In addition to its performance, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro (review) also boasts good camera performance, courtesy of a 50MP OIS Sony IMX920 Night Vision primary sensor. The camera impressed us with its daylight performance in our review. You also get a secondary 8MP ultra-wide camera with a 116-degree field of view (FoV). Is this camera system better than the rival Vivo V29 Pro (review)? We attempt to find that out in this comparison. Before checking the results, here’s a quick look at their camera specifications.
Table of Contents
iQOO Neo 9 Pro vs Vivo V29 Pro camera specifications
| iQOO Neo 9 Pro | Vivo V29 Pro |
| 50MP OIS-enabled primary camera | 50MP OIS-enabled primary camera |
| – | 12MP telephoto camera with 2x zoom |
| 8MP ultra-wide lens | 8MP ultra-wide lens |
| 16MP front camera | 50MP front camera |
Daylight HDR
Both iQOO Neo 9 Pro and Vivo V29 Pro outputs 12.5MP images by default from their respective OIS-enabled 50MP primary cameras. They both do a fine job, but the Neo 9 Pro smartphone manages to outperform the Vivo smartphone in terms of quality, dynamic range, colour reproduction, and exposure to details even around the shadowy area. The Vivo V29 Pro struggles to handle the harsh sunlight; consequently, subjects such as the trees on the left edge of the image (above) appear overexposed.
Winner: iQOO Neo 9 Pro
Ultrawide
Even though both smartphones utilise an 8MP snapper for ultrawide shots, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro outputs more appealing images than the V29 Pro. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro exhibits superior detailing, punchy colours, minimal noise, and dynamic range.
Winner: iQOO Neo 9 Pro
2x zoom
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro and Vivo V29 Pro both feature a 2x zoom toggle in the viewfinder. However, the iQOO smartphone utilises an in-sensor zoom, whereas its counterpart switches to its 12MP telephoto lens that delivers 2x optical zoom. The resulting images appear sharper and more detailed on the Vivo V29 Pro compared to the iQOO Neo 9 Pro. However, Vivo oversaturates the images quite a bit, making them slightly unnatural.
Winner: Tie
Selfie
The Vivo V29 Pro captures better selfies than its competitor iQOO Neo 9 Pro, as expected. The bigger 50MP sensor on the Vivo smartphone showcases finer facial detailing with near-accurate skin tones. Conversely, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro, equipped with a 16MP front-facing camera, tends to smooth out details and oversaturate colours.
Winner: Vivo V29 Pro
Portrait
Similar to its selfie camera, the Vivo V29 Pro keeps the skin tones natural while shooting portraits from the primary sensor. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro, on the other hand, brightens the complexion and other shades in the frame, which can affect the details. That said, both smartphones could benefit from enhancements in edge detection.
Winner: Vivo V29 Pro
Lowlight
In dull lighting conditions, there is a noticeable drop in the camera performance of both smartphones. Nevertheless, images shot from the main sensor of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro appear sharper and less grainy compared to its rival. There is minimal light flare as well and the colours look closer to reality. Similar to daylight performance, the Vivo V29 Pro overexposes the shots when the sun goes down, resulting in a loss of details.
Winner: iQOO Neo 9 Pro
Night mode
With Night mode enabled, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro offers visually appealing images, possibly due to its peppy colours. The Vivo V29 Pro, in contrast, outputs slightly faded images, but it excels in sharpness.
Winner: Tie
Verdict
Looking at the results, it is evident that the iQOO Neo 9 Pro has a better set of cameras than the Vivo V29 Pro. The handset provides superior results in both daylight and lowlight photography from the main sensor. Its colour calibration and night mode performance are also something to boast about.
However, when it comes to selfies and portrait shots, the Vivo V29 Pro has the edge. It delivers better skin tones and facial details. Additionally, the phone offers a more versatile camera setup, with a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed-up shots and an Aura light technology, which significantly enhances its low-light camera performance. There are also quite a few modes and filters built in for some fun.
Ultimately, the choice between the two smartphones depends on your preferences. If you are a casual photographer who prioritises quality, then the iQOO Neo 9 Pro emerges as the clear winner. However, if you value versatility and additional camera features, then the Vivo V29 Pro presents a compelling option.
