iQOO Z9s Pro Review: Does it Justify the Price Tag?
The iQOO Z9s Pro, along with its standard sibling, marks a significant upgrade for the Z-series. iQOO has been working hard to position itself as a strong contender in the Indian smartphone market, and the Z9s Pro aims to take on the mid-range segment with a powerful blend of premium design, impressive cameras, and a captivating display. But with other heavy hitters like the Realme 13 Pro+, OnePlus Nord 4, and Nothing Phone 2a Plus already dominating the market, does the Z9s Pro have what it takes to stand out among the competition? Let’s delve into this in-depth review to find out.
iQOO Z9s Pro Design: Slim and Stylish
The iQOO Z9s Pro’s design leans into a mature, premium aesthetic that echoes the brand’s flagship and Neo series. The phone boasts two enticing finishes: Flamboyant Orange with a leather back and Luxe Marble with a textured glass finish. While both are attractive, the Luxe Marble option undoubtedly shines with its sophisticated appeal. Measuring just 7.49mm thin, it stands out as one of the slimmest mid-range smartphones currently available, making it incredibly comfortable to hold.
The curved display embraces a bezel-less experience, but unfortunately, the curved edges can lead to accidental touches—a common issue with this screen design. Button placement could be optimized as well, requiring a bit of a stretch to reach the volume controls. The phone includes screen protection, but it’s not Corning Gorilla Glass. However, the IP64 rating provides peace of mind with dust and splash resistance. Overall, the iQOO Z9s Pro boasts a refined design that sets it apart, particularly in the competitive Rs 30,000 price segment.
iQOO Z9s Pro Display: A Knockout for Outdoor Usage
The Z9s Pro’s 6.77-inch Full HD+ curved AMOLED display is a visual treat, immediately capturing attention with its vibrant colors and sharp details. The curved screen further enhances the bezel-less experience, minimizing those dreaded accidental touches. The viewing angles are impressive, and the 4,500 nits peak brightness ensures excellent visibility even under direct sunlight.
For personalized preferences, you can choose between Standard, Professional, and Bright colour modes to fine-tune the display. Professional mode delivers richer saturation, while Bright mode intensifies colors, offering a more vibrant look compared to the standard setting. With a 120Hz screen refresh rate, scrolling feels smooth and effortless, making everything on screen feel incredibly responsive.
The in-display fingerprint sensor is remarkably fast and reliable, adding to the phone’s overall seamless user experience. Stereo speakers provide a decent audio output, but pushing the volume to its maximum does introduce a hint of distortion, which is a slight drawback.
iQOO Z9s Pro Software: Bloatware Heavy
The iQOO Z9s Pro runs Android 14 with the FunTouchOS 14 skin on top. While it offers good levels of customization and a generally fluid experience, a few lingering concerns detract from the software’s overall appeal.
Firstly, the phone suffers from bloatware, though most of it is removable. However, the pre-installed Hot Games and Hot Apps, which constantly promote various apps and games via ads, and the V-Appstore with its pushy notifications are more difficult to manage. While you cannot uninstall these apps, disabling them can put a stop to their incessant notifications. The two years of OS upgrades and three years of security patch promise are also somewhat underwhelming as many competitors offer three years of Android updates and four years of security updates.
iQOO Z9s Pro Performance: A Value-for-Money Powerhouse
The iQOO Z9s Pro breaks new ground by offering the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor at a price point that’s significantly lower than other devices boasting this chipset. This makes it an exceptionally compelling value proposition.
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 delivers capable performance, effortlessly handling everyday tasks like scrolling through social media, switching between multiple apps, and browsing the web. The benchmarks validate this:
| Benchmark | iQOO Z9s Pro | Honor 200 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro | Realme GT 6T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single Core | 1136 | 1145 | 1142 | 1843 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi Core | 3091 | 3304 | 3124 | 4756 |
| AnTuTu v10 | 814328 | 821,670 | 818,387 | 1,462,980 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 10460 | 12,723 | 13,730 | 19,517 |
| 3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Slingshot | 8255 | Maxed Out | 8393 | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Wild Life | 5287 | 5917 | 5394 | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Wild Life Unlimited | 5428 | 6043 | 5457 | 11481 |
| GFXBench T-Rex | 119 | 60 | 116 | 60 |
| GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 | 74 | 59 | 61 | 60 |
| GFXBench Car Chase | 40 | 38 | 32 | 60 |
Gaming is another strong suit. The Z9s Pro can handle demanding titles like Call of Duty: Mobile with Very High graphics settings and Max frame rates without any lag or stutter. However, the phone does get slightly warm around the camera module during extended gaming sessions, though it isn’t overly disconcerting.
iQOO Z9s Pro Cameras: Top-Notch Performers
Cameras are undoubtedly one of the highlights of the iQOO Z9s Pro. iQOO has upped its game with the Z-series, equipping it with pro-grade cameras that deliver excellent performance in diverse lighting conditions.
Daylight shots are crisp and detailed, showcasing good dynamic range. Portraits captured by the Z9s Pro are pleasingly sharp, while the low-light performance is impressive, producing detailed images even in less-than-ideal lighting. If you want a deeper dive into the iQOO Z9s Pro’s camera capabilities, you can visit this link for a more comprehensive analysis.
iQOO Z9s Pro Battery: A Solid Performer
The iQOO Z9s Pro touts a hefty 5,500mAh battery, exceeding the capacities of competitors like the OnePlus Nord 4, Motorola Edge 50, Nothing Phone 2a Plus, and Honor 200. This results in exceptional battery life compared to its rivals. With moderate to casual usage, you can stretch the battery for two days, and even under heavy usage scenarios, which includes streaming content, browsing the web, social media browsing, and emailing, you can still comfortably reach the end of the day with power to spare.
In our HD battery loop test, the Z9s Pro lasted a remarkable 26 hours and 42 minutes. The fast charging capabilities are equally impressive. The included 80W fast charger delivers rapid charging speeds, bringing the phone to 33 percent in 15 minutes, 57 percent in 30 minutes, and a full charge in just 52 minutes.
iQOO Z9s Pro Verdict
The iQOO Z9s Pro strikes a strong balance between style, performance, and features. It offers a premium design, a vibrant display that shines outdoors, impressive battery life, and exceptional cameras. The performance is commendable, and overall, the Z9s Pro delivers on its promises. However, bloatware remains a frustrating issue, and the offered Android upgrade cycle lags behind the competition.
When it comes to rivals, the iQOO Z9s Pro has to contend with strong contenders like the OnePlus Nord 4 (Review), Realme GT 6T (Review), Poco F6 (Review), Realme 13 Pro+ (Review), Nothing Phone 2a (Review), and more. Despite the competition, the iQOO Z9s Pro is a serious contender in the mid-range market for those seeking a stylish and feature-rich smartphone that packs a punch in terms of performance.
