At a starting price of Rs 34,999, the iQOO Z11 packs plenty into its mid-range offering. The smartphone stands out with its curved design, reliable battery life, capable chipset, and consistent camera performance. It is also available in four memory configurations, giving buyers multiple options to choose from. However, like any smartphone, it comes with a few compromises. To help you decide, here are the key reasons to buy or skip the iQOO Z11 (review).
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Reasons to buy the iQOO Z11
Tall and vibrant display
The iQOO Z11’s display is one of its strongest reasons to consider the phone. It features a large 6.8-inch 3D curved AMOLED panel with a 1.5K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and 2,000 nits of HBM brightness. In everyday use, the screen delivers vibrant colours and remains clearly visible outdoors, while the curved edges and slim bezels make content consumption more immersive.
The tall frame also works well for reading manhwas and other long-form content, as more information fits on the screen at once. Despite the curved design, accidental touches weren’t an issue during gaming. The 144Hz refresh rate further adds to the experience with smooth scrolling and fluid animations. If a bright, immersive display is high on your priority list, the Z11’s screen is a strong reason to consider it.
More than a day’s battery life
While larger batteries have become increasingly common, the iQOO Z11 shows that its 7,050mAh battery is more than enough to deliver strong endurance. In everyday use, the phone comfortably lasts a full day and can stretch further depending on your usage, even with activities such as social media scrolling, video streaming, casual gaming, and multitasking. Standby drain is also minimal, adding to the overall endurance.
The battery backed this up in our testing, lasting 16 hours and 12 minutes in the PCMark battery test. This is a strong result for a phone in this segment and highlights the Z11’s optimisation across different workloads. For users who prioritise long battery life and don’t want to worry about frequent charging, the Z11’s endurance is a definite advantage.
Good cameras
The iQOO Z11 comes with a dual-camera setup featuring a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, along with a 32MP front camera. For everyday photography, the Z11’s camera setup is more than capable. The primary camera captures good detail and pleasing colours, while the ultra-wide lens adds versatility for landscapes and group shots.
In our comparison with the OnePlus Nord CE6 across different shooting scenarios, the Z11 delivered the more consistent overall camera experience, particularly in terms of detail, clarity, low-light performance and colour reproduction. The Nord CE6 had an edge in areas such as dynamic range, exposure and selfies, but the Z11’s more consistent photography performance gives it an advantage.
If your camera requirements include casual photography and social media, the Z11 is worth considering for its reliable primary camera and added ultra-wide versatility.
Dependable performance
The iQOO Z11 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7500 Turbo, making it the first phone in India to feature the chipset. It is paired with LPDDR4X RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and a 3,800mm² vapour chamber for heat management. In our testing, the phone’s temperature increased by just 4.4°C after 30 minutes of gaming, while its AnTuTu score of 10,99,769 was broadly in line with similarly specced phones.
The Z11 handled everyday tasks with ease, including social media, streaming, and multitasking. Gaming performance was also dependable, with stable gameplay in BGMI and Honor of Kings, although COD Mobile averaged 37.5fps due to its High graphics limit on the device. Overall, the Z11 offers reliable performance for everyday use and casual gaming.
Reasons to skip the iQOO Z11
Higher memory variants may seem pricey
While the iQOO Z11’s starting price of Rs 34,999 is competitive, the higher memory variants can get considerably more expensive. The phone is available in four configurations, going up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, with a Rs 5,000 price difference between each variant. This can make a significant difference for buyers considering the higher-end configurations, especially since the OnePlus Nord CE6 offers comparable RAM and storage options at a lower price.
If you’re considering a higher RAM and storage variant of the Z11, it’s worth comparing alternatives before making a decision.
Rear panel catches fingerprint smudges
The iQOO Z11’s curved design and edges give it a premium look, while also offering a refreshing change at a time when most smartphones are opting for flat frames. The Celestial Blue variant looks particularly classy, with a subtle shimmer that changes depending on how the light hits the back panel. However, the glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet, with smudges becoming quite noticeable after regular use. You may need to wipe the phone frequently or use a case to keep it looking clean.
