Vivo iQOO Z9 smartphone review
Vivo iQOO Z9 smartphone review: The Vivo iQOO Z9 was launched in late March 2024 and started shipping at the end of that month. The new smartphone will go on sale worldwide, but India was the first country where it was launched. In terms of design, the iQOO Z9 hasn’t changed much and still has the same design language as its previous version, the Vivo iQOO Z7 Pro, but with a new coat of paint.
The iQOO Z9 also included 5G connectivity as iQOO wants to impress all users, especially those who prefer performance over other things. iQOO believes that it can provide a great experience to its users with the new smartphone. The main attractions of this phone are the screen, battery and protection. So, let’s start with a detailed review of the iQOO Z9 smartphone and find out if it is worth buying.
Vivo iQOO Z9 smartphone review
Reflexes
- The iQOO Z9 smartphone features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with support for a high refresh rate of 120Hz.
- The chipset inside the IQOO Z9 is the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 5G SoC, which is capable of clock speeds of 2×2.8 GHz.
- The iQOO Z9 smartphone comes with Android 14 out of the box with Funtouch 14 for better customization options.
- The iQOO Z9 smartphone has a 50MP rear camera system, while the selfie camera has a 16MP sensor.
- The phone has a 5000 mAh lithium-ion battery with 44W wired fast charging support.
Design and display
The iQOO Z9 follows the same design language as its predecessor, the iQOO Z7 Pro. But it now has a flat body and new colors. It is available in Brushed Green and Graphene Blue. Each color has a unique pattern on the back panel and distinguishes them. The camera module on the left further complements the design. The front screen also has minimal bezels and the chin is thinner than other smartphones of the same price.
This gives the smartphone a very premium look and makes it look like a flagship level smartphone. Talking about bezels and display, you get a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz for a better user experience. This display panel features FHD+ resolution with support for HDR.
The display is also quite bright with a maximum brightness of 1800 nits, so using the smartphone outdoors won’t be a problem. The screen is also protected with Dragontail Star 2 Plus glass. The smartphone is also protected by IP54 against dust and splashes.
Memory and internal
Vivo equipped the iQOO Z9 with the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 5G chipset. This chipset is capable of reaching a clock speed of 2×2.8 GHz. It features an octa-core CPU configuration and is equipped with a much larger vapor chamber, which will ensure that the smartphone does not overheat. As the heat is kept under control, the chipset can flex its wings and deliver solid performance.
Whether it’s browsing the web, running multiple apps, or playing games, the chipset performs these tasks quickly. Speaking of gaming, the Mali-G610 MC4 GPU runs all your games including PUBGm, Summoners War, CODm, and even Genshin Impact with high graphical fidelity. The smartphone also comes with Android 14 out of the box along with a Funtouch 14 UI, which provides better customization support.
The smartphone also supports 5G connectivity, which will also reduce latency during multiplayer gaming sessions. In terms of memory and storage, the iQOO Z9 is available for purchase with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of fast UFS 2.2 internal storage. The storage can also be expanded later with the microSDXC slot.
Camera
The Vivo iQOO Z9 features a 50MP rear camera setup. The main rear camera consists of a 50MP sensor, which is adequately optimized. Therefore, it is capable of taking excellent photographs with high dynamic range, higher levels of detail and saturated colors. This superb level of performance is also maintained during night photography.
The sensor is optimized to capture more light than ever. This, combined with the night mode algorithm, allowed the camera sensor to enhance every shot it captures at night. Therefore, the rear camera performance will not disappoint, whether day or night. However, there is no ultra-wide-angle or telephoto camera.
On the front, the smartphone has a 16MP selfie camera that can capture great selfies with natural colors and accurate skin tones. When it comes to video recording, the rear camera can record videos at 4K@30FPS while the selfie camera can record at a maximum resolution of 1080P@30FPS. Videos from the rear camera are stabilized with gyro-EIS.
Battery and others
The Vivo iQOO Z9 has a high-capacity 5000 mAh Li-Ion battery that can keep this smartphone going for at least 1-2 days with light to medium usage, including camera, music, and a bit of social media. But if you are a heavy user or play a lot of games, the battery will drain much faster and won’t last a full day. Additionally, if you use 5G to download movies or other content, the battery will also drain faster.
But you will be happy to know that the smartphone supports 44W wired fast charging, which can charge the smartphone from 1% to 50% in just 30 minutes. Apart from that, the smartphone supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, an under-display fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, and a USB Type-C connector for charging. The smartphone will start at $240 (Rs 19,999 in India) approximately.
Pros and cons of Vivo iQOO Z9
Vivo iQOO Z9 Specifications Detail
Below you can see the Vivo iQOO Z9 Smartphone Full Specifications.
| Specifications | Vivo iQOO Z9 |
| Grid | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Announced | March 2024 |
| SIM | Dual SIM hybrid |
| Dimensions | 6.43 x 2.98 x 0.31 inches |
| Weight | 188 grams |
| Size | 6.67 inches |
| Show | AMOLED 120Hz HDR 1800 nits brightness Ratio 20:9 ~395 density per inch Always on screen |
| Protection/Others | Dragontrail Estrella 2 Plus IP54, dust and splash resistant |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| SW | Android 14, Funtouch 14 |
| chipset | 4 nm – Mediatek Dimension 7200 |
| CPU | Eight cores Cortex-A715 2 × 2.8 GHz 6x Cortex-A510 |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Internal | 128GB, 256GB UFS 2.2 |
| Camera | 50 MP (wide), PDAF, OIS 2 MP (depth) LED flash, panorama, HDR Maximum: 4K at 30 fps, gyro EIS, HDR |
| selfie | 16 megapixels (wide) Maximum: 1080p at 30 fps |
| Loudspeaker | Yeah (stereo speakers) |
| 3.5mm jack | No 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res Audio |
| Wifi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| GPS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS |
| NFC | No |
| infrared port | No |
| Radio | No |
| USB | USB Type C 2.0, OTG |
| Sensors | Under screen fingerprint, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass |
| Battery | Li-Ion 5000 mAh 44W wired |
| Colors | Brushed green, graphene blue |
| Expected price | $240 (Rs 19,999 in India) approximately |
Conclusion
The Vivo iQOO Z9 has provided what other smartphones have not been able to do in the $200 price range. This price used to be very competitive, but has since been bland. There has not been any significant competition in this segment and that is exactly what this smartphone wants to change. It certainly has the hardware and features to do it. Take design, for example.
It features a modern flat design with expressive patterns that many would love. The display is also fantastic with mostly uniform bezels and helps elevate the status of the smartphone. The smartphone’s chipset is quite fast and has the raw performance needed to be a champion in this segment. The camera is also quite capable and so is the battery. It’s not that there aren’t many smartphones with similar specifications and features.
It’s just that those smartphones often had a high price tag, but not this one. The price of this smartphone is a solid deal that you can’t miss, especially considering everything it offers. The closest alternative would be the Infinix Zero 30. It has similar specifications but with a slightly higher price. However, the final decision is up to you, so it is better to choose a smartphone based on your needs and requirements.
