Vivo iQOO 12 (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
Considering the rate at which new phones are released, I wouldn’t blame you for missing out on new releases. But Vivo’s iQOO 12 might be worth keeping on your radar as it is one of the first smartphones to use the latest generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Let’s see what this flagship device has to offer in practice.
iQOO 12 contents and specs
Under review is the 16GB+512GB iQOO 12 Legend Edition (white) that launched on the Malaysian, Thai, Indonesian and Indian markets for around 650 EUR. The following items are included in the box:
- iQOO12
- 120w Charger
- USB-C Cable
- Silicone phone bumper
- SIM Eject tool
- User manuals
As for the device specs, you can find them below:
iQOO 12: a smartphone with BMW performance-inspired hardware
Looking at the back of the iQOO 12 Legend Edition, you’ll notice a familiar logo: the iconic tri-colour stripes of BMW. This is because the phone draws its speed and performance inspiration from the car company with which iQOO partnered. The premium-looking glass back and contoured edges result in an elegant-looking phone with a minimalist design that I am quite fond of.
I’m also a fan of the large camera bump, which is reminiscent of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The difference here being that the bump is offset to the left and the flash is located outside of the camera array.
At 203.7g, the phone isn’t the lightest around but not that heavy, especially considering the specs crammed into a thickness that’s below 85mm. Having the included silicone bumper is a welcome addition as it provides some much-needed peace of mind.
Overall, the iQOO 12’s hardware doesn’t disappoint and is in line with what you’d expect from a flagship smartphone. What might be a downer is the lack of 3.5mm headphone jack on a gaming-oriented smartphone and there is also no USB-C to 3.5mm jack adapter included.
It’s also worth noting that the iQOO 12’s USB-C port does not support video output. This is a letdown as you cannot mirror the screen to a larger, portable display nor pair it with a pair of AR glasses like the XREAL Air 2. As a flagship, performance-focused device, such a feature might be expected as screen mirroring can boost productivity but it’s unfortunately not available on this smartphone.
On a personal note, and I bring this up in all of my gaming smartphone reviews, I deplore the lack of physical keys on the phone. The gaming experience is overhauled with physical controls, hence the number of Bluetooth controllers in various shapes and sizes on the market. Despite the obvious need for such physical controls in the gaming smartphone market, no company has recreated the magic of the Xperia Play to date; and we are long overdue for a successor.
Gaming performance on the iQOO 12
As a flagship gaming phone, equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, it’s no surprise that the iQOO 12 ranks among the top in terms of performance. The device’s GeekBench 5 benchmark results attest to that.
You can expect to run modern Android games with a silky-smooth performance on the iQOO 12. From indies like Evoland II to more demanding titles like Alien: Isolation, this phone handles native Android games without any issues on high settings.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip also lends itself very well for emulation. Gamecube via Dolphin Emulator at 3x resolution results in a steady 60 fps for Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and a capped 30fps for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Emulating PS2 games via AetherSX2 at 2x resolution is also smooth, with both Ratchet & Clank and Shadow of the Colossus running at 60fps.
Unfortunately, I could not get Yuzu to work properly on the iQOO 12, even after updating the emulator’s firmware and fiddling with the settings. Games would display a black screen, even if the soundtrack would play, perform menu selection (based on audio cues) and even start games. This can be attributed to the WIP nature of the emulator, and hopefully with future updates from the app developers, this persisting issue can be fixed.
On games and emulators that do work, the gaming experience is further enhanced with the crisp 6.78” AMOLED display which delivers vibrant colours and the 144Hz refresh rate ensures a fluid performance. The speakers also deliver quality audio that adds to the overall immersion. Thanks to the efficient heat dissipation system, the iQOO 12 does not get uncomfortably hot when in use, even for more demanding emulation such as the PS2.
The built-in 5000 mAh battery provides ample power to game for extended periods of time, although your mileage will vary based on the game/emulator and settings. The included 120W charger will also enable very fast charging, juicing the phone up to 100% in around 30 minutes.
iQOO included a handy “game assistant” overlay that you can easily access by dragging from the side. It shows details such as the processor load, battery level, gaming time and even provides some options such as mapping motion controls and taking screenshots. However, it does not show up in every game and more features like displaying FPS and phone temperature would be handy. This indicates some room for improvements for this feature, despite being welcome in its current state.
An all-rounder gaming smartphone
All things considered, the iQOO 12 is an all-rounder of a smartphone. It packs powerful specs in an elegant form factor. Its gaming prowess set the bar, even if some additional features would be welcome.
Its sleek, minimalist look also enables it to double as a more than decent daily driver. The stunning AMOLED display and quality speakers deliver an immersive portable entertainment system. Its array of cameras allow you to take professional-grade shots by mere point-and-click controls whether it’s close-up shots, landscapes or zoomed-in shots. The massive 5,000 mAh battery will also provide enough juice for a whole-day use. I would however prefer to have less pre-installed bloatware on the device, even if the UI is mostly that of a stock Android 14.
The iQOO 12 won’t disappoint if you decide to get it as it is a very capable device for work and play; but its major limitation is that it is available only in selected markets, with no word on a more global release. Being among the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-equipped smartphones, it indicates a promising outing for the chip.
Verdict
- Gaming and emulation performance
- Sleek, elegant design
- Stunning AMOLED display
- Powerful speakers add to immersive gaming experience
- Fast 120W charging
- Pre-installed bloatware
- USB-C does not support video output
- No physical controls on a gaming smartphone
- Available in limited markets
