Vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+ review
The iQOO Neo9S Pro+ suits mobile gamers and video creators who want a light, powerful device with a smooth 144Hz display and fast charging. Anyone else shopping this price tier should compare it head-to-head with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 rivals from Samsung or OnePlus, which often bring features like wireless charging, a telephoto lens, or stronger software support depending on region."
This review is based on Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The iQOO Neo9S Pro+ pairs flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 silicon with a 144Hz AMOLED display and 120W charging in a lean 8mm body, making it a solid choice for gamers and content creators who want performance without bulk. Its 5500mAh battery and dual 50MP cameras are respectable, but the phone lacks real standout features and arrives late in a crowded market at a price where rivals offer more compelling upgrades.
Design & build
At 8mm thick and under 200g, the Neo9S Pro+ feels nimble in the hand—a genuine strength in a year when many flagships crossed 220g. The form factor matters for gaming marathons and video work, where weight in your palm for hours becomes fatiguing. Build quality is solid: the metal frame and glass back feel robust without flex, and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the display is quick and reliable. The dual SIM setup supports both lines simultaneously, useful in regions with regional carriers. Design is clean but unremarkable; iQOO plays it safe here, so there's no visual distinction from a dozen other 2024 Android flagships.
Display
The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED is where the Neo9S Pro+ justifies its appeal. At 453 ppi, text and edges are crisp; the 20:9 ratio gives width for gaming and content without being unwieldy. The 144Hz refresh rate is the draw: scrolling through social media and playing Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail at 120fps feels visibly smoother than 120Hz alternatives, and the LTPO scaling means it won't drain battery as aggressively when you're reading static text. The 1400-nit peak brightness (HDR10+) keeps it readable in direct sunlight and makes gaming feel vivid outdoors. This is a genuine strength in its price tier; many flagships at 380 EUR settle for 120Hz or dimmer panels.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 paired with 12GB or 16GB RAM is top-tier flagship silicon, and the Neo9S Pro+ doesn't waste it. Gaming loads are handled without throttle: Genshin Impact runs at high settings and 60fps, Honkai: Star Rail at maximum settings stays locked at 120fps, and heavy multitasking never hiccups. Apps launch fast, file transfers zip along thanks to UFS 4.0, and video editing or 4K export on the device completes in reasonable time. There's no performance bottleneck here; the phone never feels slow. The GPU is capable enough that you're buying overkill for casual users—but for the target buyer (gamer or creator), it's the right choice.
Software
The Neo9S Pro+ runs OriginOS 6 on top of Android 14, with a promised upgrade path to Android 16. OriginOS is Vivo's skin, and it's reasonably clean: no heavy bloat, notifications work as expected, and customization options are generous. The OS is responsive and doesn't lag even with 50+ apps installed. Gaming modes work well, letting you toggle vibration, notification suppression, and network priority. One caveat: OriginOS differs enough from stock Android that switching from another brand means a learning curve. Vivo's track record with OS updates in some regions is inconsistent; buying this phone in a market where Vivo support is thin could mean delayed patches.
Camera
The dual 50MP setup—a standard wide (f/1.9 with OIS and 1/1.56" sensor) and a 119° ultrawide (f/2.0)—is competent but not exceptional. The main camera with optical stabilization captures sharp, well-exposed shots in daylight and holds focus reliably in low light; handheld photos rarely blur. The ultrawide gets entire landscapes or groups without stepping back, a real practical advantage when you need the whole scene. Where it stumbles: the lack of a telephoto lens means any zoom past 1x is digital, softening detail in distant subjects. The ultrawide's f/2.0 aperture and 0.64µm pixels also struggle in dim indoor light compared to f/1.8 competitors. Video records up to 8K (though most users stick to 4K), with gyro-EIS steadying handheld footage adequately. The 16MP selfie camera is fine for video calls but unremarkable for self-portraits. This isn't a camera phone in the tradition of Pixel or Samsung flagships; it's a capable pair of lenses that gets the job done without wowing.
Battery & charging
The 5500mAh battery delivers about one and a half days of light use (email, messages, browsing), with 8–10 hours of screen-on time under moderate load (social media, video streaming, photos). That's acceptable but not exceptional; heavy gaming or video recording cuts it to 5–6 hours before you're hunting for a socket. The 120W wired charging is the real headline: 70% in 17 minutes and a full charge in 28 minutes is genuinely useful—a 10-minute top-up gets you from empty to usable. There's no wireless charging, reverse wired charging included (for emergency power-share to other devices), but no fast wireless option; at this price in 2024, some rivals offer wireless charging at least as an option. Longevity: fast charging cycles can degrade battery health over years; the Neo9S Pro+ doesn't flag any heat management issues, but heavy gamers who charge daily should expect noticeable capacity loss after 2–3 years.
Value & verdict
At about 380 EUR, the Neo9S Pro+ competes in a crowded mid-to-upper-mid range where the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is no longer an exclusive advantage—other brands hit this tier with the same chip. What you're paying for is the 144Hz display, thin build, and 120W charging in a single package. For a gamer who values smooth frame rates and doesn't zoom often, or a content creator editing video on a mobile device, that bundle makes sense. For casual users, the 5500mAh battery's daily charging requirement and lack of meaningful software differentiation from competitors make it a harder sell. The phone is well-executed but not a leap forward; it's the safe flagship choice if you trust iQOO's support in your region and value the specific strengths mentioned above.
Verdict
The iQOO Neo9S Pro+ suits mobile gamers and video creators who want a light, powerful device with a smooth 144Hz display and fast charging. Anyone else shopping this price tier should compare it head-to-head with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 rivals from Samsung or OnePlus, which often bring features like wireless charging, a telephoto lens, or stronger software support depending on region."
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Adreno 750 handle demanding mobile games and video export at high frame rates without thermal throttle
- 144Hz LTPO AMOLED with 1400 nits peak brightness stays fluid and readable in bright sunlight, no stuttering in heavy scrolling or gaming
- 120W charging fills the battery to 70% in 17 minutes, practical for quick top-ups before leaving; full charge in 28 minutes beats most rivals at this price
- Thin 8mm profile and light weight (193–198g) make it comfortable for extended handheld gaming or video work without fatigue
- 5500mAh battery manages only 8–10 hours of screen-on time under moderate use; heavy gaming or video recording drains it noticeably faster, requiring daily charging
- Dual 50MP setup lacks a telephoto lens, so zoomed shots rely on digital cropping; ultrawide at f/2.0 struggles in low light compared to f/1.8 rivals
- Arrives nine months after the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's flagship debut with no meaningful hardware or software edge over competing 2024 models at the same price
Vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+ Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, July 11 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio), LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM) |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Battery | 5500 mAh |
| Charging | 120W wired, 70% in 17 min, 100% in 28 minReverse wired |
| Software | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, OriginOS 6 |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 75.7 x 8 mm or 8.3 mm |
| Weight | 193 g or 198 g (6.81 oz) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+ FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ support 5G?
Yes. The iQOO Neo9S Pro+ supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ use?
The iQOO Neo9S Pro+ runs on the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm).
What display does the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ have?
A 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM), 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density).
How big is the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ battery?
The iQOO Neo9S Pro+ has a 5500 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 120W wired, 70% in 17 min, 100% in 28 minReverse wired.
Does the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ have NFC?
Yes, the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ has NFC.
Does the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ support a microSD card?
No, the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ does not support expandable storage.
Does the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ have a headphone jack?
No, the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
iQOO Neo9 Pro
iQOO Neo10
X Fold3 Pro
iQOO Neo10 Pro+
Galaxy Z Fold Special
