Flagship smartphones are the pinnacle of technological innovation and design in the mobile industry. They boast cutting-edge features and superior performance. Samsung and OnePlus are among the top players in this highly competitive market. These brands known for providing premium handsets that push the limits of what a smartphone can do. Samsung’s S series and the numbered series from OnePlus are one of the major players when it comes to flagshio release. These devices are consistently setting benchmarks for innovation and performance.
However, a new rival arose, offering a different perspective on the flagship landscape. iQOO, with the release of its iQOO 12, has swiftly established itself as a formidable player. The iQOO 12 is the first phone in India to include the powerful Snapdragon Gen 3 processor. iQOO is quickly becoming known with pushing boundaries and breaking existing norms, bringing a unique perspective to the flagship smartphone market. As these companies continue to vie for dominance, we users get a chance to witness a fierce competition between these flagship rivals. This year is also shaping up to be exciting as these brands are already showcasing their contenders for “The Best Flagship Smartphone” race.
iQOO 12 vs OnePlus 12 vs Samsung S24 Ultra: Best Flagship?
As the competition intensifies, the stage is set for a showdown between the iQOO 12, OnePlus 12, and Samsung S24 Ultra. With these smartphones, brands like Samsung OnePlus and iQOO is competing to become the best flagship release for this year. All three devices boast the formidable Snapdragon 8 Gen3 processor, positioning them as powerhouses on paper. Not only Snapdragon Gen 3, all these devices have almost the exact same specs. The race for “The Best Flagship Smartphone” promises an exciting journey for users. Therefore, let’s dive deep and explore the difference between them to find the Best Flagship smartphone of 2024?
Best Display: OnePlus 12
The Samsung S24 Ultra boasts a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and an impressive peak brightness of 2600 nits. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 12 excels in its display technology, featuring LTPO AMOLED with 1 billion colors, a 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and an outstanding peak brightness of 4500 nits. On the other hand, the iQOO 12 takes a different approach with a LTPO AMOLED display offering 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 3000 nits. OnePlus and Samsung boasts the same refresh rates and iQOO 12 leads the pack with higher refresh rate upto 144Hz.
However, OnePlus leans towards an exceptional visual experience with 1440 x 3168 pixels display resolution. Samsung stood second with 1440 x 3120 pixels. Having higher refresh rates are great. For many users, the difference between a 60Hz and a 120Hz refresh rate on a smartphone display is quite noticeable, especially when it comes to smoother scrolling and animations. However, the perceptible improvement may become less apparent as you move beyond 120Hz. Some users claim to notice a smoother experience with higher refresh rates, such as 144Hz or 240Hz, while others may find it challenging to distinguish between them. Therefore, OnePlus wins here with the best display, color reproduction, and with on point refresh rates.
Best Camera Configuration (Rear): Samsung S23 Ultra
Samsung S23 Ultra has Quad camera setup with a massive 200 MP wide sensor, 50 MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom, 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and 12 MP ultrawide. One the other hand, OnePlus 12 comes with a Triple camera setup with a 50 MP wide sensor, 64 MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and 48 MP ultrawide. Similarly, iQOO 12 has a Triple camera setup with a 50 MP wide sensor, 64 MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and 50 MP ultrawide.
The Samsung S23 Ultra clearly stands out with its impressive 200 MP main sensor, versatile zoom capabilities, and advanced features like Super Steady video. The OnePlus 12 follows closely with a strong triple-camera setup, high megapixel count, and competitive video capabilities.
Best Camera Configuration (Front): OnePlus 12
In terms of resolution, the OnePlus 12 has the highest megapixel count for its front camera, with 32 MP. The iQOO 12 follows with a 16 MP front camera, and the Samsung S23 Ultra has a 12 MP front camera. Features such as Auto-HDR and panorama are present in the front cameras of both the OnePlus 12 and iQOO and Samsung S23 Ultra.
For video capabilities, the OnePlus 12 supports 4K@30fps and 1080p@30fps with gyro-EIS, providing higher video resolution compared to the 1080p@30fps on the iQOO 12. The Samsung S23 Ultra matches the OnePlus 12 with 4K@30fps and 1080p@30fps for its front camera. By all means, OnePlus 12 leads the pack with amazing front camera configurations.
Best in Pocket: iQOO 12
If a slim and lightweight profile is your priority, the iQOO 12 seems to be the most pocket-friendly option. It has relatively smaller dimensions and a lighter weight compared to the Samsung S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12. The phone weighs around 203 Grams, which is lighter than Samsung S24 Ultra’s 232 Grams and OnePlus 12’s 220 Grams.
Best in Charging/Battery: OnePlus 12
If you prioritize fast wired charging, the OnePlus 12 stands out with an impressive 100W charging capability, promising to charge from 1% to 100% in just 26 minutes. Additionally, its 50W wireless charging is among the fastest in the market. The battery is also quite good. It boasts around 5000 mAh battery which is just 500mAh less than iQOO12.
On the other hand, if you prioritize overall battery life and still want fast charging, the iQOO 12 offers a substantial 5000 mAh battery along with incredibly fast 120W wired charging. The Samsung S23 Ultra, while having a slightly smaller battery capacity, still provides a balanced offering with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. However, the only drawback with iQOO 12 is that it does not supports wireless charging functionality. Overall, OnePlus brings out a versatile battery and charging setup on to the table. There OnePlus wins.
Best Affordable Flagship: iQOO 12
iQOO 12 leads the pack when it comes to affordability. It is priced competitively at ₹ 52,999 / $ 606.20 for its base model. Samsung S24 Ultra is the costliest among these flagship with a staggering price tag of ₹ 139,999 / $ 1,299.99 / £ 1,249.00 / € 1,449.00. The price of OnePlus 12 is not yet revealed officially. However, it is expected to launch between 1000 $ -1100 $.
Verdict:
In this flagship showdown, each smartphone excels in specific aspects, making it challenging to declare an outright winner. The OnePlus 12 stands out with its exceptional display featuring 1440 x 3168 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, offering a visually stunning experience. Samsung’s S23 Ultra takes the lead in the camera department with its impressive 200 MP main sensor and versatile zoom capabilities. For pocket-friendly design, the iQOO 12 emerges as the winner, being compact and lightweight. In terms of charging and battery, the OnePlus 12 takes the crown with its remarkable 100W wired charging and robust battery capacity. However, the iQOO 12, with its affordability and competitive features, becomes the top choice for users seeking flagship performance without breaking the bank. At the end of the day, it all comes to how much you are willing to pay.
For me, iQOO seems like a great choice, if you are willing to sacrifice software experience. If not, pay extra buck and get OnePlus 12.