iQOO 12 has been launched in India. The iQOO 12 is the first smartphone in India to come with Qualcomm’s latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It succeeds the iQOO 11, announced in India this year and is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The newly launched iQOO 12 looks like a solid option with high-end specifications on paper, but for those looking for alternatives, here are some of the best to consider.
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Best Alternatives To The iQOO 12 5G
It is important to note that iQOO 12 5G is the first smartphone with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC in India, so those looking for alternatives solely based on the latest processor won’t be in luck till next year in January, which is when OnePlus 12 is set to make its debut in the market. It ships with the same SoC.
Then there’s also the Xiaomi 14, though an exact launch date for India is unclear at this point. There’s also the Vivo X100 series smartphones, which are powered by a comparable MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC. Here’s a look at the alternatives to iQOO 12 5G.
iQOO 11 5G
The iQOO 11 5G is arguably one of the best alternatives for those looking for a comparable device from the same brand. In addition, the smartphone is available at a discount of up to Rs 10,000 ahead of the iQOO 12 5G’s launch in India, which makes it one of the most affordable flagship options.
The smartphone was launched in India in January 2023, and it ships with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is the predecessor to the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The iQOO 11 5G also features a BMW Motorsport-inspired variant, just like the iQOO 12 5G.
Among the key features of iQOO 11 5G are a 6.78-inch 2K E6 AMOLED display, a 50MP triple rear camera setup with support for 4K Super Night recording and OIS (optical image stabilisation), a 5,000mAh battery with 120W FlashCharge fast charging support, and more.
The iQOO 11 5G was launched at a starting price of Rs 59,999 for the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The 16GB RAM and 256GB storage variant was announced at Rs 64,999.
However, the base variant can be bought for as low as Rs 49,999, thanks to deals. The higher-end model can be bought for Rs 51,999 with a discount of Rs 13,000.
Availability
The iQOO 11 5G can be bought via Amazon India as well as iQOO India online store.
OnePlus 11 5G
OnePlus 11 5G is another great alternative when it comes to flagship smartphones. Given that OnePlus is also gearing up to launch its new flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 12 5G in India in January, the OnePlus 11 5G can be bought at discounted prices.
OnePlus 11 5G, at a starting price of Rs 56,999, will be a tough flagship to beat this year. It offers excellent performa...
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OnePlus 11 5G gives a top-tier performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The phone comes with a promised four years of Android updates. It features a 6.7-inch 2K Super Fluid AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. OnePlus 11 5G is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 100W fast charging. Notably, it lacks wireless charging support, which shouldn’t be a huge deal-breaker.
OnePlus 11 5G has three cameras at the back, where the primary lens is a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor, coupled with a 48MP ultra-wide secondary camera and a third 32MP Sony IMX709 sensor with tele lens. The front camera is a 16MP. Read our full review of OnePlus 11 5G here to know more about how it performs when it comes to daily usage.
Price In India
OnePlus 11 5G with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage was launched at Rs 56,999. The variant with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage was available at Rs 61,999.
OnePlus has announced its Community Sale 2023as part of the OnePlus 10th Anniversary celebration in India, during which many of its products will be available at discounted prices. This includes the OnePlus 11 5G smartphone, which can be bought at Rs 49,999 (8GB RAM+128GB storage). The sale will go on till December 17.
Availability
The OnePlus 11 5G is available through Amazon, OnePlus’ online store as well as partner stores across the country.
Nothing Phone (2)
Image for representation
Nothing Phone (2) is an interesting option, considering its transparent back design, and a unique Glyph interface. The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and offers excellent performance in both heavy and non-heavy usage. We observed in our review that the unique Glyph interface gives users new and interesting ways to interact with their phones.
Nothing's yearly refresh, the Nothing Phone (2), is here with a ton of hype, but should you buy it at its Rs 44,999 price...
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Nothing Phone (2) sports a 6.7-inch full-HD (1,080×2,412 pixels) LTPO OLED display with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It has a dual rear camera setup with a 50MP primary Sony IMX890 sensor and a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera. The front camera is 32MP on the Phone (2). It packs a 4,700mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 5W Qi wireless charging support. Read our full review of Nothing Phone (2) here.
