Vivo iQOO 12 Pro review
The iQOO 12 Pro suits someone who values speed, especially fast charging, and lives in an iQOO-supported market. Anyone prioritizing battery endurance, camera refinement, or software polish should look at Samsung or OnePlus at this price instead."
This review is based on Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo iQOO 12 Pro, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The iQOO 12 Pro is a fast, well-rounded flagship from late 2023 that charges in under 30 minutes and shoots solid photos across three lenses, but it lands at a price where rivals now offer more camera polish and longer battery life for less.
Design & build
At 205–210g and 8.8mm thick, the iQOO 12 Pro sits in the hefty end of flagship territory. The weight is noticeable in one hand and makes it less comfortable for extended gaming sessions than lighter rivals. IP68 rating handles submersion to 1.5m for 30 minutes, which is solid, though the build materials (typical Gorilla Glass and metal frame) offer no particular advantage over competitors at the same price. The narrow bezels and 89.4% screen-to-body ratio do give it a modern look, but so do dozens of other flagships in 2023.
Display
The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED screen is genuinely sharp at 518 ppi, and the 144Hz refresh is smooth for scrolling and gaming. The real story is brightness: 1600 nits (HBM) for typical content and 3000 nits peak sound impressive on paper, but in practice 1600 nits is already excessive for outdoor readability, and the extra 400 nits overhead does not translate to a tangible day-to-day gain. A 120Hz display would handle the same workload at lower power draw, and most rivals have already accepted that trade-off. HDR10+ support is standard in this class.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was the flagship silicon in late 2023, and it proves the claim in real use. Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile run at high settings around 60fps, and app switching is instantaneous. The 16GB RAM ensures no throttling even with heavy background tasks. This is the one area where the iQOO 12 Pro has no real weakness. Expect flagship-class performance to carry through at least another two years of Android updates (the phone commits to two major OS bumps).
Camera
The setup is ambitious: a 50MP f/1.7 main sensor (1/1.3 inch, with OIS), a 64MP periscope zoom at 70mm (3x optical, f/2.6), and a 50MP ultrawide at 119 degrees. In good light, the main lens captures crisp detail thanks to the large sensor and f/1.7 aperture. Low-light shots hold their own against flagship rivals. The 3x zoom periscope works, but the 1/2.0-inch sensor size means you lose detail versus the 1/1.3-inch mains on competitors, and there is no 10x telephoto like Samsung and Apple offer at similar prices. The ultrawide is the weakest link: at 50MP it should deliver detail, but processing edges and textures lag rivals. Video maxes out at 8K@30fps, which is a checkbox feature few actually use. The color spectrum sensor is a nice addition but does not translate to noticeably better color accuracy in everyday photos.
Battery & charging
The 5100mAh battery is the budget floor for a flagship in 2026. On moderate daily use (messaging, social media, some video), expect to limp through to evening; heavy gaming or streaming video depletes it by afternoon. Competitors in the 650 EUR range routinely hit 5500mAh or beyond, which is a meaningful difference over a full day. The standout is 120W charging: from 0 to 100 takes about 25 minutes, and real-world top-ups from 20 to 80 percent happen in roughly 15 minutes. That convenience matters if you charge in bursts, but it does not compensate for having to charge more often. Wireless charging at 50W is also available, which is solid, and the 10W reverse wireless for accessories is a nice touch that most flagships omit.
Software
The phone ships with Android 14 running Funtouch 14 (international version) or OriginOS 4 (China). Funtouch is Vivo's overlay and includes bloat (app recommendations, push ads in default apps) that other flagships have largely eliminated. Two guaranteed major Android upgrades means support through 2025 at best, which is shorter than Samsung's four-year commitment. The OS itself is responsive, but the software experience does not feel thoughtfully curated compared to Samsung's One UI or Google's Pixel OS.
Value & verdict
At 650 EUR, the iQOO 12 Pro occupies an awkward middle ground. It has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 120W charging down, but the 5100mAh battery is smaller than most rivals, the camera system is capable but not exceptional, and software feels less refined. In late 2023, this price tag represented a good balance; in 2026, the market has moved on. Rivals now bundle longer battery life, faster (or equally fast) chips, and cleaner software at the same cost. The iQOO 12 Pro justifies itself only if you value the fast charging above all else or live in a region where iQOO's performance is proven and warranty support is accessible.
Verdict
The iQOO 12 Pro suits someone who values speed, especially fast charging, and lives in an iQOO-supported market. Anyone prioritizing battery endurance, camera refinement, or software polish should look at Samsung or OnePlus at this price instead."
- 120W wired charging reaches full battery in about 20–30 minutes from empty, genuinely practical for top-up sessions
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 16GB RAM handles modern games at high settings and heavy multitasking without lag
- 50MP f/1.7 main sensor with OIS and 3x optical zoom periscope deliver solid low-light shots and lossless zoom reach
- 5100mAh battery drains to evening on moderate use and afternoon on heavy gaming; rivals at 650 EUR often exceed 5500mAh
- Display peak brightness of 3000 nits is overkill in practice; scrolling benefits little from 144Hz versus the 120Hz rivals offer at lower power cost
- Camera HDR processing lags behind flagships from Samsung and iPhone, and the 50MP ultrawide loses detail compared to dedicated 48MP rivals
Vivo iQOO 12 Pro Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, November 07 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio), LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, ulti-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Battery | 5100 mAh |
| Charging | 120W wired50W wireless10W reverse wireless |
| Software | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 14 (International), OriginOS 4 (China) |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm or 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 205 g or 210 g (7.23 oz) |
| Durability | IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo iQOO 12 Pro FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the iQOO 12 Pro support 5G?
Yes. The iQOO 12 Pro supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the iQOO 12 Pro use?
The iQOO 12 Pro runs on the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm).
What display does the iQOO 12 Pro have?
A 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio) LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak), 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density).
How big is the iQOO 12 Pro battery?
The iQOO 12 Pro has a 5100 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 120W wired50W wireless10W reverse wireless.
Does the iQOO 12 Pro have NFC?
Yes, the iQOO 12 Pro has NFC.
Is the iQOO 12 Pro water resistant?
The iQOO 12 Pro carries a IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) rating.
Does the iQOO 12 Pro support a microSD card?
No, the iQOO 12 Pro does not support expandable storage.
Does the iQOO 12 Pro have a headphone jack?
No, the iQOO 12 Pro does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the iQOO 12 Pro isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
iQOO 12
iQOO Neo9S Pro+
iQOO Neo9 Pro
iQOO Neo8 Pro
Galaxy S23 Ultra
