iQOO has been refreshing its Z-series with two new smartphones launched in India the iQOO Z9s Pro and the iQOO Z9s. Both of these have been introduced to give stiff competition to other feature-laden variants. The iQOO Z9s is aimed at attacking the under Rs 20,000 price segment, while the Pro variant goes toe-to-toe with gadgets such as the Realme 13 Pro+, OnePlus Nord 4, and Nothing Phone 2a Plus. The iQOO Z9s Pro is priced starting at Rs 24,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB variant, Rs 26,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB variant, and Rs 28,999 for the high-end 12GB RAM + 256GB variant.
The latest iQOO Z9s Pro comes with a lot more than just a premium design, improved cameras, and decent features. The Pro model is aiming to make a difference. But is it capable enough to compete? Let's find out in this iQOO Z9s Pro review.
The iQOO Z9s Pro retains the design language that we saw initially with the Neo series and flagship series, but it has now been further refined to make it feel more premium. It arrives in two finishes: Flamboyant Orange and Lux Marble. The former back comes with a leather finish while the latter comes with a glass finish with textures; the latter does look a bit more premium. Measuring 7.49mm, the iQOO Z9s Pro happens to be one of the slimmest devices in this price segment. The curved display offers a bezel-less experience with very few sharp edges.
While the button placements could have been better, the phone comes with screen protection and an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance. Design-wise, the design has been vastly improved, and is now one of the best-designed smartphones in the Rs 30,000 segment.
The latest iQOO Z9s Pro 5G comes with a curved AMOLED screen that gives a bezel-less experience with very few accidental touches. The view is great from any angle and out in the open, with the maximum brightness of the display being 4,500 nits, allowing users to enjoy more detail and vivid color shades. In this phone, you will get three color arrangements, where you can use Standard, Professional, and Bright.
One gets the best saturation in color with the use of Professional and good vibrancy in color with the use of the Bright model. The 120Hz screen refresh ensures smooth scrolling. An in-display fingerprint sensor that is fast and also reliable, while the stereo speakers are pretty decent in terms of audio output, although some amount of distortion does creep in at the maximum volume.
Operating on the latest FunTouchOS 14, which is backed by Android 14 OS, the UI brings customization to the user interface with a fluid experience, although it suffers from lag and heavy bloatware. Most of the bloatware apps can be removed, but Hot Games and Hot Apps, as well as V-Appstore, generate countless unwanted ads and notifications. Though you can always stop these features from keeping you in misery, still you cannot remove them. The company also promises two OS updates along with an update in the security patch level of up to three years, which is a bit less compared to others claiming three years of Android updates and four years of security patches.
Currently, the iQOO Z9s Pro stands at a very competitive price. It is so far among the cheapest devices out with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset. The rest of the phones using another alternative of the chipset are ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000. Performance-wise; therefore, the iQOO Z9s Pro falls where the tough competition in this price range is going on.
A strong iQOO Z9s Pro highlight is the camera system. This can be said since the Pro model ships with advanced cameras that perform well under different lighting conditions. Daylight photos are sharp, with a chunk of the dynamic range and "great" built; portraits do get the job done. The low-light performance is also decent, with detailed shots. For a closer look at the cameras on the iQOO Z9s Pro, one can check out the detailed iQOO Z9s Pro review.
The iQOO Z9s Pro hosts a 5,500mAh battery, blowing past those in comparison devices such as the OnePlus Nord 4 and Nothing Phone 2a Plus, giving up to 2 days of battery use with casual to moderate application and a full day when heavily used basically, steaming and browsing. It lasted for 26 hours and 42 minutes on the HD battery loop test. The 80W fast charging is also impressive, with up to 33% in 15 minutes, 57% in 30 minutes, and a full charge in 52 minutes.
iQOO Z9s Pro offers style, performance, and certain features that deliver. Its design oozes plenty of richness, it has a very bright display and is visible outdoors, has very good battery life, and has nice cameras. Performance is decent, but the amount of bloatware and fewer Android upgrades compared to the competition is a problem in its own right. The overall iQOO Z9s Pro is a compelling phone against its competitors.
