iQOO 12 5G review — Brutally honest verdict (2025)

This iQOO 12 5G review is designed to cut off marketing noise and give you an honest, unbiased opinion. Our iQOO 12 5G review is based on three weeks of intensive use as the primary device. We tested everything from the smooth interface to survival in a long game session and camera capabilities in a variety of scenarios. If you are tired of overpriced flagships and looking for a device that puts performance first, this iQOO 12 5G review is for you. We promised a «ruthless» truth, and we will deliver it by highlighting not only the strengths but also all the weaknesses of this device. So, let’s start our comprehensive iQOO 12 5G.

iQOO 12 5G review — specs & design

Before we dive into subjective sensations, let’s explore the dry facts. iQOO 12 5G specs sheet reads like an enthusiast’s dream. It is based on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which represents not just an evolutionary upgrade, but a significant leap in performance and energy efficiency, especially in the field of artificial intelligence and graphics. This chipset in our iQOO 12 5G review has been upgraded with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB of ultra-fast UFS 4.0 flash memory.

This combination provides instant launch of applications, smooth multitasking without the slightest glitches and almost zero boot time in heavy games. From a design point of view, iQOO 12 has taken a bold step, completely abandoning the old aggressive «gamer» style. The result, as shown by our iQOO 12 5G , was controversial but memorable. The iQOO, which is called «Kepler Shape», dominates the back panel.

It has rounded edges and a textured finish that plays with the light in an interesting way. This is definitely the design that you will either love or hate, but it is guaranteed to stand out in the splash. As part of our iQOO 12 5G review, we tested the white version «Legend» with the characteristic BMW M Motorsport stripe in tricolour colors, as well as the black matte model. Both collect the minimum number of fingerprints, which is a big plus.

QOO 12 5G review — vs OnePlus 12 (quick comparison table)

Review iQOO 12 5G – design quality and ergonomics

Build quality is one of the areas where iQOO 12 5G review does not reveal serious shortcomings. The device feels solid and expensive in the hand. The aluminum frame has flat edges, which gives it a modern, almost Iphone-like» look. However, this is where our iQOO 12 5G review comes up against the first compromise in terms of ergonomics.

These flat faces, although they look stylish, can be inserted into the palm of the hand if used for a long time. For everyday tasks this is not a problem, but during intensive gaming sessions lasting more than an hour it can become a noticeable inconvenience. The weight is well distributed, the phone does not feel overly heavy, but its dimensions and flat sides make it less convenient for one-handed use than some competitors with rounded frames.

The rear glass has a barely perceptible bend on the edges, where it meets the frame, which softens the sensation. Overall, our iQOO 12 5G review confirms that the build quality is top-notch, but the ergonomics are sacrificed to the design. This is an important conclusion of our iQOO 12 5G review.

iQOO 12 5G – Display (LTPO, 120/144 Hz)

Display is something you interact with all the time, and here iQOO 12 shines. This 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED Flat Display is one of the best on the market. In our iQOO 12 5G review we assessed its incredible maximum brightness, which exceeds 3000 nits. This means that readability in direct sunlight is absolutely no problem.

LTPO O-Shin technology is really smart; it smoothly adapts the refresh rate from 1 Hz when you read a static page, to 120 Hz for scrolling tape in social networks, allowing you to save battery power without sacrificing smoothness. But the real highlight for gamers, as shown by our iQOO 12 5G review, is the hidden mode 144 Hz. It activates automatically in supported games, providing the same frame stability that we will test in detail later in this iQOO 12 5G review.

Color transmission is vivid and rich, but for the connoisseurs in the settings there is an opportunity to switch to professional color modes with precise calibration. A resolution of 1.5K (2800 x 1260 pixels) is the golden middle ground between Full HD and 4K, offering incredible sharpness without the same high energy consumption as higher resolution displays. Watching HDR content on YouTube and Netflix is a real pleasure, with deep black and bright, juicy colors. This was one of the most positive aspects of our iQOO 12 5G review.

iQOO 12 5G review — performance & gaming

If the display is the face of the phone, then performance is his soul. And this is where iQOO 12 asserts its position. Our iQOO 12 5G review categorically states: it is an absolute beast. The combination of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and aggressive performance tuning from iQOO, a brand born for games, creates something special. Any review, whether it’s our iQOO 12 5G review or colleagues, should emphasize its gaming qualities.

