There’s buzz around the upcoming iQOO Neo 11S that is expected to launch in China next month, but it seems that’s not the only model iQOO has up its sleeve for the performance-focused mid-range Neo series this year. A new leak from tipster Digital Chat Station suggests that the upcoming iQOO Neo 12 could bring upgrades across the display, battery and gaming experience, building on last year’s Neo 11.
iQOO Neo 12 expected specifications
According to the tipster, the iQOO Neo 12 is currently being tested with a 6.83-inch flat display featuring a 2K resolution and at least a 165Hz refresh rate. The company is reportedly also evaluating a 185Hz refresh rate, which would make it one of the highest refresh rate displays seen on a mainstream smartphone. Why this is interesting is for two reasons. Firstly, till date, we’ve only seen 185Hz on gaming phones from the ASUS ROG series, which are done for good now. Secondly, a combination of 2K resolution and at least a 165Hz refresh rate is something which the OnePlus 15 was aspiring to bring, but couldn’t as the company said there were technical limitations. However, both iQOO and OnePlus seem to have come a long way from that as even the OnePlus 16 is being tested with at least a 185hz refresh rate (but we cannot say anything about the resolution yet).
Back to the iQOO Neo 12 – the device is said to be powered by last year’s flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Like its predecessor, it may also include a dedicated display chip to improve gaming performance, frame interpolation and graphics rendering. by giving a flagship but (slightly) dated chip, iQOO keeps the costs in check while not compromising on the experience.
Battery capacity could also see a significant upgrade. The engineering prototype is tipped to feature a battery whose capacity starts with the digit “9”, suggesting a cell larger than 9,000mAh. iQOO is reportedly testing an even bigger battery configuration while retaining 100W fast charging support. After 7,000mAh, 9,000mAh seems to be becoming the battery benchmark – among gaming phones at least – post the launch of the OnePlus Nord 6.
If the leak proves accurate, the Neo 12 would represent a significant upgrade over the Neo 11, which launched with a 7,500mAh battery, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a 2K 144Hz AMOLED display.
Other expected features include an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner and a flagship-grade water resistance rating. Camera details remain unknown, but iQOO may stick with a practical setup similar to the Neo 11, which offered a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 16MP front camera.
Launch timeline
Digital Chat Station didn’t reveal a launch date in the latest leak, but the iQOO Neo 12 is expected to debut in China around October based on the brand’s previous release cycle. We don’t know if the device will make it to India though. Despite the popularity of the Neo series among enthusiasts, the Neo 11 never launched in the country. Instead, iQOO focused on devices such as the iQOO 15R and refreshed the Neo 10 lineup with new colour options.
The iQOO Neo 12 is shaping up to be one of the better gaming devices of the year, if the leaked specifications turn out to be accurate. However, competition is coming this year from the likes of OnePlus and Redmi, so buyers might need to evaluate priorities before committing to a purchase.
