Review Summary
Expert Rating
The iQOO Z9s Pro is the successor to last year’s iQOO Z7 Pro (review), with the company skipping a generation for naming the device, as seen with other models in the Z-series lineup released this year. In India, the iQOO Z9s Pro is priced at Rs 24,999 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, Rs 26,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage model, and Rs 28,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB version. We have the top-end variant for review. Continue reading to discover how the iQOO Z9s Pro performs relative to its price and whether it outshines the Nothing Phone (2a) and OnePlus Nord CE4.
Table of Contents
Verdict
The iQOO Z9s Pro is a solid option for its price, outperforming many competitors in performance, design, display, battery life, and daylight camera performance. However, it could benefit with some improvements in the selfie camera and software departments.
Design and display
| iQOO Z9s Pro | Nothing Phone (2a) | OnePlus Nord CE4 | |
| Thickness | 7.49/ 7.99mm | 8.55mm | 8.4mm |
| Weight | 185/ 190 grams | 190 grams | 186 grams |
| IP rating | IP64 | IP54 | IP54 |
The iQOO Z9s Pro draws inspiration from the flagship iQOO 12 (review) in its design. It sports a prominent black square camera module with rounded corners and a chrome finish around the edges. We reviewed the white colour variant, which features a subtle marble texture that becomes visible when light catches it at an angle. Although the phone is made of plastic, which helps to keep its weight down, it feels well-built. Despite housing a substantial 5,500mAh battery, the handset weighs only 185 grams, making it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. The handset is IP64 water and dust resistance certified as well.
The iQOO Z9s Pro has a curved profile around the edges, making it the slimmest phone with a 5,500mAh battery within the segment. The handset measures 7.49mm and 7.99mm in thickness, depending on the colour variants. However, since the phone has a glossy profile, it is a bit slippery to hold. The company is providing a transparent TPU case with a device that makes it easy to gripe and protect against minor drops and falls. As for I/O, the iQOO smartphone features a Type-C port, sandwiched in between a speaker grille and SIM ejector tray, on the bottom edge.
| iQOO Z9s Pro | Nothing Phone (2a) | OnePlus Nord CE4 | |
| Display | 6.7-inch AMOLED | 6.7-inch AMOLED | 6.7-inch AMOLED |
| Peak brightness | 4,500 nits | 1,300 nits | 1,100 nits |
The viewing experience is handled by a 6.77-inch AMOLED display that offers up to 120Hz refresh rate, FHD+ resolution, and HDR10+ support. While these specs are common in the sub-Rs 25k segment, the display sets itself apart with its exceptional 4,500 nits peak brightness, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility. Additionally, the HDR10+ support enhances content streaming on platforms like Netflix.
The display showcases vivid colours in its default profile, which can be customised through the settings app. Viewing angles are notably impressive, and there are no noticeable mis-touches, a common issue with curved screens. Since it is a Wet Touch display, it can detect accurate touches even with sweaty hands or tiny droplets on the screen. Apart from this, the phone features an in-display fingerprint scanner that unlocks the device swiftly. The handset also has dual stereo speakers that deliver clear, crisp audio.
Cameras
For photography, the iQOO Z9s Pro sports a dual-rear camera setup comprising a 50MP Sony IMX882 OIS primary sensor and an 8MP ultrawide lens with 120-degree Field of View (FoV). The handset rocks a 16MP snapper on the front in the punch-hole setup for selfies and video calling. The cameras perform admirably well in a variety of environments with their quick focus and shutter speeds. While there is a jitteriness in the viewfinder when the sun goes down, it is pretty natural in the competition.
Furthermore, the iQOO Z9s Pro boasts a couple of AI features: AI Photo Enhance and AI Eraser, which are similar to the ones we have seen in a handful of other smartphones this year. The AI Photo Enhance improves the clarity of your old photos, although the results may not be as detailed as anticipated. The AI Eraser tool, on the other hand, eliminates unwanted objects from the frame. The feature works as advertised, but it could benefit from further refinement.
Here’s how the iQOO Z9s Pro camera performance against its closest arch-rivals Nothing Phone (2a) and OnePlus Nord CE4:
Daylight
The iQOO Z9s Pro surpasses both the OnePlus Nord CE 4 and the Nothing Phone (2a) in daylight photography. It captures more detailed images with vivid, eye-catching colours that appear vibrant and pleasing. Additionally, its dynamic range outshines that of its competitors.
Ultrawide
The iQOO Z9s Pro clearly outperforms the OnePlus Nord CE 4 in landscape photography, but it’s a close contest with the Nothing Phone (2a). Both the Nothing and iQOO devices produce contrast images with vivid colours. However, when zooming in, you’ll notice slight warping in the ultrawide shots from the Phone (2a). It’s also worth noting that the Phone (2a) offers a wider field of view and brighter images than its rivals.
Portraits
The iQOO Z9s Pro excels at capturing portraits with superior facial details and edge detection. The phone also offers near-accurate skin tones; however, its bokeh effect appears unnatural. The handset fails to blur out the background as cleanly as the OnePlus Nord CE4 and Nothing Phone (2a).
