IQOO’s new mid-range phone puts last year’s flagships to shame

The IQOO Neo 12 is a mid-range smartphone that boasts premium-level specifications typically found in flagship devices. This surprising innovation comes from a company like IQOO, which often delivers specs that seem out of place on budget-friendly phones. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a top-tier processor also found in the $1300 Galaxy S26 Ultra. This is further enhanced by a custom 59-blade active cooling fan and a "3D Ice Dome" vapor chamber.

The front of the device features a massive 6.83-inch 185Hz AMOLED panel with 2K resolution, a peak brightness of 2,200-nits, and advanced eye comfort features such as DC dimming and 2,160Hz PWM dimming. Designed for gamers, the phone also includes a custom display chip for 16-level touch responsiveness and a "super-sensitive gyro" for precise aiming in games.

Despite its powerful cooling system, the IQOO Neo 12 still boasts an IP69 rating, making it resistant to water and dust damage. It houses a massive 9,000mAh battery that supports 100W wired charging. For security, the device features an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, an IR sensor, and stereo speakers. The camera setup includes a 50MP Sony IMX921 main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 16MP selfie camera.

Color options available are Contender, Frost Blade Blue, and Shadow Black. The IQOO Neo 12 is currently available in China and is set to be released globally, with no official release date announced yet.