In late 2023, iQOO launched the Neo9 series, stirring excitement amongst smartphone enthusiasts. While both the Chinese and Indian versions shared the “Neo9 Pro” moniker, a closer look revealed a crucial difference under the hood. The Chinese Neo9 Pro opted for the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset paired with a 50MP ultrawide sensor, targeting a specific market segment. However, iQOO took a distinct path for the Indian market. The Indian Neo9 Pro, the focus of this in-depth review, sported the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and swapped the ultrawide sensor for an 8MP option. This strategic decision aimed to cater to Indian users who prioritize raw processing power at a competitive mid-range price point.
This review delves into the intricacies of the Indian iQOO Neo9 Pro, assessing its strengths and weaknesses to determine if it lives up to the promise of a performance-centric powerhouse. We’ll meticulously dissect every aspect of the phone, from its design and display to its camera capabilities, battery life, and software experience. Buckle up, as we embark on a journey to uncover whether the iQOO Neo9 Pro stands out as a compelling choice for users seeking a feature-packed mid-range phone without breaking the bank.
Design
The iQOO Neo9 Pro boasts a large and immersive display as its centerpiece. Measuring in at 6.78 inches, the display utilizes LTPO AMOLED technology, offering a sharp resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels and a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. This translates to vibrant colors, deep blacks, and exceptional clarity, making it ideal for gaming, watching videos, and browsing the web. The display is protected by Schott Xensation Up glass, a reliable solution against everyday scratches and scuffs. With a peak brightness of 1500 nits, the display remains comfortably visible even under harsh sunlight, ensuring a seamless outdoor viewing experience.
An in-display fingerprint sensor unlocks the phone securely. While the sensor itself functions flawlessly, its placement might not be ideal for everyone. Located towards the lower third of the display, it requires a slight stretch for some users, especially those with smaller hands.
Flipping the phone over, we encounter two distinct design choices. The fiery red variant features a vegan leather back, offering a unique aesthetic and excellent grip. The vegan leather feels soft and comfortable in the hand, providing a secure hold during everyday use. However, some users might find it less luxurious compared to glass-backed phones.
The conqueror black version opts for a more traditional approach with Fluorite AG Glass. This glass offers a sleek and premium look but attracts fingerprint smudges quite easily. Both variants maintain a clean and minimalist aesthetic, accentuated by the iQOO logo positioned in the center.
The iQOO Neo9 Pro measures 163.53 x 75.68 x 8.34mm and weighs approximately 190 grams. Despite the large display, the phone feels surprisingly comfortable to hold thanks to its flat sides and subtly curved edges. These curved edges ensure a smooth transition from the display to the back panel, enhancing ergonomics.
The button and port layout are fairly standard. The power button resides on the right side, accompanied by the volume rocker. The bottom houses a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, a speaker grille, a SIM card slot, and a microphone. Another microphone sits at the top, along with an IR blaster, which adds a touch of versatility by allowing you to control IR devices like TVs and air conditioners.
The phone carries an IP54 rating, signifying its resistance to dust and light water splashes. While it won’t survive a dunk in the pool, this rating offers some peace of mind against accidental spills or dusty environments.
Overall, the iQOO Neo9 Pro’s design caters to a diverse set of preferences. The large and vibrant display is a clear highlight, while the two back panel options provide a choice between a unique and grippy vegan leather or a more conventional, sleek glass design. The phone feels comfortable to hold despite its size, and the button and port layout are intuitive. While the in-display fingerprint sensor placement might not be perfect for everyone, and the black version attracts fingerprints, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise well-designed mid-range phone.
Display
The iQOO Neo9 Pro’s display is undoubtedly one of its strongest assets. Let’s delve deeper into its technical prowess and how it translates to real-world user experience.
The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel boasts a sharp 1260 x 2800 resolution, translating to a pixel density of 452 ppi. This ensures crisp visuals with no discernible pixelation, even upon close inspection. The display delivers a wide color gamut, faithfully reproducing colors with impressive accuracy. The contrast ratio is also excellent, resulting in deep blacks and vibrant colors that pop off the screen. Viewing angles are exceptional, with minimal color shifting even when viewed from extreme angles. Whether you’re editing photos or watching a movie, the display offers a truly immersive experience.
