Vivo iQOO Neo 12 vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
The Vivo iQOO Neo 12 (2026) runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (2019) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 leads — 76/100 vs 54/100 (a 22-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 has the bigger battery (9000 mAh vs 3300); the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 is faster in AnTuTu (4,647,154 vs 824,513); the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer is noticeably lighter (173g vs 225g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Vivo iQOO Neo 12
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
What makes Vivo iQOO Neo 12 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 4647154 vs 824513
- Better Geekbench Single: 3639 vs 968
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 2731
- Bigger battery: 9000 vs 3300 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 27W
- Higher performance (99/100 vs 54/100)
- Longer battery life (80/100 vs 22/100)
- Better display (99/100 vs 83/100)
What makes Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer better?
- Lighter: 173g vs 225g
- Better portability (79/100 vs 38/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 vs the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 scores 22 points higher (76/100 vs 54/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 leads (99/100 vs 54/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 leads (80/100 vs 22/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (99/100 vs 54/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 notably outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (99/100 vs 83/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (80/100 vs 22/100). In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 (79/100 vs 38/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Vivo iQOO Neo 12 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | |
| AnTuTu | 4647154 | 824513 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3639 | 968 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 11047 | 2731 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.4" Super AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2340 | |
| Refresh rate | 185 Hz | — | |
| Battery | 9000 mAh | 3300 mAh | |
| Charging | 100W | 27W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 20W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | — | |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP | 48 MP | |
| Front camera | 16 MP | 20 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 12GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB | |
| OS | Android 17 | Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2200 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP69 | — | |
| Dimensions | 163.4×75.9×8.5 mm | 157.5×74.7×7.6 mm | |
| Weight | 225 g | 173 g | |
| Launch price | — | — |
Camera comparison
Vivo iQOO Neo 12
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Front: 16MP
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- Main: —
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Front: 20MP
Display comparison
Vivo iQOO Neo 12
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3200
- Refresh rate: 185 Hz
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- 6.4" Super AMOLED
- Resolution: 1080x2340
- Refresh rate: —
Battery and charging
Vivo iQOO Neo 12
- 9000 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- No wireless charging
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- 3300 mAh
- Wired: 27W
- Wireless: 20W
Overall performance score
We compared Vivo iQOO Neo 12 and Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo iQOO Neo 12 leads Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 463.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (99/100 vs 54/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 notably outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (99/100 vs 83/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (80/100 vs 22/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 (79/100 vs 38/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 or the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Vivo iQOO Neo 12 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 22 points (76/100 vs 54/100).
What is the rating of the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Vivo iQOO Neo 12 has a MobileRank rating of 76/100, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer — 54/100.
Which is more powerful: the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 or the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Vivo iQOO Neo 12 leads on performance (99/100 vs 54/100).
Should you choose the Vivo iQOO Neo 12 over the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Vivo iQOO Neo 12 is a better fit for gamers and power users, those who care about battery life.