorithm, the camera can achieve up to 100x digital zoom. Several camera modes are available on the iQOO 12, each designed for specific photography situations. The Handheld Astro Mode and Ultra-Sensing Night Mode are designed for low-light conditions, while the Vivid, Natural, and Textured Color Modes allow users to adjust the color tones of their photos. The AR Planetarium Mode, Landscape Moon, and Super Moon modes can be used for more creative shots. The device also includes a Super Macro Mode and Portrait Mode for close-up shots and portraits. Moreover, watermark options such as Bezel Watermark and Signature Bezel are available for personalization.

These features provide a comprehensive range of photography options, making the iQOO 12 a versatile tool for capturing images. Overall I thought the results are really nothing they have to hide. Like many leading companies today, they achieve good results by combining software and hardware that work together to deliver good photos. As much as I like the porthole design, I couldn’t help but touch the camera area a few times while holding the phone due to the size and positioning, but I think people who use it all the time would get used to that quickly and avoid putting their fingers up that high.

How’s the iQOO 12 performance?

Now, let’s get some meat to the bone. A gaming smartphone wouldn’t be a gaming phone if it were not for cutting-edge tech and smart solutions to deliver performance with the goal of being the best. The iQOO 12 smartphone has several performance features contributing to a reliable and efficient user experience. At its heart, the device runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform. This platform includes one Cortex-X4 prime core CPU architecture, five Cortex-A720 performance cores, and two Cortex-A520 efficiency cores. This structure ensures balanced performance and power consumption.

For graphics processing, the iQOO 12 uses the Adreno 750 GPU. It offers a notable performance and energy efficiency improvement, which users will notice during gaming and multimedia tasks. The phone incorporates LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage technology. The LPDDR5X RAM contributes to faster app startup speeds and improved system responsiveness. In contrast, UFS 4.0 storage aids in faster data reading and lower power consumption. An interesting feature of the iQOO 12 is the custom Supercomputing Chip Q1. This intelligent display processor enhances the mobile gaming experience by improving image quality, boosting frame rates, and optimizing graphics.

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The device also includes an X-Axis Linear Motor, which provides haptic feedback during gameplay for all games supporting this feature. This motor helps create an immersive gaming experience by delivering precise tactile responses. For audio output, the iQOO 12 features symmetrical dual stereo speakers. These speakers provide clear sound during gameplay, enhancing the overall gaming experience for those not wearing headphones but still wanting to hear those approaching steps in-game. The iQOO 12 takes heat management into account, especially during intensive gaming sessions. It uses a 6K vapor chamber four-zone cooling system, which actively cools key areas of the device to prevent overheating.

Benchmark results

Of course, that’s just talk, but let’s also look at what these parts do when tested. Because the 3DMark benchmarks are not only the smartphone benchmarking solution from our partner but also provide fairly popular scores, we have used this to test the actual performance of the iQOO 12 in a neutral way. Just so you don’t get confused, the alternative device name of the iQOO 12 is also l2220, and you may find it as well as list it under the manufacturer Vivo, in case you want to look things up yourself.

Solar Bay

• Score: 8609
• FPS average: 32.74 FPS
• FPS range: 11 – 41 FPS

Wild Life Extreme

• Score: 4891
• FPS average: 29.29 FPS
• FPS range: 16 – 37 FPS

Comparison with other devices

If you want to know how these compete with the scores of similar phones, 3DMark also provides a top ranking that helps us assess the position of the iQOO 12 better. We have not created this list; it’s based on the benchmark results in the 3DMark database for the Solar Bay test.

1. Vivo iQOO 12 – 8620
2. Vivo iQOO 12 Pro – 8411
3. Xiaomi 14 Pro – 8054
4. Xiaomi 14 – 8042
5. Apple iPhone 15 Pro – 6123
6. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max – 6055
7. Vivo X90s – 6013
8. Vivo iQOO Neo8 Pro – 5991
9. ZTE Nubia Z50S Pro – 5617
10. Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 – 5608

This is just the top ten for this test, but you can check into all 70 ranked devices right here on their December overview for the best smartphones and their performances. Based on this data and the test results, it is evident that the iQOO 12 is currently the best-performing gaming smartphone there is.

Tech specs and details of the iQOO 12

Summary

In conclusion, the iQOO 12 is an outstanding smartphone that expertly combines powerful performance with a sleek design. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and custom Supercomputing Chip Q1 enable it to deliver a gaming experience that is second to none. The phone’s 144Hz AMOLED display ensures high-definition visuals, while its triple rear camera system with unique Porthole Design provides versatile photography options. The Pro-Performance Graphite Battery, paired with the 120W FlashCharge feature, guarantees prolonged usage and swift charging times.

The device’s performance is further enhanced by features like Game Super Resolution, Game Super Frame Rate, and Game Display Enhancement, all powered by the Supercomputing Chip Q1. To ensure immersive gaming, the iQOO 12 has a symmetrical dual stereo speaker design and an X-Axis Linear Motor for tactile feedback. Its Four-Zone Cooling System is also a thoughtful addition, managing heat effectively during intense gaming sessions. The iQOO 12 runs on FuntouchOS 14, which is based on Android 14, offering users a clean and intuitive interface. Moreover, the Google Play Store is readily available on the device, providing access to a vast array of apps and games, and you don’t need to worry about hacking into the device to install Google Services.

Coming in Legend (white) and Alpha (black) editions, the iQOO 12 showcases exquisite craftsmanship focusing on light and shadow effects. Essentially, it’s not just a smartphone but a testament to innovation and exploration. Today, the iQOO 12 is the best-performing smartphone in the gaming market. For more insights and a closer look at this remarkable device, don’t forget to watch the TechAcute unboxing video below. It’s time to experience the future of mobile gaming with iQOO 12.

YouTube: Unboxing the New iQOO 12 Smartphone

Photo credit: The images shown have been taken by Pupu Liang for TechAcute.
Editorial notice: We received a press unit to test the iQOO 12 and write this review but were not paid for covering.