Price In India
Nothing Phone (2) with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage was launched in India at Rs 44,999. The top-end model with 12GB RAM and 512B storage was announced at Rs 54,999. Both models can be bought at a much lower price ranging from Rs 41,999 to Rs 45,999 during Flipkart’s Big Year End sale.
Availability
Nothing Phone (2) is available in India via Flipkart and select retail outlets.
OnePlus 12 5G
Those willing to wait can go for OnePlus’ latest OnePlus 12 5G flagship. The smartphone has already launched in China and is confirmed its way into the international market, including India on January 23.
While we do not consider OnePlus devices a flagship killer anymore - considering they are priced in the premium territo...
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It boasts a DisplayMate A+ certified 6.82-inch AMOLED panel with a 2K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, up to 4,500 nits of brightness, and 2,160Hz PWM Dimming.
The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and runs the latest Android 14-based ColorOS 14 out of the box. In terms of camera, OnePlus 12 5G features triple rear cameras. The setup comprises a 50MP Sony LYT-808 primary camera, a 48MP Sony IMX581 ultrawide snapper, and a 64MP periscope zoom module. On the front, there is a 32MP shooter.
In China, OnePlus 12 5G comes in multiple storage configurations. The Indian pricing could vary slightly and OnePlus may decide to bring only a few storage variants to India.
The one with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is priced at CNY 4299, which is around Rs 50,600 on conversion. The 16GB RAM and 512GB storage option will cost CNY 4799 (approx. Rs 56,500), while the 16GB+1TB storage variant is priced at CNY 5299 (approx Rs 62,400) in China. The top-end 24GB RAM and 1TB storage model is priced at CNY 5799, which is around Rs 68,000 on conversion.
Availability
OnePlus 12 5G is said to launch on January 23, 2024, in India. It is expected to go on sale in India via Amazon as well as the company’s own online and offline stores as well as partner retail stores in India.
Vivo X100 Series
Vivo X100 series with X100 and X100 Pro smartphones are expected to launch in India soon. Both devices received BIS certification in India, hinting at an imminent debut. Vivo X100 and X100 Pro have already been announced in China and leaks hint at an early January launch in India.
Vivo X100 series smartphones come with similar specifications except for a few changes here and there. Both devices are powered by the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9300 processor and feature a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate.
The Vivo X100 captures dazzling photos, boasts a gorgeous display, and packs a marathon battery, but a slightly plasticky...
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The battery on the Pro variant is a bigger 5400mAh, compared to a 5,000mAh battery on the Vivo X100. Also, there’s no wireless or reverse charging support on the vanilla X100 variant. In India, both devices will run Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14 out of the box.
When it comes to the camera, Vivo X100 sports a 50MP Sony IMX920 sensor, coupled with a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 64MP telephoto lens. The X100 Pro comes with a 50MP Sony IMX989 sensor, in addition to a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 50MP telephoto lens. Vivo will use a V3 imaging chip to improve picture quality on the Pro variant.
Price in India (Expected)
The base 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variants of Vivo X100 and Vivo X100 Pro were launched at RMB 3,999 (approx. Rs 45,670) and RMB 4,999 (approx. 57,100) in China. Expect India pricing to be similar.
Availability
The Vivo X100 series could launch in early January in India. The lineup is expected to be available via Flipkart, Vivo e-retail stores, and partner retail stores in India.
Xiaomi 14 series is the first set of smartphones from the company to run its new HyperOS, which has replaced MIUI after 13 years. Xiaomi 14 features a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED screen with 1.5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and runs HyperOS based on Android 14.
Xiaomi 14 gets triple rear cameras, a combination of a 50MP primary lens with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.2X optical zoom. The front camera on the device is a 32MP one. Xiaomi 14 is backed by a 4610mAh battery with support for 90W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging.
Price In India (Expected)
Xiaomi 14 with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage is priced at CNY 3999 (approx Rs 45,500) in China. There’s also the 12GB+256GB storage option at CNY 4299 (approx Rs 49,000) and the 16GB+512GB variant at CNY 4599 (approx Rs 52,500) respectively. The top-end 16GB+1TB storage option costs CNY 4999 (approx Rs 57,000).
The prices are expected to remain similar, though it is possible that Xiaomi will not bring all storage configurations to the Indian market.
Availability
Xiaomi 14 is expected to launch in India in early 2024 and could go on sale via Amazon, Xiaomi’s online store, Mi Home, and Mi Studios.
