The iQoo 9 Pro is the latest flagship smartphone from iQoo, and it brings a host of impressive upgrades over its predecessor, the iQoo 7 Legend. Featuring the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, a stunning 2K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a sophisticated triple-camera setup with gimbal stabilization, the iQoo 9 Pro sets a new standard for premium Android smartphones. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the specifics of this device, exploring its key features, performance, and overall user experience to help you determine if it’s the right choice for you.
Design and Display
The iQoo 9 Pro boasts a stylish and modern design that’s sure to turn heads. It’s available in two distinct finishes: the familiar Legend finish, with its striking white, blue, and red color scheme inspired by BMW Motorsport, and the new Dark Cruise option, featuring a sleek black carbon fiber texture. The phone’s back panel is a mix of matte and polished surfaces, with a prominent camera module occupying a significant portion of the rear.
While the design is undoubtedly attractive, the large camera module might be a bit polarizing for some users. However, the inclusion of a high-quality TPU case in the box, which features the same Legend finish, helps to mitigate the protrusion of the camera lenses and adds an extra layer of protection.
The iQoo 9 Pro’s centerpiece is its stunning display: a 6.78-inch curved-edge AMOLED panel with a 1,440×3,200 pixel (2K) resolution and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This combination provides incredibly sharp visuals, vibrant colors, and a smooth, fluid scrolling experience. The 300Hz touch sampling rate ensures lightning-fast responsiveness to touch inputs, making the phone incredibly responsive for gaming and other demanding tasks. The inclusion of LTPO technology enables the display to dynamically adjust its refresh rate based on the content on the screen, optimising battery life without sacrificing visual fidelity. This feature contributes to making the iQoo 9 Pro one of the most visually impressive and responsive smartphones in the market.
Performance and Hardware
The iQoo 9 Pro packs a powerful punch under the hood, boasting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. This cutting-edge chipset, manufactured using a 4nm fabrication process, delivers unparalleled performance and efficiency. The processor’s maximum CPU clock speed of 3.0GHz allows the iQoo 9 Pro to handle even the most demanding applications and games with ease. Whether you’re browsing the web, editing photos, or playing demanding mobile titles, the iQoo 9 Pro will deliver a buttery-smooth and responsive experience.
iQoo has gone a step further by including what it calls an Independent Display Chip (IDC) which claims to enhance gaming and imaging performance. This dedicated chip promises to offload some of the processing power from the main Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, potentially delivering smoother frame rates and improved image quality. While the real-world performance of the IDC remains to be seen, its potential in enhancing the phone’s overall capabilities is definitely exciting.
In terms of connectivity, the iQoo 9 Pro features Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and the latest satellite navigation systems. The phone also supports dual-5G standby and includes support for fourteen 5G bands, ensuring seamless connectivity regardless of your location.
Cameras
The cameras are arguably the most significant upgrade over the iQoo 7 Legend. The iQoo 9 Pro features a 50-megapixel primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and gimbal stabilization, similar to the Vivo X70 Pro+. This powerful combination promises to deliver fantastic image quality, even in challenging lighting conditions. The camera system also boasts a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with a 150-degree field of view and autofocus, enabling you to capture breathtaking landscapes and group shots with ease. Rounding out the rear camera system is a 16-megapixel telephoto camera with 2.5X optical zoom and OIS, offering excellent versatility for close-up shots and portrait photography.
For capturing selfies, the iQoo 9 Pro comes equipped with a 16-megapixel front camera, capable of delivering high-quality self-portraits and clear video calls.
The combination of high-resolution sensors, gimbal stabilization, and sophisticated software features promises to deliver a truly exceptional camera experience on the iQoo 9 Pro.
Battery and Charging
The iQoo 9 Pro features a 4,700mAh battery, which marks a significant improvement over the 4,000mAh battery found in the iQoo 7 Legend. This larger capacity promises to deliver extended battery life for those who use their phones heavily.
iQoo has also bumped up the charging speed to an incredible 120W. This means you can fully charge your phone in under 20 minutes, making it extremely convenient for users who are short on time.
In addition to fast wired charging, the iQoo 9 Pro also supports 50W wireless charging, though the charging dock is sold separately. The fast wireless charging feature is a welcome addition for users who prefer wireless charging and enhances the phone’s overall convenience.
Software
The iQoo 9 Pro runs Funtouch OS 12, which is based on Android 12. iQoo has made several improvements to its custom skin, including a cleaner interface, improved performance, and enhanced privacy features.
Gaming Performance
The iQoo 9 Pro is built with gaming in mind. With its powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 120Hz display, and 300Hz touch sampling rate, the iQoo 9 Pro delivers a smooth and immersive gaming experience. It also boasts iQoo’s Gamepad accessory, which provides physical buttons for a more comfortable and responsive gaming experience. However, the actual gaming performance of this device, including the impact of the IDC and the efficacy of the Gamepad, needs to be tested thoroughly in a full review.
Final Thoughts
The iQoo 9 Pro presents a compelling case for itself as a premium Android smartphone. It offers top-notch performance, a dazzling display, a versatile camera system, and blazing fast charging. However, the large camera module might not appeal to everyone, and the actual battery life and real-world performance of the IDC and the Gamepad remain to be seen.
Ultimately, whether the iQoo 9 Pro is worth buying depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a premium smartphone with a powerful processor, an excellent display, and a top-notch camera system, the iQoo 9 Pro is definitely worth considering. However, if you’re on a tight budget or are primarily concerned with battery life, you might want to explore other options.
Stay tuned for our full review of the iQoo 9 Pro, where we will delve deeper into its performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and overall user experience, offering a comprehensive assessment of this exciting new smartphone.
