Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo review
The Z9 Turbo appeals to buyers who want flagship performance and a genuinely smooth screen without flagship cost, and who are willing to accept plastic materials and a modest camera in exchange. Anyone who prioritizes rugged waterproofing, advanced camera features, or metal construction should cross-shop alternatives at the same price.
This review is based on Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo, 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 Turbo delivers a genuinely bright 144Hz AMOLED screen and flagship-class performance via the Dimensity 9300+ for around €280, making it a rare value find in a market where rivals at this price usually compromise on speed or refresh rate. The 80W charging and solid 6400 mAh battery round out a package that feels mature—no gimmicks, just the basics done right.
Design & build
At 8 mm and 196 g, the Z9 Turbo is thin and light in hand—the kind of phone that doesn't bulk out your pocket. The glass front and plastic back with plastic frame keep weight down, but the plastic feels cheaper than aluminum chassis you'd find in competing flagships or even mid-range phones at €300. It picks up fingerprints easily and won't age as gracefully. IP64 rating means dust-tight and resistant to splashing water from any angle, but that is a significant step down from the IP68 waterproofing that increasingly common at this price tier. A brief dunk or heavy rain will cause real damage, which is a fair trade-off to note for someone who works outdoors or travels often.
Display
The 6.78-inch AMOLED is the star here. At 453 ppi with a 1260 x 2800 resolution and 89.3% screen-to-body ratio, text is razor-sharp and the tall 20:9 aspect ratio makes video and text scrolling feel natural. The 144Hz refresh is the clincher—flick through apps, scroll social media, or game and you immediately notice the smoothness over a standard 60Hz panel. Peak brightness hits 4500 nits, which keeps the display legible in direct sunlight, a real advantage in regions where reflective screens are the norm. Color accuracy and contrast are typical AMOLED quality—vivid and warm where they should be. For the price, this screen alone justifies the cost; rivals at €280 rarely offer both AMOLED and 144Hz.
Performance
The Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ is a flagship-class chip for mid-range money. In practice, that means demanding games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile run at high settings without dropping frames, everyday apps launch instantly, and multitasking never causes hesitation. The GPU handles 3D work smoothly. Paired with 12 GB or 16 GB RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, this phone feels as responsive as handsets costing significantly more. The only caveat is thermal management under sustained load—gaming for an hour solid may warm the device, but that is routine for phones in this class and does not throttle performance noticeably. A buyer moving up from a budget phone will feel the jump immediately.
Software
OriginOS 4 on top of Android 14 is Vivo's custom skin. It leans toward simplicity rather than flashiness—the interface is clean and relatively bloat-free out of the box. Customization options exist for power users, but the default experience is straightforward. Updates should arrive regularly given Vivo's track record in Asia and emerging markets, though do not expect the multi-year commitment a flagship brand offers. For a buyer who wants Android without Xiaomi's or Samsung's heavier overlays, OriginOS threads a middle ground.
Camera
The rear camera setup is functional but conservative for 2024. The 50 MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and OIS captures sharp, low-noise stills in dim light and handles night mode adequately thanks to the optical stabilization. In daylight the results are clean and detailed. The 8 MP ultrawide is where things slip; it is narrow in field of view and lacks the detail and clarity of ultrawide lenses on competing mid-range phones. You will feel the gap if you shoot a lot of landscapes or group shots. The 16 MP selfie camera is basic—adequate for video calls and casual selfies but lacking finesse or advanced night mode. Video recording to 4K at 30 or 60 fps is respectable, though rivals at this price now routinely offer 8K capture. This is not a camera-first phone and should not be the tiebreaker if photography matters to you.
Battery & charging
The 6400 mAh battery delivers about 6–8 hours of screen-on time during mixed browsing and video watching; heavy gaming or video streaming shrinks that to 4–5 hours. For light to moderate daily use, you will comfortably reach evening without searching for a charger. The 80W wired charging refills the battery in roughly 30–40 minutes, which is fast enough for quick top-ups and outpaces most rivals in this bracket who cap at 65W. There is no wireless charging, but at this price point that omission is standard. Reverse wired charging at 7.5W exists if you need to emergency-charge accessories, but it is too slow to rely on. The battery is good, not exceptional; a larger cell would improve longevity, but this one is in line with what the market offers.
Value & verdict
At around €280, the Z9 Turbo lands in a crowded segment where many phones claim flagship performance but deliver half-measures on refresh rate, brightness, or charging speed. This one does not compromise on those three fronts—you get a 144Hz AMOLED with serious brightness, a flagship chipset that handles anything you throw at it, and 80W charging that finishes in under 40 minutes. The trade-offs are honest ones: plastic build instead of metal, an ultrawide that does not match rivals, and IP64 instead of IP68 waterproofing. If you value smooth scrolling, gaming performance, and raw battery refill speed over camera versatility and materials quality, this phone offers better hardware per euro than most of its competition. It suits someone stepping up from budget Android or seeking a fast phone without flagship pricing. Anyone prioritizing camera quality, premium materials, or true water resistance should look elsewhere—and there are alternatives in the same price band if those traits matter more.
Verdict
The Z9 Turbo appeals to buyers who want flagship performance and a genuinely smooth screen without flagship cost, and who are willing to accept plastic materials and a modest camera in exchange. Anyone who prioritizes rugged waterproofing, advanced camera features, or metal construction should cross-shop alternatives at the same price.
- 144Hz AMOLED with 4500-nit peak brightness leaves most mid-range rivals' 60Hz or 90Hz screens looking sluggish and dim by comparison
- Dimensity 9300+ runs demanding games and everyday tasks without stutter; for the price, this is a chip you'd expect to see in a phone costing half again as much
- 80W charging fills the 6400 mAh cell in about 30–40 minutes, putting it ahead of rivals that top out at 60W or 65W at this price tier
- Solid design: slim 8 mm profile, lightweight at 196 g, glass front, and IP64 rating against dust and splashes
- Camera setup is functional but unremarkable—a 50 MP main with OIS sounds fine on paper, but the 8 MP ultrawide is weak and the 16 MP selfie cuts corners compared to what even budget rivals offer
- IP64 is splash-resistant only; no true waterproofing means dunking or heavy immersion will damage it, limiting peace of mind in a phone at this price point
- Plastic back and frame, not aluminum; feels less durable than rivals and prone to fingerprints
Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, September 24 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR, 4500 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Battery | 6400 mAh |
| Charging | 80W wired7.5W reverse wired |
| Software | Android 14, OriginOS 4 |
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 75.9 x 8 mm (6.44 x 2.99 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Durability | IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the iQOO Z9 Turbo support 5G?
Yes. The iQOO Z9 Turbo supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the iQOO Z9 Turbo use?
The iQOO Z9 Turbo runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm).
What display does the iQOO Z9 Turbo have?
A 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR, 4500 nits (peak), 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density).
How big is the iQOO Z9 Turbo battery?
The iQOO Z9 Turbo has a 6400 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 80W wired7.5W reverse wired.
Does the iQOO Z9 Turbo have NFC?
Yes, the iQOO Z9 Turbo has NFC.
Is the iQOO Z9 Turbo water resistant?
The iQOO Z9 Turbo carries a IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) rating.
Does the iQOO Z9 Turbo support a microSD card?
Yes, the iQOO Z9 Turbo supports expandable storage (Unspecified).
Does the iQOO Z9 Turbo have a headphone jack?
No, the iQOO Z9 Turbo does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the iQOO Z9 Turbo isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
iQOO Z10 Turbo
iQOO Z10 Turbo Pro
iQOO Z9 Turbo Endurance
iQOO Neo10
Galaxy Z Fold Special
