The iQOO Z9s is a mid-range smartphone that aims to deliver impressive performance at an affordable price. Known for its gaming-centric devices, iQOO has packed the Z9s with features that cater to both gamers and general users. This review covers everything you need to know about the iQOO Z9s, from its design and display to its performance and battery life.
Network Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
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The iQOO Z9s sports a sleek and modern design, with a glass front and a plastic back that gives it a premium feel without adding too much weight. The matte finish on the back panel not only looks stylish but also helps resist fingerprints and smudges, maintaining a clean appearance even with regular use.
The device is designed to be ergonomic, with rounded edges and a slim profile that make it comfortable to hold for extended periods. The well-placed buttons and lightweight construction enhance the overall user experience, making it easy to operate with one hand.
The iQOO Z9s is available in multiple color options, including Midnight Black, Arctic Blue, and Sunset Gold. These colors cater to different tastes, offering both subtle and vibrant choices.
While the phone doesn’t come with an official IP rating, it’s built to withstand everyday wear and tear. The plastic frame adds durability while keeping the phone lightweight, making it a good option for users who want a sturdy yet stylish device.
The iQOO Z9s features a 6.58-inch IPS LCD with a Full HD+ resolution of 2408x1080 pixels. The display also boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling and animations smooth and responsive. This feature is particularly beneficial for gamers, offering a fluid experience in fast-paced games.
The display offers good color accuracy with vibrant colors and deep contrasts, making it suitable for media consumption. With a peak brightness of around 450 nits, the screen remains visible in most lighting conditions, though it may struggle under direct sunlight.
The iQOO Z9s comes with a 180Hz touch sampling rate, enhancing touch responsiveness, which is especially useful in gaming scenarios. This feature ensures that every touch and swipe is registered quickly, providing an edge in competitive gaming.
For users who spend long hours on their phones, the iQOO Z9s includes an eye protection mode that reduces blue light emission, helping to reduce eye strain during extended use.
At the heart of the iQOO Z9s is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, a mid-range processor known for its balanced performance and efficiency. Paired with up to 8GB of RAM, the phone handles multitasking, gaming, and day-to-day tasks with ease. The Snapdragon 778G is capable of running demanding apps and games smoothly, making the Z9s a reliable performer.
The Adreno 642L GPU ensures that the iQOO Z9s delivers a good gaming experience. Games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Asphalt 9 run smoothly at medium to high settings, with stable frame rates and minimal lag.
The iQOO Z9s offers two storage variants: 128GB and 256GB. Both variants provide ample space for apps, games, photos, and videos. Additionally, the phone supports expandable storage via a microSD card, giving users the flexibility to increase storage as needed.
Running on iQOO UI 2.0 based on Android 11, the software is clean and responsive. The UI is optimized for smooth performance and includes features like Ultra Game Mode, which enhances the gaming experience by prioritizing performance and blocking distractions. The software is also customizable, allowing users to tweak the interface to their liking.
The iQOO Z9s is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which offers excellent battery life. With moderate usage, including gaming, browsing, and streaming, the phone can easily last a full day on a single charge. The efficient power management of the Snapdragon 778G also contributes to the phone’s long battery life.
The phone supports 33W fast charging, which can charge the device from 0 to 50% in just about 30 minutes. This fast charging capability is ideal for users who need a quick power boost during the day.
In real-world usage, the iQOO Z9s delivers around 7-8 hours of screen-on time, which is impressive given its high-refresh-rate display and powerful processor. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or working, the battery is reliable enough to get you through the day without needing a recharge.
The iQOO Z9s features a versatile triple-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. This combination offers flexibility for different photography scenarios, from wide landscapes to close-up shots.
The 64MP main camera captures detailed and sharp photos in good lighting conditions. The color reproduction is natural, and the dynamic range is decent, ensuring that both highlights and shadows are well-represented. The camera also performs reasonably well in low-light conditions, thanks to its night mode, which helps reduce noise and brighten images.
The 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens is great for capturing expansive landscapes and group photos. While the quality isn’t as high as the main sensor, it’s still sufficient for casual photography. The 2MP macro sensor, on the other hand, is more of a novelty feature, suitable for extreme close-ups but with limited detail and resolution.
The 16MP front camera on the iQOO Z9s is perfect for selfies and video calls. It captures clear and detailed images, with good color accuracy. The front camera also supports AI beauty mode and portrait mode, allowing users to enhance their selfies with various effects.
The iQOO Z9s can record videos in up to 4K resolution at 30fps, providing high-quality footage with good stabilization. The ultra-wide-angle lens can also be used for video recording, adding versatility to the camera system.
The phone features dual speakers that deliver loud and clear audio. The stereo setup enhances the multimedia experience, making it ideal for watching movies and playing games. The sound quality is decent, with a balanced mix of highs, mids, and lows.
For those who prefer wired audio, the iQOO Z9s includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming increasingly rare in modern smartphones. This feature is a welcome addition for audiophiles and gamers who want to use their favorite wired headphones.
The phone also supports Hi-Res audio, ensuring high-quality sound playback with compatible headphones. This makes the iQOO Z9s a good choice for users who prioritize audio quality.
The iQOO Z9s supports 5G, making it future-proof as networks continue to roll out globally. This ensures that the phone can take advantage of faster internet speeds and lower latency, which is especially beneficial for gamers and heavy internet users.
The phone supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1, providing fast and stable wireless connections. Whether you’re streaming content, transferring files, or connecting to peripherals, the iQOO Z9s offers reliable connectivity.
The iQOO Z9s features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is fast and accurate. Additionally, the phone supports face unlock, providing a quick and convenient way to unlock the device.
As a device aimed at gamers, the iQOO Z9s includes an Ultra Game Mode, which optimizes the phone’s performance for gaming. This mode enhances graphics, improves touch response, and blocks notifications, ensuring an uninterrupted gaming experience.
To prevent overheating during extended gaming sessions, the iQOO Z9s is equipped with a multi-layer cooling system. This system helps maintain optimal performance by dissipating heat effectively, ensuring that the phone remains cool even under heavy loads.
The iQOO Z9s runs on iQOO UI 2.0, which is based on Android 11. The interface is clean and intuitive, with minimal bloatware and useful features. The UI is optimized for smooth performance and offers a range of customization options, allowing users to tailor the phone’s appearance and functionality to their preferences.
iQOO has committed to providing regular software updates, ensuring that the phone stays up-to-date with the latest features and security patches. This is an important factor for users who want their devices to remain secure and functional over time.
The iQOO Z9s is a well-rounded smartphone that offers a great balance of performance, battery life, and gaming features. With its high-refresh-rate display, powerful processor, and versatile camera system, it’s