iQOO launched the iQOO 12 in India in December 2023, again beating rivals to the newest Qualcomm flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It continued the brand's formula of high performance at a lower price, competing directly with the OnePlus 12, Xiaomi 14 and Samsung Galaxy S24. The Legend edition's BMW M Motorsport stripes returned.
The 6.78-inch AMOLED display runs at up to 144Hz with a 1260 x 2800 resolution, slightly lower than the iQOO 11's 2K panel but brighter. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance was excellent, and iQOO's Q1 supercomputing chip helped with gaming frame rates and resolution upscaling. Thermals held up well in long gaming sessions. Funtouch OS 14 included a dedicated game mode and performance controls.
The camera setup was a big upgrade: a 50 MP main with OIS, a 50 MP ultrawide and a 64 MP 3x periscope telephoto. Zoom photos were impressive for the price. The 5,000 mAh battery with 120W charging refills very quickly, though wireless charging is absent. Against the OnePlus 12, it was cheaper and faster to charge, while OnePlus offered wireless charging and a sharper display.
Key specifications
| Launch price (India) | Rs 52,999 (base variant) |
|---|---|
| India launch | December 2023 |
| Segment | Flagship |
| Display | 6.78-inch, AMOLED, 144Hz, 1260 x 2800 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB |
| Expandable storage | No |
| Rear cameras | 50 MP main with OIS + 50 MP ultrawide + 64 MP 3x periscope telephoto |
| Front camera | 16 MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 120W wired |
| Software at launch | Android 14, Funtouch OS 14 |
| 5G | Yes |
| Headphone jack | No |
| Colours | Legend, Alpha |
What we like
- First Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phone in India
- 64 MP periscope telephoto
- 144Hz bright AMOLED display
- 120W fast charging
What could be better
- No wireless charging
- Lower resolution than the iQOO 11
- Funtouch OS bloatware
Who should buy it
Gamers and enthusiasts who want the latest flagship chip and a zoom camera without overspending.
Specifications and price are as at the India launch (December 2023). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.