The iQoo Z9 5G has launched, and it's the brand's newest contender in the battle for the best smartphone under Rs. 20,000 in India. It's a step up from its predecessor, the iQoo Z7 5G, with a bunch of improvements like a beefier processor, a slicker camera sensor, and a more substantial battery.
Let's dive into the details and share our first impressions on what the iQoo Z9 5G brings to the table.
iQOO Z9 5G Unboxing
In the box, you'll find everything you need to get started with the iQOO Z9 5G: the phone itself, a protective TPU case to keep it safe from day one, a USB Type A to Type C cable for charging and data transfer, a 44W charger to power up fast, a SIM ejector tool for when you need to swap or install your SIM card, and, of course, the quick start guide and warranty information to cover all the basics and ensure you're well-informed about your new device.
iQoo Z9 5G Design & Utility
The Graphene blue colour of the iQoo Z9 5G gives it quite a premium look with a glittery back that shines when light hits it at different angles. If you want something colourful, there is a Brushed Green variant as well. The AG finish is a smart touch, keeping those pesky fingerprints at bay. It's also slim, at just 7.83mm, and light too, tipping the scales at 188g.
Holding it feels great and with an IP54 rating, it's got a bit of armor against dust and splashes. It's a bit of a letdown that the phone has dropped the 3.5mm headphone jack, unlike its predecessor.
However, it compensates with the addition of dual speakers, which is an improvement over the single speaker on the previous Z7 model. The device also offers the option to expand storage up to 1TB with a microSD card, ensuring ample space for all your needs.
iQoo Z9 5G Display
The iQoo Z9 now comes with a slightly bigger 6.67" AMOLED display, which is great for anyone who loves a big screen. It sticks to that sharp full-HD+ resolution, but the screen's refresh rate has been bumped to 120Hz from the previous 90Hz, making everything from scrolling to gaming smoother.
The display’s also gotten a brightness boost, now peaking at 1,800 nits, so it’s easier to see your screen even in bright sunlight. They’ve updated the front camera cutout too, moving to a punch hole in the top center, which looks a lot more modern. As for the bezels, they’re much more even now, giving the phone a cleaner, more refined look.
iQoo Z9 5G Camera
The iQOO Z9 sports a dual-camera setup on the back. Interestingly, the main shooter is a 50MP camera, which steps down from the iQOO Z7's 64MP. But here's the thing—more megapixels don't always equal better pics.
The Z9 might have fewer megapixels, but it's packing a punch with a superior sensor, the Sony IMX 882 OIS, to be exact. iQOO is pretty proud of this, claiming it's the first of its kind in this segment.
The company further claims that the Z9 is the only phone in this price range to shoot 4K videos at 30FPS with OIS. Alongside the main camera, there's a 2-megapixel sensor dedicated to figuring out depth in Portrait mode shots, which helps make those backgrounds nicely blurred while keeping your subject sharp.
And if you like clicking selfies, there's a 16-megapixel front camera as well. We'll be diving deep into how these cameras perform in everyday situations in the full review of the iQoo Z9 5G.
Also Read: iQOO Neo 9 Pro Review
iQoo Z9 5G Specifications
The iQoo Z9 5G specifications include a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC under the hood, and it's claimed to be the fastest around in its price range, with an Antutu score that's through the roof at over 734K.
This is a notable jump from the previous iQoo Z7 5G's Dimensity 920 chip. However, we'll need to spend some more time with it to see how it really holds up with everyday tasks. On the storage front, the iQoo Z9 5G is out with a couple of options.
You can go for the base model, which comes with 128GB of storage, or if you need more space, there's a version with 256GB. Both models come with 8GB of RAM, so you should expect pretty smooth sailing when it comes to performance.
The phone comes equipped with a 5,000mAh battery and supports 44W fast charging. Despite the larger battery size in the iQoo Z9 5G, the charging speed hasn't changed. According to iQoo, you can get the battery from empty to 50% in just 30 minutes.
iQoo Z9 5G Software
Running on FunTouch OS 14 based on Android 14, the phone promises two years of Android and three years of security updates, which seems to be the standard for this price bracket.
It's packed with handy features like discreet call recording, a Smart Side Bar, and a Split Screen mode. The App Retainer keeps your apps running smoothly in the background, while the Hidden Album and easy management of bloatware keep your digital life tidy.
iQoo Z9 Price
The iQOO Z9 price in India starts at an effective price of Rs. 17,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant and Rs. 19,999 for 8+256GB model. You can find this phone over at the iQOO e-store as well as on Amazon.in.
And to sweeten the deal, they're throwing in a couple of special launch offers: an Rs 2,000 instant discount if you're using specific bank cards and an option for 3 months of no-cost EMI.
iQoo Z9 5G First Impression
The competition is tough in the sub 20,000 Rs bracket, and the iQOO Z9 certainly packs a punch with what it offers for the price. But does it have what it takes to be your next smartphone purchase? We'll dive deep into that question in our full review, coming soon on editorji.
