PROS:
Outstanding results from the camera
exceptional hardware capabilities
Unique design of the BMW “Legend” Edition (not the review unit)
CONS:
Poor water resistance (IP64)
Poor quality 16MP front camera
restricted availability worldwide
Even if the year is almost finished, it’s still not too late to reveal new flagship devices, particularly in light of the availability of new mobile processors. A few phone manufacturers have almost simultaneously unveiled their newest products in a competition to be the first and the best, riding on Qualcomm’s momentum. Naturally, providing the greatest possible user experience doesn’t always follow from utilising the newest gear on the market. We are putting the new iQOO 12 to the test to see if it was able to achieve the ideal balance of flavours or if it just had too much on its plate to make an impact. There are many components that go into making the ideal smartphone meal.
Beauty
You will be struck by the iQOO 12’s exquisite design the instant you lay eyes on it. But after that initial impression, especially with the black “Alpha” variant we were given for evaluation, you might feel as though you’ve seen it before. Other from the sizable and unique camera island, the phone’s Fluorite AG glass is very standard. Indeed, it features a sandblasted finish that gives it a glitter in certain light, but that has also been done previously. Sure, it’s nice, but not particularly noteworthy.
However, in terms of design, the BMW “Legend” Edition is a little more intriguing. Its use of porcelain enamel glass gives it a distinctive texture, and the simple white design gives it a chic, timeless look. Without being ostentatious, the elegantly carved characteristic BMW M Motorsport stripes effectively identify the vehicle. It presents an image of a genuinely unique design with just the right amount of minimalism and branding.
Despite having nearly dissimilar looks, the Alpha and Legend versions of smartphones have a single design feature in common. The “squircle” design used by the iQOO 12 in place of a square or circle is described by the business as a tribute to ship portholes, which let light in and provide a spectacular view of the outside world from within a ship. Even if it overuses the camera metaphor, the phone nevertheless has a unique look thanks to its unique design.
The iQOO 12 Alpha exudes luxury thanks to its understated yet sophisticated design. Sadly, that doesn’t exactly make it stand out from the competition, particularly if you don’t think the “porthole” camera design is that cool. It’s unlikely that the design will draw haters, but it also won’t win over fans.
Ergonomics Due to its ability to resist smudges, fluorite AG glass has emerged as a popular choice for smartphone materials. Some people can even use it to achieve matte textures, or at least a rough representation of matte textures. Despite what the marketing literature claims, the iQOO 12 feels rather slick in the hand and is still made of glass in real life. For peace of mind, you should definitely put on the clear case that is offered if you are unsure of your grip.
The iQOO 12 weighs over 204g, so it’s not exactly a light phone—it measures 8.1mm. You can immediately feel the weight of this sizable slab of glass and metal when you hold it in your hands. This implies that in order to achieve a more firm hold, you’ll need to try gripping it harder, which will eventually place greater strain on your hand. It should come as no surprise that the phone is rather top-heavy with all the components positioned there, but this also makes it a little awkward to grip because of the fingerprint scanner’s placement towards the bottom of the screen.
Achievement
Undoubtedly, the iQOO 12 possesses every element of a premium smartphone. It has one of the fastest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processors available, if not the fastest overall. It also has lightning-fast 16GB LPDDR5X memory and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. Just those alone imply that it will be able to tackle whatever work you set it with ease. Playing games and watching films on the 6.78-inch 2800×1260 AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 144 Hz is a terrific experience. It’s a strong workhorse all around, but it also possesses a secret weapon.
iQOO’s Supercomputing Chip Q1 focuses on improving display performance without straining the primary Qualcomm CPU, in contrast to certain brands that have dedicated processors for photography or artificial intelligence. The largest accomplishment is raising frame rates to 144 fps, which equates to the screen’s native refresh rate of 144 Hz and provides a more fluid and seamless visual experience. The phone never gets overheated, even under extreme load, because of a newly designed four-zone vapour cooling chamber.
The iQOO 12’s operating system, FuntouchOS 14, is based on the most recent version of Android 14 and is expected to receive three years’ worth of Android updates. While there is still plenty of customisation possibilities, the user experience is almost exactly like that of pure Android, with remarkably minimal bloatware. Though considering all the hardware behind it, the UI is responsive and fluid.
In actuality, all of these result in striking pictures that may be seen both during the day and at night. Rich details and vivid colours are present, albeit naturally somewhat more saturated by default. The surprisingly superb 10x lossless (also known as hybrid) zoom comes with the anticipated loss of information. When used in conjunction with Night Mode, it can even provide passable nighttime images, however this again greatly depends on the topic. The same periscope telescopic lens is responsible for the beautiful blurring and precise separation of foreground and background features that characterise bokeh, or portrait mode. Overall, the iQOO 12 offers a great mobile photography experience, with the exception of its 16MP front camera, which is merely mediocre.
Durability
Unfortunately, the iQOO 12 performs poorly in terms of durability and sustainable design. Except when you take into account its parent firm, vivo, it contains the standard array of non-sustainable materials, and the brand isn’t as active in pushing its eco-friendly techniques as its competitors. Additionally, the phone only has an IP64 rating, which indicates that its resistance to liquids and water is extremely low. Although it’s better than nothing, a high-end phone like this one should come with a much better guarantee.
Worth
When looking at things holistically, the iQOO 12 is a really great high-end phone. It has the capabilities to satisfy fans of both gaming and photography, and despite its simplicity, its design is sophisticated enough to avoid appearing cheesy or antiquated. However, no phone is perfect, and the iQOO 12’s worth will be primarily determined by its competitors.
There aren’t many phones using the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 right now, but that will start to change in roughly a month. However, those few devices—the iQOO 12 among them—are still only very loosely available. While the $600 price tag may be alluring, it is useless if you cannot purchase one that is certain to function flawlessly on the cellular networks in your nation. In addition, unless you can acquire the BMW Legend Edition, the design, while attractive, lacks the uniqueness to make it stand out from the competition. It’s undoubtedly a formidable opponent, but it’s not the kind that could have a big, lasting impact.
Conclusion
It seems like the iQOO 12 has nearly everything. Its most recent specs easily meet even the most demanding needs, particularly those related to gaming. With the exception of that underwhelming 16MP selfie camera, the cameras are generally excellent in most circumstances. Although it’s undoubtedly iQOO’s best work to date, it also doesn’t seem to have the finishing blow that would have eliminated the opposition.
The Alpha Edition’s design is, to be honest, a little lacklustre despite its pleasing minimalist look. Although the camera bump with a porthole-inspired appearance is novel to us, it’s really just another variation on the same old concept. The BMW Legend Edition is significantly more intriguing in terms of materials and styling, however it might also be harder to find. However, not everyone would purchase a phone just based on its appearance. While the iQOO 12 is an attractive option, other phones will soon be able to steal the show from it.