Selfies
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 shines in selfie photography, producing images from its front-facing camera with superior facial detailing and more natural skin tones. In comparison, the iQOO Z9s Pro tends to smooth out facial details and renders skin tones darker than they are.
Low light (night mode)
Many phones struggle with low-light performance. Moreover, except for the Nothing Phone (2a), both the iQOO Z9s Pro and the OnePlus Nord CE4 default to long exposure shots. This diminishes the authenticity of the images, making the scene look brighter with limited dynamic range. That said, the Nothing Phone (2a) impresses with slightly better details even, though the colours may not be realistic.
Performance and software
The iQOO Z9s Pro performance has been taken care of by Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC aided by 8GB/ 12GB RAM and 128GB/ 256GB storage. The 12GB RAM variant achieved an AnTuTu score of 8,03,223, which is on par with the OnePlus Nord CE4, also equipped with the same chipset. The Geekbench scores are also impressive for the price, with 1,131 in the single-core test and 3,074 in the multi-core test. Additionally, in the Burnout CPU throttle test, the device sustained 62 percent of its peak performance.
Talking about real-world performance, the handset delivers smooth scrolling and multitasking. It also effortlessly handles graphically demanding games like BGMI, Call of Duty, and Real Racing 3, even in high graphics and frame rate settings. The handset maintained an average frame rate of 36.75 while playing BGMI in Ultra HDR graphics and Ultra frame rate settings. Moreover, the phone’s thermals increased by 7.5 degrees on average. This might not be the best gaming performance for a device within the price range, but it is still respectable. The handset features a 30 cm² VC Liquid Cooling system to prevent the device from getting uncomfortably warm. Additionally, the handset boasts an AI Game Voice changer, motion control, and 4D game vibration for a realistic and enhanced gaming experience.
In terms of software, the iQOO Z9s Pro boots Android 14-based FunTouchOS 14 out of the box. The software experience is the same as the other iQOO smartphones launched in the last 8-9 months. The app drawer looks loaded, with 47 apps pre-installed, seven of which are third-party. These third-party apps are popular with millions of downloads and removable if not required.
| Pre-installed apps | Updates | |
| iQOO Z9s Pro | 47 | 2 years OS + 3 years security |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | 30 | 3 years OS + 4 years security |
| OnePlus Nord CE4 | 49 | 2 years OS + 3 years security |
The software looks user-friendly and decently optimised. Furthermore, it has customisation options and features such as app retainer, ultra game mode, split screen, small windows, smart sidebar, and more. The handset is future-proof with typical 2 years of major OS and one additional year of security updates.
Battery and charging
The iQOO Z9s Pro, equipped with a 5,500mAh battery, delivered an impressive 14 hours and 22 minutes in the PCMark battery test, closely matching the performance of the OnePlus Nord CE4, which features the same battery capacity. The device consumed just 3 percent of its battery life in our YouTube video streaming test. When gaming on BGMI, Call of Duty, and Real Racing 3 for 30 minutes each, the battery level dropped by an average of 7 percent.
The handset should comfortably last at least a day with moderate to heavy usage. If required, the phone can be charged quickly using the 80W charger provided in the box. During our lab test, the iQOO Z9s Pro juiced up from 20 to 100 percent in 39 minutes.
| iQOO Z9s Pro | Nothing Phone (2a) | OnePlus Nord CE4 | |
| Battery | 5,500mAh | 5,000mAh | 5,500mAh |
| Charging time (20-100 percent) | 39 minutes (80W) | 56 minutes (45W) | 35 minutes (100W) |
Final verdict
The iQOO Z9s Pro is a compelling choice at its starting price of Rs 24,999. While the OnePlus Nord CE4 (review) may have an advantage with its superior selfie camera and faster charging speeds, and the Nothing Phone (2a) (review) stands out for its clean software experience and extended support, the iQOO Z9s Pro sets itself apart with solid build quality and reliable performance. It features a premium design (though not as innovative as the Nothing Phone (2a)), an impressive display, strong battery life, and fast charging. Powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC, it handles everyday tasks and gaming with ease, even if it doesn’t lead the pack. The camera system, particularly in daylight and ultrawide shots, delivers respectable results. Overall, the iQOO Z9s Pro offers excellent value, making it a strong contender for those seeking a well-rounded smartphone in this price range.
Editor’s rating: 8 / 10
Reasons to buy
- The handset is IP64 water and dust resistance certified and offers a vibrant display with 4,500 nits peak brightness.
- The device delivers smooth performance in both everyday tasks and demanding games.
- The handset offers impressive daylight and ultrawide photography results.
- The 5,500mAh battery provides long-lasting usage, with fast charging capabilities.
Reasons not to buy
- The front camera appears a bit underwhelming.
- The device comes with quite pre-installed apps, which may put off some users.
|
Rs. 24,999.00
|
Go To Store
|