1. What are the key features of the iQOO Z9s Pro?
The iQOO Z9s Pro stands out with its impressive features while maintaining an affordable price. Key features include:
Design: The iQOO Z9s Pro offers a sleek and slim profile, measuring just 7.49mm, and comes in two stylish finishes, Flamboyant Orange with a leather back and Lux Marble with a glass finish. The curved AMOLED display provides a bezel-less experience, contributing to its premium look and feel
Display: It sports a curved AMOLED screen with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright conditions. The 120Hz refresh rate enhances smoothness during scrolling, and the display offers multiple color modes for customization.
Performance: Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, the iQOO Z9s Pro delivers robust performance suitable for multitasking and gaming. It is priced competitively, making it one of the most affordable smartphones with this chipset.
Cameras: The iQOO Z9s Pro features advanced cameras that perform well across different lighting conditions. The daylight photos are crisp with good dynamic range, and the low-light performance is commendable.
Battery Life: It boasts a 5,500mAh battery, offering up to two days of use with moderate to casual activities. With heavy usage, including streaming and browsing, it still provides a full day’s battery life. The 80W fast charging feature is also noteworthy, allowing for rapid charging times.
Software: The phone runs on FunTouchOS 14 based on Android 14. While it offers customization options and a fluid user experience, it comes with bloatware and pre-installed apps that generate ads and notifications.
2. How does the iQOO Z9s Pro compare to its competitors?
The iQOO Z9s Pro competes strongly in its price range, offering features typically found in more expensive smartphones. Compared to its competitors:
Performance: With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, it provides high performance at a budget-friendly price. Other phones with this chipset are priced between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000, making the iQOO Z9s Pro a compelling option for those looking for high performance without the premium price tag.
Design and Build: The iQOO Z9s Pro’s design is comparable to higher-end models, with a slim profile and premium finishes. It is also one of the slimmest devices in its segment, which is a notable advantage.
Display: The curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is on par with many high-end smartphones, offering vibrant colors and smooth visuals. The peak brightness of 4,500 nits is particularly impressive for outdoor visibility.
Battery Life: The 5,500mAh battery provides longer usage compared to many competitors, and the fast-charging capability is superior to most devices in the same price range.
Software: While the FunTouchOS 14 provides a customizable experience, the presence of bloatware and pre-installed ads may detract from the overall user experience compared to competitors that offer cleaner software.
3. Is the iQOO Z9s Pro worth buying for gamers?
Yes, the iQOO Z9s Pro is a solid choice for gamers. The device is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, which handles gaming tasks efficiently. The 120Hz refresh rate of the AMOLED display also contributes to a smoother gaming experience, reducing lag and providing more responsive controls. The phone’s large 5,500mAh battery ensures extended gaming sessions without frequent recharging. Additionally, the premium design and build quality make it a comfortable device to use during long gaming periods.
4. How is the camera performance on the iQOO Z9s Pro?
The camera system on the iQOO Z9s Pro is one of its standout features. It is equipped with advanced cameras that perform well in various lighting conditions. During daylight, the photos are sharp with a good dynamic range, and the portrait mode captures detailed and attractive images. The low-light performance is also commendable, providing clear and detailed shots even in less ideal lighting. For users who prioritize camera quality, the iQOO Z9s Pro delivers impressive results for its price range.
5. What are the drawbacks of the iQOO Z9s Pro?
Despite its many strengths, the iQOO Z9s Pro has a few drawbacks:
Bloatware: The device comes with a significant amount of pre-installed bloatware and ads through apps like Hot Games, Hot Apps, and V-Appstore. While some apps can be removed, others can only be disabled, which may affect the overall user experience.
Software Updates: The phone promises two years of OS updates and three years of security patches. This is relatively shorter compared to competitors offering more extended support, which may be a concern for users looking for long-term software updates.