In the current landscape of the budget smartphone market, heightened competition is evident. Striving to introduce a device that not only delivers commendable performance but also boasts a proficient camera and sleek design poses a considerable challenge. Over the past few years, iQOO, a subsidiary of Vivo, has diligently managed to walk on that path offering a capable mid-budget segment under Z series. Recently, the brand unveiled the iQOO Z9 5G priced below Rs 20,000 in the Indian market. This prompts the question: Can the iQOO Z9 5G distinguish itself amidst such a fiercely contested arena? Let us delve into a comprehensive review of the iQOO Z9 5G to find out:
iQOO Z9 5G Review Snapshot
Editor’s rating: 3.6/5
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Camera
Battery
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Pro
- Best performance in this budget
- Good AMOLED display
- HDR support
- IP54 certification
- Decent primary camera performance
Cons
- Ordinary design
- Bloatware
- Lack of ultrawide camera
iQOO Z9 5G Price & Availability
iQOO Z9 5G is available in two storage configurations in India-
- 8GB RAM+128GB storage- Rs. 19,999
- 8GB RAM+256GB storage- Rs. 21,999
It can be purchased via iQOO e-store and Amazon in Graphene Blue and Brushed Green shades. ICICI and HDFC Bank cardholders will get discounts up to Rs. 2000.
iQOO Z9 5G Review: Design & Build
The iQOO Z9 is available in two distinct color variants. For review purposes, I received the Graphene Blue version, although users have the option to select the Brushed Green variant as well. Upon initial inspection, the smartphone exhibits a modest aesthetic appeal, lacking an immediate striking impression. The rear panel is adorned with a matte finish that showcases a cross pattern under certain lighting conditions.
Positioned at the top left corner of the rear panel is the camera module, distinguished by its glossy, glass-like appearance. Within the module, two sizable cutouts are present, accompanied by a pill-shaped LED flash and the inscription “Aspherical Premium Lens.” The iQOO branding is conspicuously situated at the bottom of the panel.
Constructed with a plastic rear panel, the device features a metallic finish frame along its edges. On the right edge, users will find the volume buttons and a power button, while the left edge remains unoccupied. The bottom edge accommodates a SIM tray, microSD slot, microphone, Type-C port, and speaker grille, while the top edge houses a secondary microphone.
As soon as you switch on the display, you will notice bezels are sleek with the ones on the chin being slightly thick. At the top of the display is a small punch-hole selfie camera.
With its matte finish, the device can easily be held in hand without a cover. Although there is a protective cover inside the box, putting it on is optional. While we didn’t like the color much, but the good part is that the rear panel doesn’t attract any smudges. The smartphone is slim (7.83mm) and lightweight as well. At 20k, you also get an IP54 rating for protection against dust and splashes.
All-in-all, this budget iQOO Z9 5G does feature a decent design. It might not be the best, but it doesn’t feel cheap as well. The phone is made of plastic but the build quality is good and the in-hand feel is comfortable too.
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iQOO Z9 5G Review: Display
So, the iQOO Z9 5G rocks a large 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen right on the front. Compare that to its predecessor, the iQOO Z7, which sported a 6.3-inch display, and you’ve got yourself a bigger screen to love. But hey, if you were hoping for something more pocket-friendly, sorry, this one’s not gonna cut it. Seems like everyone’s into those larger displays these days, with 6.7 inches becoming the new standard.
The iQOO Z9 packs a punch with its 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1800 nits. It supports HDR support which means you can binge watch all those HDR videos on YouTube and Netflix. The colors pop like crazy on this display with its 16.7 million color support. Everything looks sharp and vibrant, especially when we threw on some Netflix with HDR. And don’t even get me started on that AMOLED goodness—it’s like watching colors come to life!
But here’s the thing about that refresh rate. You’ve got three options to choose from: Smart switch, Standard (60Hz), and High (120Hz). Sure, the High setting is awesome for that buttery smooth experience, but sometimes it dips down to conserve battery. It’s a bummer, but hey, sacrifices for longer battery life, right?
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iQOO Z9 5G Review: Performance
Alright, let’s talk performance! iQOO didn’t mess around with the Z9 5G. They went all out, packing it with a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset, a step up from its predecessor’s Dimensity 920. Its a 4nm chipset, delivering some good everyday performance. And with 8GB of LPPDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, you’ve got plenty of room to play around. Plus, with virtual RAM storage, you can even use 8GB of storage as extra RAM. Need more space? No worries, just pop in a microSD card and expand it up to a whopping 1TB.
