iQOO Z9 review: Where Performances Do Not Stop You

• Performance: Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 / 12GB RAM
• Main Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED
• Weight: 194.6g
• Storage: 256GB
• OS/Software: Android 14, Funtouch OS 14
• Battery: 6,000 mAh
• Charging: 80W SUPERVOOC
• Features: 4K, 1080p video recording HDR
• Rear Camera: 50 MP Wide + 2MP Depth 
• Front Camera: 16 MP Wide Camera,1080 Video recording
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC
• Colour: Phantom Black 
• Rating: 4/5
• Price: RM 1499

In the fast-paced world of smartphone technology, iQOO continues to establish itself as a formidable player, known for pushing the boundaries of innovation and performance. The latest addition to their impressive lineup, the iQOO Z9, is no exception. Designed to cater to tech enthusiasts and everyday users’ needs, the iQOO Z9 promises to deliver a seamless experience.

This new model boasts a blend of cutting-edge features, robust hardware, and a simple classic design, aiming to provide an unparalleled user experience in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. From its high-refresh-rate display and advanced camera system to the powerhouse under the hood, the iQOO Z9 is crafted to impress.

In this article, we will delve into the key features and specifications of the iQOO Z9, exploring how it stands out in terms of performance, design, and overall value. Whether you are a gaming enthusiast, a photography lover, or someone looking for a reliable daily driver, the iQOO Z9 has something to offer.

The design 

When you open the box, you’ll find a sleek, glossy-finished smartphone nestled inside. Despite its understated simplicity, the iQOO Z9 exudes elegance. Its design is simple and refined, appealing to those who appreciate a minimalist aesthetic. While some may prefer flashy or overly glossy designs, others seek a smartphone that is elegant yet simple, and the iQOO Z9 fits that preference perfectly.

The camera design resembles a smartwatch frame, featuring a boxy shape that adds to its sophisticated look. Weighing 194.6 grams, the iQOO Z9 feels surprisingly light and fits seamlessly into your pocket. Its back cover is made from a durable plastic composite sheet, ensuring both sturdiness and style.

The iQOO Z9 is available in two colors, Phantom Black and Breeze Green, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your taste. The model I am reviewing is the epitome of sleek, elegant design, combined with practical functionality.

The display 

The iQOO Z9 boasts an impressive 144Hz refresh rate, surpassing the typical 120Hz found on many other mobile platforms. This higher refresh rate ensures a smoother and more responsive user experience, particularly noticeable in gaming and fast-paced content.

The main display is a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, offering a bright and clear viewing experience. This makes everything from browsing to watching videos exceptionally vivid and enjoyable.

If you’re a gamer who spends long hours playing, you’ll appreciate the iQOO Z9’s advanced cooling system. The phone is equipped with a 6K VC liquid cooling system, ensuring that it remains cool even during extended gaming sessions.

For those who enjoy streaming movies and TV shows, the iQOO Z9 features dual speakers that deliver rich and immersive audio. Whether you’re watching your favorite drama or listening to music, the sound quality enhances the overall experience.

Gamers will also love the 4D game vibration feature, which adds a new level of immersion and excitement to gaming by providing tactile feedback during gameplay.

Additionally, the iQOO Z9 is rated IP64 for splash, water, and dust resistance, offering added durability and peace of mind. This ensures the phone can withstand everyday challenges and occasional exposure to the elements.

The Camera 

The iQOO Z9 is equipped with a powerful rear camera setup, featuring a 50 MP wide-angle lens and a 2 MP depth sensor, along with a 16 MP wide-angle front camera for selfies and video calls.

While the iQOO Z9 is designed with extreme gaming in mind, it also excels in other areas. If you’re like me and not particularly interested in gaming, you’ll find the camera capabilities quite impressive. I’ve had a great time exploring what the camera can do, capturing stunning photos and enjoying the various photography features it offers.

Night Photography 

When it comes to night photography, you will need to switch between using the night mode and the normal mode, depending on the lighting conditions and the presence of glare. If you are capturing a scene where there is significant lighting glare, night mode is the better option as it helps to minimize the glare and enhance the overall quality of the photo.

Additionally, avoid excessive zooming, as this can degrade the image quality, making it appear pixelated and less clear. Instead, try to get closer to your subject or use the phone’s wide-angle lens if available to maintain the sharpness and detail of your night photos.

