vivo iQOO Z9 Review: A powerful smartphone with flagship-level specs

The vivo iQOO Z9 is the latest flagship smartphone from vivo under their performance-focused iQOO sub-brand. Launched in March 2024, the Z9 immediately stands out with its powerful internals that are on par with other top-of-the-line Android devices.

Design and Build

Featuring a glass front and plastic back and frame, the Z9 has a premium look and feel. It has a large 6.67-inch AMOLED display with slim bezels all around, resulting in an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 86.8%. At 188g, it’s on the heavier side but the plastic body helps keep the weight down. The phone comes with an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance as well.

Overall, the Z9 has an attractive design that won’t look out of place compared to other flagship phones. The plastic back gives a reasonable grip despite its large size.

Display

The 6.67-inch AMOLED display is one of the highlights of the Z9. It has a high FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and supports a high refresh rate of 120Hz. The panel is bright with a maximum output of 1800 nits and also supports HDR10+.

Touch response is instant thanks to the 120Hz screen. Colors look vibrant and the whole interface is silky smooth. The always-on display allows checking notifications at a glance. Whether it’s for media consumption, gaming, or everyday usage, the Z9’s display impresses.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Z9 packs the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset with 8GB of RAM. This combination ensures blazing-fast performance without any signs of lag. Graphically intensive games run flawlessly even at higher graphic settings.

With a 5000mAh battery capacity and 44W fast charging, the Z9 lasts over a day of normal usage on a single charge. It also has stereo speakers for an immersive media experience. Other features include 5G support, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and more.

Cameras

The Z9 has a dual rear camera system consisting of a 50MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor. Photo quality is great with ample details, excellent dynamic range, and colors. Low-light shots come out with minimal noise as well.

It can record 4K videos at 30fps along with many shooting modes. Selfies are handled by a 16MP front camera that takes good-quality shots too.

Software

The Z9 runs on Funtouch OS 12 based on Android 14. The UI is feature-rich with various customization options. It’s smooth to use but can come across as cluttered at times. vivo promises regular software updates.

Price and Final Thoughts

Priced starting at Rs. 19,999, the vivo iQOO Z9 offers immense value with its top-shelf specs like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 120Hz AMOLED display, 50MP cameras, and more. It delivers flagship-level performance without the flagship-level price tag.

For anyone looking for the purest powerhouse experience on a budget, the Z9 is a strong contender. Its solid build, top-tier hardware, and competitive price make it one of the best Android smartphones under Rs. 20,000.