OnePlus 12 5G vs iQOO 12 5G vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: What’s Different? Which One Would You Pick?

The OnePlus 12 5G has officially dropped in China as the company's first smartphone to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Apart from the Snapdragon chipset, the OnePlus 12 5G also has other standout features that give it the 'flagship' moniker.

However, the OnePlus 12 5G isn't the first flagship to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, with companies like iQOO and Xiaomi also offering Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 smartphones of their own. So we have decided to compare the three Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 smartphones that are making their way to India soon.

OnePlus 12 5G vs Xiaomi 14 Pro vs iQOO 12 5G: Full Specs Compared

Design

All three smartphones feature a premium design with their glass and metal constructions, although the Xiaomi 14 Pro also arrives with a Titanium frame. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, OnePlus 12 5G, and iQOO 12 5G all feature a curved front screen.

While the Xiaomi 14 Pro can survive being submerged in water, the lower IP rating on the OnePlus 12 5G and iQOO 12 5G means that can only withstand splashes. All three smartphones feature a premium build and don't make any concessions on design.

Display

The Xiaomi 14 Pro and iQOO 12 5G feature a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, although OnePlus bumps it up to 4,500 nits. There is no mention of the HBM brightness for the Xiaomi 14 Pro, but the OnePlus 12 5G maxes out at 1,600 nits, while the iQOO 12 5G manages 1,400 nits.

Additionally, the Xiaomi 14 Pro and OnePlus 12 5G also feature a higher 2K resolution than the 1.5K res on the iQOO 12 5G. Moreover, the iQOO 12 5G also features a lower pixel density. The OnePlus 12 5G and Xiaomi 14 Pro also use LTPO screens for an adaptive (1Hz - 120Hz) refresh rate. On the other hand, the iQOO 12 5G features a higher refresh rate.

Performance

In terms of performance, all three devices are pretty evenly matched thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The OnePlus 12 5G's top-end model does come with more RAM at 24GB, although that won't make much of a difference in terms of day-to-day performance as well as gaming.

However, the iQOO 12 5G's dedicated Q1 display chip is touted to offer a boost in fps, which makes it the best out of the three devices for gaming, while the OnePlus 12 features the best haptics thanks to the new vibration motor. Additionally, both the Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G and OnePlus 12 5G feature a USB 3.2 port.

Battery

The OnePlus 12 5G has the largest battery capacity of all three devices, giving it a slight edge over the competition. On the other hand, only the Xiaomi 14 Pro offers fast wireless charging support, which one would expect on a premium smartphone.

Cameras

We have yet to test the cameras on all three devices, so we'll reserve judgment for later. But here are how their camera specifications compare:

The Xiaomi 14 Pro features a 50 MP Hunter 900 sensor with a variable f/1.42 - f/4.0 aperture and OIS support. The main camera is paired with a 50 MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture, autofocus, and a 115-degree FOV and a 50 MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture, autofocus, and a 115-degree FOV. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also has a 32 MP selfie camera.

The OnePlus 12 5G features a 50 MP Sony LYT-808 primary sensor with an f/1.6 aperture and OIS support. The main camera is paired with a 64 MP Omnivision O64B periscope-telephoto shooter with an f/2.6 aperture, 3x optical zoom, and 120x digital zoom. Lastly, there's a 48 MP Sony IMX581 ultrawide sensor. The OnePlus 12 5G opts for a 32 MP selfie camera.

For optics, the iQOO 12 boasts a triple-camera setup with a 50 MP 1/1.3-inch VCS light tracing primary sensor with OIS support. The main camera is paired with a 50 MP ultrawide lens and a 64 MP periscope-telephoto sensor with an f/2.57 aperture, OIS support, and 100x digital zoom. Up front, there's a 16 MP selfie camera with an f/2.45 aperture.

Price

The iQOO 12 5G price in China starts from CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs 46,450) for the 12GB/256GB model. The Xiaomi 14 Pro price in China starts from CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs 56,900) for the base 12GB/256GB variant. Lastly, the OnePlus 12 5G costs CNY 4,299 (roughly Rs 50,700) for the 12GB/256GB version.

OnePlus 12 5G vs iQOO 12 5G vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: Conclusion

The Xiaomi 14 Pro aims to offer a top-tier camera experience without compromising on other aspects of the device including its design, display, battery life, and performance. On paper, it feels like the most premium smartphone on our list.

The iQOO 12 5G offers a more accessible path to the latest flagship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It also makes little concessions, offering a reliable camera setup, vibrant display, and solid battery life. However, it is not quite the finished 'premium' article.

The OnePlus 12 5G offers the perfect balance between "flagship and flagship killer". Its compelling specs perfectly complement its competitive pricing. Apart from a flagship camera setup, massive battery, and excellent performance, the OnePlus 12 5G also features one of the best displays on a smartphone to date.