iQoo 9 review: Design and Display
Consequently, we were able to obtain the iQoo 9 Motorsports edition, which features a relationship with BMW. We have the Legend model, which is adorned with a tricolour stripe that is intended to evoke the sensation of a racetrack or something similar. In addition, the iQoo 9 is also offered in a black alpha colour variant with a textured pattern.
Having a premium glass laminated shell and metal framing, this phone exudes class. It has an IMT matte back throughout, and its soft-matte surface feels wonderful in the palm. The BMW tri-coloured stripe also adds a distinctive aesthetic flair and an iQoo branding. Additionally, the sides of the phone are curved for a more comfortable grip. Due to its evenly distributed weight, the device, even though it’s heavy, doesn’t actually feel that hefty. We believe that for seamless ergonomics, the frames should have remained somewhat smooth on both sides.
On the right side of the frame, all the buttons are conveniently located and offer excellent tactile feedback. Additionally, to add some extra character, the power button has a recognisable blue hue and a textured finish. Certification for an IP address is the only thing iQoo 9 is missing. But the SIM tray is shielded from moisture accumulation by a rubber gasket. The iQoo 9 boasts a stunning display in addition to a gorgeous design. With a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz, it sports a 6.56-inch full-HD+ 10-bit AMOLED display. The peak brightness is 1200 nits. All of this results in brilliant colours that maintain high contrast levels. The screen has an exceptional natural white balance, which produces natural colours and prevents colour shifts when viewed from the sides.
Under the worst circumstances, the screen becomes more than bright enough to remain visible. One can binge-watch OTT video with Widevine L1 certification and HDR playback capability. The phone can be unlocked quickly with the in-display fingerprint sensor, and you receive light haptic feedback while doing so. While the stereo speakers produce great music quality and can be rather loud. Although a more evenly distributed output from the top and bottom speaker units would have been preferable. You are looking at one of the best displays for the money when you factor in the 120Hz refresh rate. Although the lack of an LTPO 2.0 panel means that this screen can only switch between 60Hz and 120Hz, we feel that iQoo is being overly rigid with the adaptive refresh rate here. However, this is not the problem. Some of the most popular apps with the Smart Switch default to turning on the phone at 60Hz.
iQoo 9 Review: Performance and Camera
Let’s now discuss the performance aspect of the smartphone. The iQoo 9 has an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ SoC, up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage capacity. iQoo boasts a sizable Vapor Chamber liquid cooling system for gaming, however even with that, the phone quickly becomes significantly warm and becomes uncomfortably hot when playing for extended periods of time. We have been using this phone as our primary phone and it seems high-end, quick, and fast. Gaming is also enjoyable on this phone. In the few sessions we played, BGMI has excellent gameplay, maximum graphics, ultra HD, and ultra frame rates. Other than that, the gadget has a few other gameplay gimmicks in store. A pressure-sensitive button included in the iQoo 9’s display can be designated as a control in certain games. For an immersive gaming experience, there is also a dual X-axis linear motor.
We appreciate that the iQoo 9 includes the most recent Android 12 upgrade and will eventually receive Android 14 since the business has promised two significant Android updates and three years’ worth of security updates. FuntouchOS and all of its features are present, without a doubt, but the phone also comes with a lot of bloatware that is simple to remove. Aside from this, the UI and UX experience is generally good. The triple-back camera array has a 48-megapixel Sony IMX598 primary sensor and “Gimbal” technology. A 13-megapixel wide-angle or macro sensor and a 13-megapixel portrait sensor are also included. A 16-megapixel selfie camera sensor with an f/2.45 lens is also included for taking selfies and making video calls.
In daytime images, iQoo 9 enhances the white levels, yet the colours look realistic and have a lot of detail. The same is true of ultrawide shots, which effectively capture highlights and shadows but lack fine detail. On the iQoo 9, portrait photos appear sharper and have better contrast and black levels. The phone’s Gimbal OIS feature technology ensured that photographs remained clear and brilliant at all times. Selfies also express a similar tale and look great doing it. The skin tone seems to be normal.
We also enjoyed the iQoo 9’s regular nighttime photographs because it is able to allow in more light, which results in a decent dynamic range at the expense of a little less contrast.
In terms of videography, the iQoo 9 is capable of shooting at up to [email protected] In our limited time with the device so far, we haven’t had a chance to shoot many videos, but the sample footage shows that it has good video stabilisation. However, in resolutions like [email protected] and [email protected], it drastically crops the frame. It is frustrating that the front camera can only record videos in 1080p and does not support 4K at this price point. With regards to the battery life, the iQoo 9 sports a 4,350mAh battery that includes a 120W fast charge. The charging speed is quite quick; it charges the phone from zero to fifty percent in around five minutes and from zero to full in twenty.
Verdict
Considering the device’s specifications and characteristics, we can conclude that it directly competes with the OnePlus 9RT. Its specs complement the 9RT perfectly. Therefore, it is a mid-range phone that is fairly fascinating and aimed at both mobile gamers and photography fans. The variant launched in China is completely different from the one in India. So, as opposed to the Snapdragon 888+ in the Indian edition, the Chinese iQoo 9 has the most recent Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. In addition, both phones have different screens, cameras, and designs, among other things. The fact that it ships with Android 12 out of the box and can be upgraded to Android 14 and that the manufacturer has included a 120W fast charger inside the box helps it create a positive impression on us overall. If you are looking for a good gaming smartphone in the mid-segment you can definitely take a look at this one. iQoo 9 Pros Beautiful display with 120Hz refresh rate support good video stabilization IP52 rating great for gaming Fast charging iQoo 9 Cons Heats up really fast Weak audio quality For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App. You can find the latest car and bike news here