Fluidity of animations, speed of applications opening and instant switching between them – all at the level of reference. In everyday use you simply do not load this phone enough to feel even the slightest deceleration. Multitasking with dozens of applications in the background is no problem for 16 GB RAM. There is almost no background activity. This is the key conclusion of this section of our iQOO 12 5G review.

iQOO 12 5G review — Snapdragon/thermal & stability

Performance is not only peak power, but also its stability. It is here that the cooling system iQOO 12, which they call «Superpane 6K», comes into play. As part of our iQOO 12 5G review, we conducted a stress test: 45 minutes of continuous play in Genshin Impact with maximum graphics settings and 60 frames per second. The results were impressive. In the first 20 minutes the phone worked flawlessly. By the 30th minute, the inevitable heating began, but it never became uncomfortably hot, remaining just «very warm».

More importantly, the frame rate remained incredibly stable, with rare and minor leaks. For comparison, many other flagships in the similar test of our iQOO 12 5G review started shaking already after 15-20 minutes, noticeably reducing performance to cool down. The iQOO 12 demonstrates outstanding thermal stability, which confirms its status as a gaming champion. It’s not just a phone that can run a game quickly; it’s a device that supports this high performance. This is the central theme of our iQOO 12 5G review.

iQOO 12 5G — AnTuTu/GFXBench highlights

The figures from our iQOO 12 5G review speak for themselves. After three consecutive runs to account for the heat, iQOO 12 5G AnTuTu score was consistently above 2.1 million points. This is not just a large number; it places the device among the fastest Android smartphones on the market. In the GFXBench (Aztec Ruins, Manhattan) graphic tests the results were equally impressive, demonstrating the huge GPU Adreno power available to gamers.

It is important to note that the difference between the first and third runs was minimal, which again proves the effectiveness of the cooling system. These synthetic tests, conducted as part of our iQOO 12 5G review, are a theoretical confirmation of those real gaming experiences that we described. Our iQOO 12 5G review shows that this performance is not a myth, but reality.

iQOO 12 5G — camera test (day/night/video)

iQOO made a huge leap in the field of cameras. They gave up the useless 2-megapixel macro module and presented a complete triple camera, each of which has high resolution and specific purpose. Our iQOO 12 5G camera test was conducted in a variety of environments, from bright sunlight to difficult night scenes. The general verdict of our iQOO 12 5G review: it’s a very, very capable system that can compete with recognized leaders, but with some caveats.

The OmniVision OV50H main 50-megapixel sensor camera captures detailed, vivid images with excellent dynamic range in daylight. The colors have a pleasant saturation, without going into caricature, as it sometimes happens in other brands. Autofocus fast and precise. Telephoto, however, is the real star of the show in our iQOO 12 5G review.

iQOO 12 5G — main/telephoto/ultrawide samples

Main camera: The images are clear, with accurate colors and good contrast. HDR works effectively, balancing bright sky and dark shadows. In the context of our iQOO 12 5G review, it proved to be reliable and predictable. Telephoto (3x optical periscope): This is the main advantage in our iQOO 12 5G review. The 64-megapixel optical stabilization (OIS) sensor allows for stunning portraits with natural background blur and provides incredibly detailed images even at 10x hybrid zoom.

The quality at 10x significantly exceeds what many competitors offer without a high-quality telephoto lens. Ultracyric 50 MP: This is a reliable module with minimal variance around the edges. It is great for landscapes and group photos in the room where it allows you to capture more scene. The loss of detail compared to the main camera is noticeable, but not criticized. Our iQOO 12 5G review has shown that it is one of the best ultra-wide angle cameras on the market.

iQOO 12 5G — stabilization & HDR

Video stabilization, especially in 4K at 60 frames per second is outstanding. Electronic stabilization (EIS) works perfectly with the OIS, creating incredibly smooth images even when walking. This makes iQOO 12 a great tool for creating dynamic content for social networks. HDR processing in video is fast and generally effective, although it can sometimes slightly change shadows in an attempt to make the image more «clean»

