A few months ago, the iQOO Z9 5G was released. The smartphone attracted a lot of attention, especially because of its remarkable feature set considering its low cost. The iQOO Z9x 5G, a less expensive version of the Z9 5G, was recently announced by the company. As with most iQOO phones, performance is the main focus of this model. Many of the characteristics of the smartphone are also shared by the recently released Vivo T3x (review). It has the same specs for the processor, cameras, and battery. There are some distinctions, such as the Z9x’s excellent stereo speaker arrangement compared to the Vivo T3x‘s single mono speaker. However, can this smartphone hold its own against rivals in its pricing range?
Verdict
For consumers on a tight budget, the performance-focused iQOO Z9x is the perfect smartphone. Apart from its outstanding capabilities, it has a large 6,000mAh battery that can easily last all day, even for heavy users. The smartphone enhances the entertainment experience with its bright display and good stereo speaker arrangement. But perhaps not everyone will find the cameras up to par.
Design & display
The iQOO Z9x does not deviate significantly from the standard Z9 in terms of design. They both have a similar camera island design and almost the same appearance. Storm Grey and Tornado Green are the two color options for the smartphone.
The Tornado Green version that we were given has these light-glinting brush strokes all over the actual panel. The sleek, unified look is achieved by matching the color of the chrome borders and camera island to that of the rear panel. The matte surface on the back panel effectively reduces fingerprints and smudges.
The 6.72-inch LCD screen on the iQOO Z9x has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, FHD+ (2,408 x 1,080p) resolution, and a maximum brightness of 1000 nits. Considering the price range, the device’s viewing experience is acceptable, and even in brightly lit environments, the display’s brightness is enough. The stereo speaker arrangement, which can produce very loud sounds, enhances the visual experience.
Cameras
A 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP bokeh sensor are included with the iQOO Z9x. An 8MP camera on the front is available for video calls and selfies. During daylight shooting, the camera performs well, producing detailed photographs with pleasing color reproduction.
Although the photos in the HDR setting might occasionally be overexposed, the dynamic range is superb. The camera can capture passable night mode photos in low light, but it’s wise to temper your expectations.
In daylight, the selfie camera produces passable photos, however, it tends to blur facial details. It may take several attempts to get a good shot in low light.
Software and performance
The iQOO Z9x is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset. Up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage are available on the smartphone. The iQOO Z9x performs flawlessly when it comes to handling all of your daily activities, including social media browsing and video streaming. Its gaming performance matches its impressive AnTuTu and Geekbench benchmark results, which are among the highest in its category. In addition to being excellent for light gaming, the device can run hard games like COD: Mobile and BGMI at High and HD resolutions, respectively.
Based on Android 14, the gadget is powered by Funtouch OS 14. The experience with an iQOO smartphone is very similar if you have used one previously. Smooth and well-optimized for the 120Hz refresh rate is the user interface. As is typical at this price range, the brand guarantees two years of significant OS updates and three years of security updates.
A few clever features, like split screens, smart sidebars, compact windows, and the like, can make daily tasks easier. The smartphone’s gaming performance can also be optimally enhanced by using the super game mode. You can quickly remove the Hot Apps area and a few pre-installed apps if you’d like.
Battery & charging
The iQOO Z9x’s enormous 6,000mAh battery and capability for 44W fast charging make it a distinctive device. Even with heavy use, the battery readily lasts for the whole day. The smartphone scored 20 hours and 19 minutes on the PCMark battery life benchmark test, which is exceptional for its pricing range.
Our two-hour-long performance tests cover a wide range of high-intensity workloads, including gaming, streaming videos, and more. The device displays an impressive 20% battery decrease during our testing. Notable is the smartphone’s speed of charging, which takes roughly 61 minutes to fully recharge from 20 to 100% battery capacity.
Final verdict
The 4GB + 128GB variant of the iQOO Z9x costs Rs 12,999, the 6GB + 128GB variant costs Rs 14,499, and the 8GB + 128GB variant costs Rs 15,999. The Realme P1 5G (review), POCO X6 Neo (review), and Moto G64 (review) are the smartphone’s closest competitors in its price range. While the latter two have an AMOLED display panel that greatly enhances the visual experience, the Motorola G64 has a vanilla Android-like UI with a comparable 6,000mAh battery. In terms of performance output, the Realme P1 5G outperforms the iQOO Z9x.
