Vivo iQOO Z9 review
The iQOO Z9 suits everyday users and light gamers who want a bright display and all-day battery at a fair price, backed by competent daily performance and a reliable camera. Anyone gambling on gaming, demanding fast charging, or hunting for cutting-edge features should cross-shop rivals that have moved further ahead in 2024.
This review is based on Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo iQOO Z9, 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 Z9 pairs a bright AMOLED display and respectable 50MP camera with mid-range performance and a 5000mAh battery that coasts through a day. It is a solid all-rounder for the price, though 44W charging and a Dimensity 7200 chipset put it behind rivals at 220 EUR who now offer 100W+ and flagship silicon.
Design & Build
At 188 grams and 7.8 mm thick, the iQOO Z9 is compact and light for a 6.67-inch phone, which makes it comfortable to hold in one hand for short stretches. The glass front and plastic back keep the weight down, though the plastic chassis feels less rigid than aluminum. IP54 protection handles dust and splashes but not submersion, placing it in the middle of the durability spectrum for this price tier. Dragontrail Star 2 Plus is a solid mid-grade glass, nowhere near the scratch and drop resistance of Gorilla Glass Armor on pricier flagships, but adequate for everyday carry. The Brushed Green and Graphene Blue finishes are understated, neither flashy nor distinctive.
Display
The 6.67-inch AMOLED panel runs at 120 Hz with 1800 nits peak brightness, and both figures matter. The 120 Hz refresh makes scrolling and gaming feel smooth, and the brightness is genuinely useful if you spend time outdoors or in very bright rooms; 1080p at 395 ppi is standard for this diagonal and does not look pixelated to the eye. This is where the iQOO Z9 punches above its price point. Colors are clean without excessive saturation, and the HDR support works well with streamed video. The only real downside is the bezels are thicker than you'd find on flagships, but for 220 EUR this display is hard to fault.
Performance
The Dimensity 7200 is a capable mid-range chip that handles daily apps, web browsing, and social media without lag. For games, it manages titles like Genshin Impact on medium settings or Call of Duty Mobile comfortably, but anyone chasing max settings in demanding titles will see frame drops and thermal throttling. The Mali-G610 GPU is efficient but not powerful; heavy multitasking or lengthy gaming sessions will make the phone warm. Against rivals at this price point that now ship Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 or Exynos 1380, the Dimensity 7200 is a step behind, though it remains fast enough for most users who are not hardcore gamers. UFS 2.2 storage is older than UFS 3.1 you'd expect at 220 EUR, meaning file transfers and app installs are slower than they could be.
Software
Android 14 with Vivo's Funtouch 14 overlay arrives ready to use. Funtouch is less cluttered than some skins but still layers its own apps and widgets on top of stock Android, which means bloat and occasional redundancy (two calendars, two note apps, etc.). Updates are usually prompt for iQOO phones, and Vivo has committed to several years of OS upgrades, so longevity is not a worry. The UI is responsive, though the Dimensity 7200 means very heavy tasks can stall it; overall, the software experience is vanilla enough for most users.
Camera
The 50 MP f/1.8 main sensor with optical image stabilization and a large 1/1.95-inch frame is the camera highlight. It captures detail and holds steady in low light, and the OIS really does smooth out handheld video. The 4K video tops out at 30 fps, which is fine for social media and vlogging but falls short for anyone who needs cinematic fluidity or professional work. Zoom is a weak point; there is no telephoto lens, so you are confined to the main camera and digital crops. The 16 MP selfie camera is adequate for video calls and the occasional self-portrait, nothing more. Dynamic range is decent but not exceptional, and you will see highlight clipping in high-contrast scenes where a flagship would recover more detail.
Battery & Charging
The 5000 mAh battery easily reaches the end of a typical day of moderate use (messaging, social media, some video streaming), and heavy users will still make it past dinner time. The 44 W wired charging reaches 50 percent in 30 minutes as claimed, but a full charge from zero takes about an hour to 75 minutes—not particularly slow, but noticeably behind rivals offering 100 W or faster. There is no wireless charging, which is standard for this tier. For a device at 220 EUR in 2024, the charging speed has fallen behind the curve, and many buyers will find themselves reaching for a cable more often than is ideal.
Value & Verdict
The iQOO Z9 succeeds as a balanced mid-range phone for users who prioritize battery longevity, a bright smooth display, and a camera that handles everyday shots well. At 220 EUR it is fairly priced for what it offers, but the competitive landscape has shifted. Rivals now include phones with faster charging, newer chipsets, and deeper feature sets at the same cost. If you value display quality and all-day battery above raw speed or cutting-edge features, the iQOO Z9 is a sensible buy. For anyone who games frequently, demands quick charging, or wants the latest silicon, looking at alternatives is worth the effort.
Verdict
The iQOO Z9 suits everyday users and light gamers who want a bright display and all-day battery at a fair price, backed by competent daily performance and a reliable camera. Anyone gambling on gaming, demanding fast charging, or hunting for cutting-edge features should cross-shop rivals that have moved further ahead in 2024.
- Bright AMOLED display at 120 Hz with 1800-nit peak brightness cuts through daylight glare
- 50 MP main camera with OIS delivers sharp photos and stable video in low light
- 5000 mAh battery lasts a full day of moderate use without draining by afternoon
- Compact at 188g and 7.8mm thick, genuinely pocketable for a 6.67-inch phone
- 44 W charging is slower than rivals now; a full charge from zero takes over an hour
- Dimensity 7200 lags behind current mid-range competition like Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
- No telephoto lens and 4K video at only 30 fps limits the camera versatility
Vivo iQOO Z9 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, March 12 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR, 1800 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7200 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 44W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Software | Android 14, Funtouch 14 |
| Dimensions | 163.2 x 75.8 x 7.8 mm (6.43 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Durability | IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo iQOO Z9 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the iQOO Z9 support 5G?
Yes. The iQOO Z9 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the iQOO Z9 use?
The iQOO Z9 runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 7200 (4 nm).
What display does the iQOO Z9 have?
A 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR, 1800 nits (peak), 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density).
How big is the iQOO Z9 battery?
The iQOO Z9 has a 5000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 44W wired, 50% in 30 min.
Does the iQOO Z9 have NFC?
No, the iQOO Z9 does not list NFC support.
Is the iQOO Z9 water resistant?
The iQOO Z9 carries a IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes) rating.
Does the iQOO Z9 support a microSD card?
Yes, the iQOO Z9 supports expandable storage (microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)).
Does the iQOO Z9 have a headphone jack?
No, the iQOO Z9 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the iQOO Z9 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
iQOO Z9 5G
iQOO Z10
iQOO Z9s Pro
iQOO Z9x 5G
Galaxy A35 5G