In difficult low-light conditions, performance is good but not top of the class, as we found out in our iQOO 12 5G review. Pictures are taken with decent detail, but sometimes the algorithms for noise suppression can be too aggressive, smoothing out the texture. However, for a device with such a strong gaming bias, the camera capabilities tested in this iQOO 12 5G review are impressive.

iQOO 12 5G — battery life & charging speed

The 5000 mAh battery ensures reliable operation throughout the day. During our iQOO 12 5G battery life test, we achieved 6 to 7 hours of mixed-use screen time, which included browsing web pages, social networks, one hour of games and constant use of WhatsApp and email. This is a very decent result, especially given the powerful chipset and display with high refresh rate. Our iQOO 12 5G review shows that you will safely spend a full day, even tense, and sleep with 20-30% of charge. This was a consistent result of our iQOO 12 5G review.

iQOO 12 5G — screen-on time & cycles

During intensive gaming-oriented use, when the display runs at 144 Hz and the processor at maximum, iQOO 12 5G battery life is naturally reduced. Expect about 4.5-5 hours of screen time. For moderate users who mostly communicate, watch the feed and sometimes watch the video, it is easy to reach a day and a half. Charging cycles are usually not a problem for modern lithium polymer batteries, but the charging speed is so high that you simply don’t think about leaving your phone plugged in at night. This is the practical conclusion of our iQOO 12 5G review.

QOO 12 5G — charger in the box?

Yes, and this is a huge plus in our iQOO 12 5G review. It comes with a powerful 120 W charging unit. Our iQOO 12 5G charging speed test showed stunning results: from 0 to 100% in about 25 minutes. This changes the rules of the game. You do not need to plan a charging time; 15 minutes in the socket will give you charge for most of the day.

This is one of the most powerful features of the device, as shown by our iQOO 12 5G review. You can quickly charge it while taking a shower or breakfast, and go on business with almost full battery. Our iQOO 12 5G review emphasizes that this is a real advantage in everyday life.

iQOO 12 5G — software & updates (Funtouch OS)

And here we approach the biggest compromise revealed in our iQOO 12 5G review. Hardware is a dream, but software… can be a nightmare for purists. The phone runs on Funtouch OS 14 over Android 14. It is full of features, many of which are really useful for gamers, such as the game mode with a lot of settings. However, as you would expect from our iQOO 12 5G review, there is annoying bloatware here – pre-installed applications that you will probably never use.

Some of them can be removed, but not all. A more serious problem noted in our iQOO 12 5G review is the sometimes unstable operation and notification delays from some applications due to aggressive power consumption management. The manufacturer promises 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates, which is the standard for flags but not a leader.

iQOO 12 5G — bloat, features, privacy

You can spend time disabling unnecessary services through configuration and ADB, but the average user should not do this. Features such as split screen, floating windows and extended gestures are present and work well. But the general feeling of the software in our iQOO 12 5G review is «workhorse» and not «stallion». It’s functional, but lacks the polish and elegance of stock Android or OxygenOS. This is the biggest drawback we should note in this iQOO 12 5G review. Enthusiasts will appreciate the gaming features, but purists will find this experience overloaded. This is the key point of our iQOO 12 5G review.

iQOO 12 5G — price & versions

iQOO 12 5G price is his main strategic weapon. It is significantly cheaper than direct competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy S24+ or even the Google Pixel 8 Pro, while offering comparable and in some respects superior performance. It is available in two configurations: 12 GB RAM/ 256 GB ROM and 16 GB RAM/ 512 GB ROM. Our iQOO 12 5G review looks at which one offers the best value.

iQOO 12 5G — RAM/Storage picks & where to save

For the vast majority of users, including avid gamers, a 12 GB RAM and 256 GB CD version will be more than enough. 12GB of RAM is sufficient for any task throughout the life of the phone. The 16 GB RAM/ 512 GB CD version should only be considered by hardcore gamers who want maximum performance in the future, and those who are actively shooting 4K video and need additional storage space. In terms of cost, the 12/256 GB option is the wisest choice. This is the final recommendation on versions in our iQOO 12 5G review.

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