You’ve got phones like the Realme 12+ 5G, Lava Blaze Curve, Redmi Note 13, and Narzo 70 Pro, all fighting for your attention at similar price points. But here’s the kicker—the iQOO Z9 packs a way better SoC, which means you’re getting a whole lot more bang for your buck. We put this baby through its paces for a week, using it for all our daily tasks like calls, social media scrolling, binge-watching videos, and of course, some serious gaming. And guess what? Not a single lag in sight.
In everyday life, the performance of the device is smooth and it never gets warm during usage. You can play heavy titles like BGMI and COD comfortably and even after a long gaming session, there was a slight frame drop only. This is impressive considering the price of the device. The results of some benchmark tests are shared below.
iQOO Z9 5G runs Android 14-based FunTouch OS 14 out of the box. iQOO has promised two years of software updates and three years of security patches with the smartphone. I don’t like FunTouch OS much but it is easy to use. There is some amount of bloatware like other smartphones as apps like DailyHunt, Netflix, Linked In, and Snapchat come pre-installed, but these can be deleted if you don’t want them.
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iQOO Z9 5G REVIEW: CAMERA
This affordable smartphone from iQOO comes with a dual camera setup at the back. It includes a 50MP primary Sony IMX882 sensor with f/1.79 aperture, OIS, and EIS. Additionally, there is a 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. There is no ultrawide camera which is slightly disappointing. For selfies and video calling, there is a 16MP punch-hole snapper at the front.
For the 50MP primary camera, a Sony IMX882 sensor has been used, which clicks 12.5MP pictures by default. The sensor takes good shots during the day. The clicks are full of details, with natural colors and a decent dynamic range. In some circumstances, the edges of some pictures look soft.
The skin tone of people standing slightly far away also looks natural in the photos. Photos clicked in indoor lighting during daytime are also impressive.
There is an option to zoom in the viewfinder, but enabling 2x zoom does lower the detailing in the clicks.
Talking about low-light photography, here are some samples to illustrate the same. These pictures too are detailed and the green color of the plants also looks natural, and not boosted. Overall, photos taken using the primary camera in lowlight conditions are very good.
There is a 50MP mode as well, which allows you to click images in 50MP. Other than that, the camera setup comes with panorama, slow-motion, time-lapse, pro, snapshot, and super zoom modes too.
The 16MP selfie sensor also works fine during good daylight conditions. The face and skin tone of the subject looks natural and real in the selfies taken with this snapper. The camera doesn’t beautify the selfies to make them look better. However, low-light selfies aren’t up to the mark as you will find noise in these images.
ALSO READ: Vivo V30 Pro 5G Review: A Stylish Camera Phone
iQOO Z9 5G Review: Battery Life and Charging
iQOO Z9 5G is a slim device, yet it fits a 5000mAh battery under the hood that gives the user a long battery life. Last year, iQOO gave a 4500mAh battery with iQOO Z7, so this is a good upgrade. The smartphone comes with 44W fast charging capability as the adapter comes bundled inside the box.
With the smart switch refresh rate option, my daily usage included clicking photos, video streaming, light gaming, official messaging, mailing, calling, and social media apps. With all these activities, the phone lasted for 2 days.
44W charger charges the device from 0 to 50% in half an hour and 0 to 100% in about an hour. The battery backup of this smartphone is good and considering the price point, fast charging speed is also decent.
Review Verdict: Should you buy the iQOO Z9 5G?
The iQOO Z9 5G has made its debut in the Indian market, positioned within a budgetary range of Rs. 20,000. Notably, it distinguishes itself as the first smartphone within this price segment to incorporate the Dimensity 7200 chipset, renowned for its robust performance capabilities. Complementing this chipset are notable features such as a substantial battery capacity, enhanced fast charging functionality surpassing that of its competitors, a Sony IMX882 primary sensor, and a commendable 120Hz AMOLED display, collectively contributing to its stature as a noteworthy budget smartphone. However, it is worth noting that the device’s design exhibits a conventional aesthetic, and the presence of pre-installed bloatware represents minor drawbacks associated with the iQOO Z9.
Reasons to buy
- Best performance in this budget
- Good AMOLED display
- HDR support
- IP54 certification
- Decent primary camera performance
Reasons to not buy
- Ordinary design
- Bloatware
- Lack of ultrawide camera
