iQOO 12 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and iQOO 12 Pro are among the best smartphones of the year. The iQOO 12 Pro features a newer chipset and is cheaper. But, which is the better phone, the iQOO 12 Pro or the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
This iQOO 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra specs comparison article will answer the question above and more. In this article, I’ll compare the prices, chipset, performance, and other features of both foldable phones to show you which offers better value for the money and which is better.
See Also: iQOO 12 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro: Which is Better
iQOO 12 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Similarities
| Features | iQOO 12 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Display Design | Curved, Punch Hole | Curved, Punch Hole |
| Display Size | 6.78-inches | 6.8-inches |
| Display Panel | LTPO AMOLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Software | Android | Android |
| Display Features | 144Hz, HDR10+ | 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| microSD Card | NO | NO |
| 3.5mm Jack | NO | NO |
| Wireless Charging | YES | YES |
| Security | Fingerprint | Fingerprint |
| Waterproof | YES – IP68 | YES – IP68 |
Display Size and Features
The iQOO 12 Pro has similar display features as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The iQOO 12 Pro has a 6.78-inch display while the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 6.8-inch display. Another similarity is the display features and panel.
The display panels of the iQOO 12 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra are an LTPO AMOLED panel. This display is a 68B color panel with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. But while the iQOO 12 Pro supports a 144Hz refresh rate, the Galaxy S23 Ultra supports a 120Hz refresh rate.
Both smartphones are also made of similar material. The iQOO 12 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra are made of front glass, back glass, and aluminum frame. They also have a very similar display resolution of QHD+.
See Also: iQOO 12 Pro vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: Which is Better
Software
The software in the iQOO 12 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra is the Android operating system. This means the basic settings on both phones are the same even though the OriginOS and OneUI skin software in both phones are different. Samsung and vivo have promised four years of software updates for the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iQOO 12 Pro.
Security and Wireless Connectivity
The primary security system on both phones is an under-display fingerprint scanner. The iQOO 12 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra security systems include PIN, Pattern, Password, and Face Unlock.
Both phones also support various wireless connectivity features. The iQOO 12 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra are 5G capable, 4G LTE, Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, GPS, and proximity sensors.
See Also: Xiaomi 14 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Which is Better
Other Similarities
Other similarities between the iQOO 12 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra are, USB type-C charging ports, no microSD card slot, no 3.5mm headphone jack port, wireless charging, IP68 dust/water resistance (up to 1.5m for 30 min), Nano-SIM and eSIM, 4K video recording, etc. Now let’s talk about the differences between the iQOO 12 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra.
iQOO 12 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Differences
| Features | iQOO 12 Pro | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 740 |
| Rear Camera | 50 + 64 + 50MP | 200 + 10 + 10 + 12MP |
| Stylus Support | NO | YES (S-PEN in-built) |
| Battery | 5100mAh | 5000mAh |
| Price | $899 | $1,199 |
Front and Back Design
The front and back designs of both phones are different. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a simple rear camera module while the iQOO 12 Pro has a rectangular rear camera module. The screen of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is more curved and its frame on the top and bottom is more flat than those of the iQOO 12 Pro (see photos below).
Another major difference in the design of both phones is that the Galaxy S23 Ultra has an inbuilt S-PEN while the iQOO 12 Pro does not. So, physically looking at both phones you’ll notice the differences in design. The design of both phones is cool but I like that of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
See Also: Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Which is Better
Chipset and Performance
The chipset in the iQOO 12 Pro is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 while that of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Both are 5G capable chipsets that have different processing speeds and are paired with different GPUs and ISPs.
The chipset in the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the predecessor of the chipset in the iQOO 12 Pro. Simply put, the chipset in the iQOO 12 Pro is an upgrade to the chipset in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Thus, it has upgraded processors, ISP, GPU, and AI engine.
According to Qualcomm, the CPU in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the iQOO 12 Pro is about 32% better than that in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. And the GPU is about 34% better than the GPU in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. And from our test thus far, the iQOO 12 Pro has better performance than the Galaxy 23 Ultra.
See Also: Xiaomi 13 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: which is the better ULTRA Phone
Camera: Photography and Videography
The camera system is another area where both phones are different. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 200MP primary camera while the iQOO 12 Pro has a 50MP primary camera.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has two telephoto cameras. It has a 230mm 5x zoom 10MP telephoto camera and a 70mm 3x zoom 10MP telephoto camera which are better than the 70mm 64MP telephoto camera in the iQOO 12 Pro.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra also has a 120˚ 12MP ultra-wide camera which takes photos of a wider area than the 119˚ 50MP ultra-wide camera of the iQOO 12 Pro. The iQOO 12 Pro has a 16MP front camera while the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 10MP front camera. The front and back cameras of both phones can record 4k videos.
The photos and videos from the iQOO 12 Pro are fantastic with good depth of field and clarity. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes better photos and videos with more details and better HDR quality. The Galaxy S23 Ultra also has better telephoto cameras.
See Also: OPPO Find X6 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Which is better
Battery and Charging
The iQOO 12 Pro has a 5100mAh battery while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 5000mAh battery. The iQOO 12 Pro supports 120W wired, 50W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging while the Galaxy S23 Ultra supports 45W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
The batteries in the iQOO 12 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra can last you for more than 9 hours of intensive use. If you’re a light user, both phones can give you more than 24 hours of battery use.
See Also: OnePlus Open vs vivo X Fold 2: Which is Better
iQOO 12 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Price
The price of the iQOO 12 Pro (256GB) is $899 while the price of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (256GB) is $1,199. The Galaxy S23 Ultra costs about $300 more than the iQOO 12 Pro. Details of how to buy either phone are available in the table below.
Buy iQOO 12 Pro
| iQOO 12 Pro | Price | Storage |
| Buy on Giztop | $899 | 256GB |
Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | Price | Storage |
| Buy on Amazon | $1,199.99 | 256GB |
| Buy on Amazon(EUR) | €1,399.00 | 256GB |
| Buy on Amazon(UK) | £1,249.99 | 256GB |
iQOO 12 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra: Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is better than the iQOO 12 Pro. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is more productive with its S-PEN, has a better camera system, and a nice battery life. However, the iQOO 12 Pro is cheaper, has better performance, and has faster wired and wireless charging.
I’ll recommend you buy the iQOO 12 Pro because you save at least $200 and get the same value. But, if you need an S-PEN, then you should spend the extra money and buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
