The iQoo 11 5G: India’s First Flagship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The iQoo 11 5G has arrived in India, marking the beginning of the flagship Android smartphone race for 2023. As the successor to the iQoo 9T, this device boasts several upgrades, aiming for a truly all-round performer status. We’re talking about the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powered phone in India, a new V2 co-processor from Vivo, blazing-fast charging, and a super-smooth display. While the specs are impressive, the question remains – is it worth your hard-earned cash? Let’s delve deeper to find out.
Design and Display: Premium Looks and a Fast Refresh Rate
The iQoo 11 5G comes in two colors: Legend, with iconic BMW Motorsport racing stripes on a textured faux-leather back, and Alpha, featuring a sleek glass back. While both have their appeal, the Alpha variant feels more modern and offers a superior in-hand feel. Despite its 205g weight, the phone feels comfortably balanced. The metal frame houses power and volume buttons on the right, while the bottom edge sports a USB Type-C port and a primary speaker grille flanking the SIM tray.
A highlight of this device is its 6.78-inch 2K AMOLED display. Compared to the predecessor, iQoo has bumped up the refresh rate to 144Hz and the resolution to 2K. The screen, though flat, boasts thin bezels and an E6 AMOLED panel engineered for enhanced peak brightness, reaching 1800 nits. This translates to 13% better power efficiency compared to the previous generation. For added protection, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus shields the screen from accidental drops and scratches.
The display intelligently adjusts its refresh rate based on the content displayed, offering a smooth viewing experience. Adding to this, the new Vivo V2 Image Signal Processor (ISP) enables frame interpolation in games, achieving a higher and smoother framerate of up to 144fps, even for games that don’t officially support it. This feature will be a boon for gamers playing resource-intensive games like Genshin Impact.
Power and Performance: Flagship Processing and Enhanced Cooling
Under the hood, the iQoo 11 5G packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 internal storage. To keep thermals in check, a new vapor chamber liquid cooling system has been implemented. iQoo boasts impressive AnTuTu scores, promising exceptional performance. However, benchmark scores are not an accurate reflection of real-world performance, and extensive testing will be conducted to evaluate its sustained performance in real-world apps and games.
Camera System: Flagship Features and Enhanced Video
The iQoo 11 5G features a triple-camera setup on the back. The primary camera utilizes a 50-megapixel Samsung GN5 sensor accompanied by optical image stabilization (OIS). Alongside this, there’s an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 13-megapixel telephoto camera with 2X optical zoom. Compared to the iQoo 9T, the ultra-wide camera has received a downgrade on paper, though real-world performance will be scrutinized in the full review. For selfies, a 16-megapixel front camera is included.
Thanks to the V2 ISP, the iQoo 11 5G boasts flagship-level 4K video recording in low light, potentially pushing the boundaries of low-light videography on a smartphone. It will be interesting to see how well it performs in capturing detailed footage in challenging lighting conditions.
Battery and Charging: Swift Power Delivery for Uninterrupted Usage
The iQoo 11 5G houses a 5000mAh battery, offering substantial capacity for extended usage. Complementing this is 120W fast charging, enabling the phone to achieve 50 percent charge in just eight minutes. This remarkable speed effectively tackles the challenge of battery anxiety, ensuring users can get back to using their device quickly.
Software: Funtouch OS 13 and Software Support
Running on Android 13-based Funtouch OS 13, the iQoo 11 5G promises three major Android updates and four years of security updates. This ensures a longer software lifespan, offering a smoother and secure user experience for years to come. The device comes with limited bloatware apps, primarily including Spotify, Snapchat, and others.
Price and Availability: Flagship Price Tag with Competitive Features
With a starting price of Rs. 59,999, the iQoo 11 5G offers an 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. The variant we have for review, packing 16GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, comes in at Rs. 64,999. This price tag puts it in direct competition with other flagship devices from brands like OnePlus, Samsung, and Xiaomi. The iQoo 11 5G’s impressive specs and features will determine its position in the competitive Indian smartphone market, and a comprehensive review will shed light on its real-world performance and overall value proposition.
Conclusion: A Strong Contender in the Flagship Race
The iQoo 11 5G looks like a formidable contender in the Indian flagship smartphone market. It boasts an impressive set of features, including the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a super-smooth 144Hz 2K AMOLED display, fast charging, and a compelling camera system. While the price tag is on the higher side, its feature set and performance potential could make it a compelling choice for users seeking a premium and feature-rich smartphone. Keep an eye out for our full review of the iQoo 11 5G, coming soon, for a comprehensive assessment of its real-world performance and value proposition.
