In February, iQoo introduced the Neo 9 Pro, followed by the budget-friendly iQoo Z9 in the subsequent month. The iQoo Z9 presents top-notch mid-range specifications within its segment. We've thoroughly examined its day-to-day functionality, camera capabilities, and battery life. Positioned against competitors like the Realme 12+ 5G and Moto G84 5G in the Rs. 20,000 price range in India, as well as pricier models like the Honor X9b and Nothing Phone 2a, the iQoo Z9 holds its ground admirably.
In the Indian market, the iQoo Z9 is priced at Rs. 19,999 for the base model, featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Additionally, the company offers a 256GB storage variant, which is the model reviewed here, priced at Rs. 21,999.
Available color options include Brushed Green and Graphene Blue. As with other iQoo smartphones, the iQoo Z9 package consists of a transparent TPU case, a SIM ejector tool, a 44W charging brick, and a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, ensuring users have all necessary accessories right out of the box.
Exploring the design of the iQoo Z9, we've received the Brushed Green variant, boasting an intriguing aesthetic. The handset showcases distinct paintbrush-like strokes flowing from the rear camera module towards the bottom of the panel. Positioned on the lower half is a subtle iQoo logo, with no other visible branding present. While introducing a fresh pattern, the rear panel shares similarities with the iQoo Z7 Pro launched in India back in August 2023. This resemblance includes vertically aligned rear cameras housed within a square-shaped camera island adorned with rounded edges and a glossy metallic finish, prone to fingerprints. Positioned on the right edge are the volume buttons situated above the power button.
Despite housing a hefty 5,000mAh battery, the iQoo Z9 maintains a manageable weight for day-to-day use. Its flat edges enhance grip, ensuring a secure hold. While not inherently slippery, employing the included TPU case is advisable for added security. The device features slim bezels, although the chin area is slightly more pronounced. Moreover, boasting an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, the iQoo Z9 offers durability alongside its ergonomic design.
Powering the iQoo Z9 is an octa-core 4nm Dimensity 7200 SoC, showcasing formidable performance. This chipset comprises two Arm Cortex-A715 cores, clocked at 2.8GHz, along with six Cortex-A510 cores, ensuring seamless multitasking and responsiveness.
Paired with this midrange MediaTek chipset is a substantial 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, facilitating smooth operation and efficient memory management. Notably, the device offers an intriguing "Extended RAM" feature, leveraging up to 8GB of unused storage to augment available RAM, potentially expanding it to a remarkable 16GB.
In terms of connectivity, the iQoo Z9 stands as a versatile companion, supporting 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and GPS connectivity. However, it's worth noting the absence of NFC connectivity, which might limit functionality for users reliant on tap-to-pay features available in popular apps like Google Pay and PhonePe.
The device incorporates a responsive in-display fingerprint scanner, swiftly unlocking the phone in less than a second, ensuring convenient and secure access to your device.
Furthermore, the iQoo Z9 features a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, catering to modern connectivity standards. This comprehensive suite of specifications and connectivity options positions the iQoo Z9 as a formidable contender within the midrange smartphone segment, delivering both performance and versatility to users.
The iQoo Z9 comes equipped with Android 14 straight out of the box, accompanied by Funtouch OS 14, ensuring users experience the latest in software innovation from the get-go. Familiar to users of the brand's recent smartphones like the iQoo 12 and Neo 9 Pro, the operating system features the V-Appstore, a platform that notifies users about new apps for installation. However, unlike its counterparts, the V-Appstore cannot be disabled on the iQoo Z9. Additionally, the Home Screen integrates Hot Apps and Hot Games sections, encouraging users to explore and install new applications and games.
The device promises regular software updates, with the company committing to providing two OS updates and three years of security updates. While this aligns with industry standards for devices in this price range, it falls slightly short of the Samsung Galaxy A15, which boasts a promise of four OS upgrades and five years of security updates.
Powering the iQoo Z9 is a robust 5,000mAh battery, capable of enduring extensive usage periods. Furthermore, the device supports rapid charging at 44W, facilitated by the included adapter, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum convenience for users.
