News in short

• iQOO Neo 12 will launch in China on October 28 at 4:30pm IST.
• The smartphone will be available in Contest, Shadow Black and Frost Blade Blue colours.
• iQOO has confirmed a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and a dedicated Q3 gaming chip.
• The phone will feature a metal frame, an integrated cooling fan and Ice Dome active cooling.
• A 9,000mAh battery and 100W wired charging are rumoured, but remain unconfirmed.

iQOO has confirmed the launch date of its upcoming Neo 12 smartphone in China. The company has also revealed the phone’s design, colour options and key gaming-focused features ahead of its debut.

The iQOO Neo 12 will launch on October 28 at 7pm local time, which translates to 4:30pm IST. Sales are expected to begin shortly after the launch event. The smartphone is positioned around gaming performance, with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and a dedicated Q3 gaming chip.

iQOO Neo 12 design and colour options

iQOO has confirmed three colour options for the Neo 12: Contest, Shadow Black and Frost Blade Blue. The colour names are translated from Chinese and could differ in other markets.

The Shadow Black variant features a silver finish, while Frost Blade Blue has a pale blue shade. The Contest variant stands out with a textured rear panel and a flowing light effect.

According to the report, iQOO collaborated with the China Academy of Art on the phone’s design. The handset also features a polished metal frame.

Official renders show a large, square-shaped rear camera module with rounded corners. Two camera lenses sit vertically inside the module, while the flash appears just outside it. The rear panel also carries the “Monster Inside” branding and a circular mesh grille beside the cameras.

The phone’s right side features exhaust vents. These design elements complement its gaming-focused hardware and cooling system.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and cooling system confirmed

The iQOO Neo 12 will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. It will also include iQOO’s Q3 gaming chip, which is intended to support gaming performance.

The company has confirmed an integrated cooling fan and an Ice Dome active cooling system. These features suggest that thermal management will be an important part of the phone’s gaming experience.

However, iQOO has not yet revealed complete specifications, benchmark scores or details about sustained gaming performance. More information should emerge during the launch event.

iQOO Neo 12 battery and charging details

The iQOO Neo 12 is rumoured to pack a 9,000mAh battery with support for 100W wired fast charging. If confirmed, this would be a major part of the phone’s hardware offering.

However, the battery capacity and charging speed have not been officially announced. Buyers should treat these details as leaks until iQOO confirms them.

The company has already opened pre-bookings for the smartphone through Vivo China’s website. The Neo 12 will succeed the iQOO Neo 11, which debuted in October 2025.

For now, the China launch will reveal more about the Neo 12’s complete specifications, pricing and availability. iQOO has not announced an India launch date or confirmed whether the phone will reach the Indian market.