Portrait Mode Features

Customizable Bokeh Shapes

With the iQOO Z9, you can personalize the background bokeh in your portraits by choosing different shapes, such as hearts, stars, or hexagons. This feature adds a creative touch to your photos, making them stand out with unique background effects.

Adjustable Bokeh Intensity

The iQOO Z9 allows you to control the intensity and size of the bokeh effect, offering a range from subtle to dramatic. This flexibility lets you achieve the exact look you want, whether it’s a gentle blur or a striking background separation.

AI-Powered Portrait Enhancements

One of the standout features that many will appreciate, especially women, is the suite of AI-powered portrait enhancements. You don’t need to download additional effects; everything is conveniently integrated into the camera.

Skin Smoothing and Beautification: The AI provides natural-looking skin smoothing, blemish removal, and beautification options, ensuring you look your best in every shot.

Adaptive Lighting: This feature automatically adjusts the lighting on the subject’s face, ensuring it’s well-lit and flattering, even in challenging lighting conditions.

Depth Control

The iQOO Z9 offers advanced depth control features to refine your portraits:

Post-Capture Depth Adjustment: After taking a photo, you can adjust the depth of field and focus area, giving you more flexibility in editing and perfecting your shots.

Depth Maps for Precise Focus: Utilize depth maps to enhance edge detection, ensuring the subject is perfectly separated from the background for a professional-looking portrait.

The Processor 

The iQOO Z9 is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, coupled with 12GB of RAM, and runs on Android 14. While this might seem like an older choice in the competitive smartphone market, it remains a popular and reliable option among recent releases.

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is designed to handle demanding tasks with ease, making it ideal for users who push their smartphones to the limits. Whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or running intensive applications, this processor ensures smooth and efficient performance without lag.

Moreover, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is known for its sustainability and reliability, especially in mid-range devices. It offers stable performance for multitasking and opening multiple windows simultaneously, ensuring that you get a seamless and responsive user experience. For a mid-range smartphone, the iQOO Z9 delivers excellent value with its robust and efficient processor.

Smooth Envision: Smooth, Every Time

Funtouch OS 14 introduces Smooth Envision, a revolutionary feature that enhances the overall smoothness of the operating system. By minimizing persistent processes and optimizing RAM

usage, Funtouch OS 14 boosts system performance and responsiveness, allowing for more apps to remain active simultaneously.

Enhanced Multitasking Features

Funtouch OS 14 elevates multitasking with an upgraded small window feature. Improved visibility of adjustment lines makes it easier for users to navigate and understand the adjustment range, streamlining the multitasking experience.

More Color, More You: Personalize Your Experience

Funtouch OS 14 offers a wide range of new personalization options, allowing users to express their unique style and make their devices truly their own.

Advanced Video Editing Tools

With Funtouch OS 14, users can take advantage of enhanced video editing capabilities, making it easier to create unique and captivating content directly on the device without needing third-party apps.

Safeguarding User Privacy and Security

Funtouch OS 14 strengthens user privacy and security. The new Smart Mirroring feature allows users to share their screens seamlessly without worrying about the notification bar revealing personal information. Additionally, hidden photos are now protected with an extra password verification step, ensuring that personal data remains secure.

The Battery 

The iQOO Z9 features a robust 6,000mAh battery, setting a new standard for battery capacity in its class. Designed with an ultra-thin profile across the entire series, it maintains a sleek appearance while delivering exceptional battery life.

Renowned as the king of battery life in its price range, the iQOO Z9 ensures you can stream your favorite music or engage in extended gaming sessions without worrying about draining the battery quickly.

Even with regular use over four years, the battery degradation is minimal, typically dropping by only 20 percentage points. This longevity ensures reliable performance over an extended period.

Included in the package is an 80W charging brick, allowing for rapid charging times. This means you won’t have to wait long before your phone is fully charged and ready to go.

Should you purchase the iQOO Z9?

In its price range, the iQOO Z9 stands out with a sleek design measuring just 7.98mm in thickness. It features a 16MP front camera and a rear camera setup with a powerful 50MP Sony IMX882 lens, complemented by a dual-camera system.

Performance-wise, the iQOO Z9 is equipped with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset and supports rapid charging with an 80W flash charger. It boasts a substantial 6000mAh battery, offering extended usage times. Additionally, it includes IP64 rating for splash, water, and dust resistance, NFC capability, and an Infrared Remote Control feature, providing added versatility at its price point