iQOO 12 Pro vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: Which is the best Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Smartphone?

The iQOO 12 series has officially been unveiled in China. The line-up includes the iQOO 12 and iQOO 12 Pro. The two devices arrive with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.

However, the iQOO 12 and iQOO 12 Pro aren't the only ones to use Qualcomm's latest flagship chipset, with the other ones being the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro. In our latest comparison, we'll compare the Xiaomi 14 Pro with the top-end iQOO 12 Pro.

iQOO 12 Pro vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: Full Specs Compared

Design and Colors

The iQOO 12 Pro arrives in three color options - Burning Way (Red), Track Version (Black), and Legend Edition (White). The white model of the iQOO 12 boasts a Porcelain enamel textured glass design, while the black model uses a Fluorite AG glass back and the red variant opts for a leather finish.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro arrives in Black, White, and Rock Green color options. The phone features glass protection on both the front and back. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also comes in a Titanium Special Edition.

While both the iQOO 12 Pro and Xiaomi 14 Pro feature metal frames, the Titanium Editon boasts a titanium frame in the middle. Both phones also feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The last discernable difference is that the iQOO 12 Pro features a curved AMOLED front panel with rounded edges, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro boasts a box-shaped design with a flatter frame.

Display

The iQOO 12 Pro features an E7 AMOLED display, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro opts for an LTPO OLED screen. The iQOO 12 Pro has a slight advantage in terms of refresh rate and but the difference between 120Hz and 144Hz is negligible. Xiaomi's screen also supports Dolby Vision. In terms of screen prowess, Xiaomi has a slight advantage.

Performance

On paper, both phones are evenly matched on the performance front with the addition of improved cooling and a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. However, the iQOO 12 Pro features a dedicated Q1 e-sports chip to offer better frame rates in games.

The iQOO 12 Pro also managed a higher overall AnTuTu score than the Xiaomi 14 Pro. So while the difference between the two phones is miniscule at best, iQOO still comes on top in terms of raw performance.

Cameras

Without testing out the cameras, it is difficult to tell who comes out on top in the battle of the cameras. However, we'll give this round to Xiaomi for camera specifications on-paper. Additionally, Xiaomi's partnership with Leica also gives it a distinct photography advantage.

But the iQOO 12 Pro is no slouch with a formidable camera setup, worthy of a flagship. Nevertheless, based on opinion alone and past experiences, we'd have to give this round to Xiaomi.

Battery & Charging

The iQOO 12 Pro features a slightly larger battery than the Xiaomi 14 Pro, although the difference here is negligible. On the flip side, LTPO technology used in the Xiaomi 14 Pro's display should help it deliver better battery life. Moreover, the iQOO12 Pro also comes with a secondary chip, consuming more power.

Xiaomi 14 Pro vs iQOO 12 Pro: Conclusion

Judging by the specifications and features of the two devices, it is hard to call a winner, but the Xiaomi 14 Pro tends to stand out. The Xiaomi 14 Pro offers the traditional flagship experience, while the iQOO 12 Pro is a more performance-oriented flagship.

It is also worth noting that only the iQOO 12 5G is launching in India and not the 'Pro' model. On the other hand, Xiaomi traditionally launches its 'Pro' flagships in the country, so we're likely to see the Xiaomi 14 Pro debut in India in the first quarter of 2024.