OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite vs vivo iQOO 12 - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date April 11, 2023 November 14, 2023
Release Year 2023 2023

Physical

Volume 104.4 cm³ 100.33 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.45 "/g 3.42 "/g
Weight 195 g 198.5 g
Height 165.5 mm 163.2 mm
Width 76 mm 75.9 mm
Thickness 8.3 mm 8.1 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Pastel Lime
  • Chromatic Gray
  • Black
  • Red
  • White (BMW M branding)

Display

Screen Size 6.72 " 6.78 "
Resolution 1080 x 2400 1260 x 2800
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 86.7 % 89.6 %
Pixel Density 391 PPI 453 PPI
Refresh Rate 120 Hz 144 Hz
Typical Brightness 550 nits N/A
HBM Brightness N/A 1400 nits
Peak Brightness 680 nits 3000 nits

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 110.72 mAh/in² 108.77 mAh/in²
Battery Density 47.89 mAh/cm³ 49.83 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
GPU Adreno 619 Adreno 750

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0, OTG USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 13 14
Maximum OS Version 16

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureOnePlus Nord CE 3 Litevivo iQOO 12Practical Impact
Design
Dimensions (mm)165.5 x 76 x 8.3163.2 x 75.9 x 8.1iQOO 12 is slightly smaller and thinner. Negligible difference in daily use.
Weight (g)195198.5Virtually identical weight; no noticeable difference in hand.
Display
Display TypeIPS LCDLTPO AMOLEDiQOO 12 offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and potentially better power efficiency due to LTPO.
Display Size (inches)6.726.78iQOO 12 has a slightly larger display, providing marginally more screen real estate.
Resolution1080 x 24001260 x 2800iQOO 12 has a sharper display with higher pixel density (453 ppi vs 391 ppi), resulting in crisper text and images.
Refresh Rate (Hz)120144iQOO 12 offers smoother animations and scrolling with its higher refresh rate, especially noticeable in gaming and fast-paced content.
Peak Brightness (nits)6803000iQOO 12's significantly higher peak brightness ensures excellent outdoor visibility, even in direct sunlight.
HDRNo Dolby Vision, HDR10/10+ unclearHDR10+iQOO 12 supports HDR10+ for enhanced dynamic range in compatible content, leading to a more visually appealing experience.
Performance
ChipsetSnapdragon 695 5G (6nm)Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)iQOO 12 boasts a vastly more powerful processor, enabling significantly faster performance in demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking.
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 7x Cortex-A720/A520)The superior core configuration and clock speeds of the iQOO 12 will provide a noticeable difference in responsiveness and speed.
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 750iQOO 12's GPU is significantly more powerful, resulting in much better gaming performance and smoother graphics rendering.
RAM8GB12/16GBiQOO 12 offers more RAM, allowing for smoother multitasking and keeping more apps open in the background without performance slowdowns.
Camera
Main Camera108MP50MP (OV50H)While Nord has higher resolution, iQOO 12 uses a larger sensor (1/1.3") with larger pixels (1.20 µm) likely capturing more light and detail in various conditions. Practical image quality comparison would require real-world testing.
Video Recording1080p@30fpsUp to 8K@30fpsiQOO 12 offers significantly more advanced video recording capabilities, including higher resolution and frame rates.
Battery
Capacity5000 mAh5000 mAhSimilar battery capacities suggest comparable battery life. However, real-world usage will depend on software optimization and display power consumption.

2. Key Differences Analysis

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Advantages:

  • Potentially More Affordable: Likely priced significantly lower than the iQOO 12.

vivo iQOO 12 Advantages:

  • Significantly More Powerful: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers a substantial performance advantage for demanding tasks and gaming.
  • Superior Display: The LTPO AMOLED display offers higher resolution, refresh rate, brighter peak brightness, and HDR10+ support for a vastly improved visual experience.
  • More Advanced Camera System: While megapixel count is lower on the main sensor, the larger sensor size and additional features like optical zoom and 8K video recording suggest potentially superior image and video quality. More RAM enables smoother multitasking.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: Budget-conscious users who prioritize basic smartphone functionality, casual social media usage, and light gaming.

vivo iQOO 12: Users who demand top-tier performance, a premium display, and advanced camera capabilities. Ideal for mobile gamers, content creators, and power users.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. What is your budget? The Nord CE 3 Lite is expected to be considerably cheaper.
  2. What are your performance needs? For demanding tasks and gaming, the iQOO 12 is significantly better.
  3. How important is display and camera quality? The iQOO 12 offers a noticeably superior visual experience and more advanced camera features.

My Choice: vivo iQOO 12

While the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite might be a good budget option, the vivo iQOO 12 offers a significantly better overall package. Its superior performance, stunning display, and more advanced camera system make it a clear winner for me. The price difference is significant, but the iQOO 12 provides a substantial upgrade in almost every aspect, justifying the higher cost for users who prioritize these features. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 future-proofs the device for longer, and the brighter, sharper display with a higher refresh rate will provide a noticeably better user experience daily.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

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