The iQoo Z9 impresses with its performance, driven by the robust Dimensity 7200 chipset. Priced competitively under Rs. 20,000, it promises top-tier performance within the midrange segment. Day-to-day usage reveals seamless multitasking capabilities, allowing for swift app switching without reloading. Its dedicated game mode optimizes gaming performance, ensuring smooth gameplay experiences. Games like Asphalt 9 run flawlessly, while even demanding titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India can be enjoyed on high settings without throttling, sustaining performance even during extended gaming sessions. Benchmark tests further validate its prowess, with the iQoo Z9 outscoring competitors in its price range. AnTuTu 10 scores reached an impressive 687,545 points, while Geekbench single-core and multi-core scores stood at 1,151 and 2,669 respectively. Additionally, the device excelled in the PCMark Work 3.0 benchmark, achieving a notable score of 13,319 points.
In 3DMark tests, the iQoo Z9 showcased impressive performance, scoring 6,654 points in the Sling Shot and 5,766 points in the Sling Shot Extreme tests. It also excelled in the Wild Life and Wild Life Unlimited benchmarks, achieving scores of 4,126 and 4,205 points, respectively. Furthermore, in GFXBench tests, it scored 6,058 points (108fps) in the T-Rex test, 3,702 points (60fps) in the Manhattan 3.1 benchmark, and 1,954 points (33fps) in the Car Chase test.
The device boasts a 6.67-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant visuals. However, visibility issues were encountered in bright outdoor conditions. Users can select from three display color profiles — standard, professional, and bright, with the standard mode being the preferred choice for many.
Powered by a 5,000mAh battery, the iQoo Z9 ensures prolonged usage before needing a recharge. In a HD battery loop test, it lasted an impressive 23 hours and 14 minutes. With varied usage, including gaming and media consumption, the device maintained a battery of 23% to 29% by day's end. Charging speeds were commendable, with the phone reaching 50% in approximately 32 minutes and a full charge in around 55 minutes.
Equipped with a formidable camera setup, the iQoo Z9 boasts a 50-megapixel primary camera featuring a Sony IMX882 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, accompanied by a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. On the front, it houses a 16-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 aperture, catering to selfie enthusiasts and video calls.
The primary camera excels in capturing sharp images with accurate colors, particularly at the default zoom level (1x). Users can seamlessly switch to 2x zoom, utilizing an in-sensor crop mechanism that preserves ample detail in the images. This camera setup is adept at capturing portraits, flora, fauna, and human subjects, particularly in well-lit conditions where it can produce impressive bokeh effects. Overall, the iQoo Z9's camera system proves to be a reliable companion for capturing life's moments with clarity and precision.
The iQoo Z9 features a single rear camera, which proves reliable for daytime photography. However, in low-light conditions, users will find better results using the built-in night mode. Night mode significantly enhances image quality by minimizing noise and artifacts while maintaining detail, particularly for stationary subjects.
Notably, the absence of an ultra-wide-angle camera necessitates stepping back to capture images of more significant subjects, such as buildings, which may pose some challenges. While this limitation doesn't hinder most photography scenarios, it can be inconvenient for certain shots.
Additionally, unlike competing models in its price range, the iQoo Z9 lacks a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots, further limiting its versatility in photography.
The iQoo Z9's primary camera also features a 50-megapixel mode, which captures images swiftly while offering higher resolution than the standard mode. Ideal for nearby subjects, this mode enhances detail and produces slightly larger file sizes, enriching the photography experience.
Selfies taken with the iQoo Z9 showcase clarity and aesthetic appeal, particularly under ample lighting conditions, ensuring satisfying results for daytime self-portraits. However, in low-light environments, selfies may exhibit some noise, with images appearing less sharp due to the device's tendency to apply smoothing effects in such conditions.
The iQoo Z9 delivers video performance consistent with other smartphones in its price range. Users can record 1080p videos at both 60fps and 30fps, while 4K video recording is available at 30fps. Notably, opting for the 1080p/60fps mode provides superior video stabilization compared to the 4K option, making it a worthwhile trade-off for smoother footage.
In summary, the iQoo Z9 presents a compelling option for those seeking an affordable mid-range smartphone with commendable performance and decent photo quality. Its dependable battery life and vibrant AMOLED screen enhance the user experience, while the processor delivers impressive performance despite the UFS 2.2 storage.
However, it faces stiff competition from rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy M34, which offers superior camera quality and a potentially better software experience with longer support. Similarly, the Realme 12+ 5G boasts an extra ultra-wide-angle camera and faster 67W charging.
For those considering alternatives, the Poco X6 5G provides decent primary camera performance and a sizable 5,100mAh battery, albeit launching with Android 13 in 2024. Alternatively, if the budget allows, the Nothing Phone 2a stands out with an excellent primary camera and clean software, though lacking a charging brick in the box, a convenience provided by the iQoo Z9.
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