One of the key highlights of the display is the smooth 144Hz refresh rate. This high refresh rate translates to noticeably smoother scrolling, animations, and overall system responsiveness. Fast-paced games especially benefit from this, as the display can render frames at a much faster rate, leading to a more fluid and enjoyable gaming experience.
The phone packs an X-Axis linear motor, which significantly enhances the haptic feedback experience. Gone are the days of generic vibrations; the X-Axis linear motor provides precise and nuanced haptic feedback that responds to in-game actions and user interactions. This adds a layer of immersion, especially during gaming, as you can feel the subtle vibrations corresponding to on-screen events.
For multimedia enthusiasts, the display boasts HDR (High Dynamic Range) and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) certification. This ensures compatibility with HDR content, allowing you to experience movies and shows with a wider range of colors and increased contrast for a more lifelike viewing experience.
Taking things a step further, the iQOO Neo9 Pro integrates a dedicated Supercomputing Chip Q1. This chip plays a crucial role in optimizing display performance. One of its key functionalities is reducing latency in games, which minimizes the time between an action taken on-screen and the corresponding response from the phone. This translates to a more responsive and lag-free gaming experience. Additionally, the Supercomputing Chip Q1 can help reduce power consumption while maintaining a high refresh rate.
The phone offers three refresh rate options: Smart Switch, Standard (60Hz), and High (144Hz). However, it’s important to note that the 144Hz refresh rate isn’t universally available. During our testing, we observed that 144Hz is primarily reserved for gaming scenarios. While browsing menus, using apps, or watching videos, the refresh rate automatically adjusts to a lower setting, likely to conserve battery life. This can be a slight drawback for users who crave the ultimate smoothness throughout the entire user experience.
In our real-world testing, we observed the refresh rate seamlessly transitioning based on usage. While navigating menus and apps, the display operated at a standard 60Hz refresh rate, offering a good balance between performance and battery life. However, when we launched games, the refresh rate automatically cranked up to a buttery smooth 144Hz, delivering a visually stunning and responsive gaming experience
Performance
The iQOO Neo9 Pro boasts the heart of a flagship – the mighty Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. This powerhouse chipset is built on a 4nm manufacturing process, promising exceptional performance and improved power efficiency. The phone comes in two variants – 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM with 128GB of UFS 4.1 storage and 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM with 256GB of UFS 4.1 storage. For this review, we extensively tested the variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
To gauge the raw processing power, we ran a battery of benchmark tests. In GeekBench 5, the iQOO Neo9 Pro scored an impressive 2,023 points in single-core performance and a staggering 5,564 points in multi-core performance. Similarly, AnTuTu benchmark awarded the phone a score of over 1,611,000 points. These benchmark scores position the iQOO Neo9 Pro at the top of its mid-range segment, rivaling even some flagship devices.
But benchmark scores only tell part of the story. In everyday usage, the phone delivers a consistently smooth and responsive experience. Apps launch instantaneously, multitasking between multiple apps is a breeze, and navigating the user interface feels incredibly fluid. Whether you’re checking emails, browsing the web, or juggling social media apps, the iQOO Neo9 Pro handles it all with ease.
Gamers will undoubtedly appreciate the phone’s prowess. Demanding games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile run flawlessly on the highest graphics settings. We experienced exceptional frame rates, minimal lag, and impressive visual fidelity. During extended gaming sessions, the phone did get slightly warm, but never reached uncomfortably hot temperatures. The phone’s efficient cooling system effectively manages thermals, ensuring sustained performance even under heavy load.
It’s important to address a potential discrepancy here. While some games advertise support for 144 FPS gameplay, we encountered instances where the frame rate was capped at 60 FPS. This might be due to developer optimization or limitations within the games themselves. While the 144Hz display provides a significant smoothness advantage, it’s not always fully utilized across all games.
The phone runs Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14. Funtouch OS offers a feature-rich experience with a fair amount of customization options. However, some users might find the custom UI elements and pre-loaded third-party apps to be bloatware. The good news is that most of these pre-installed apps can be uninstalled, allowing you to personalize your phone’s software experience.
Overall, the iQOO Neo9 Pro delivers top-notch performance that surpasses expectations for a mid-range phone. The combination of the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, ample RAM, and speedy storage translates to a smooth and responsive user experience in everyday tasks and demanding games alike. While there might be some inconsistencies with advertised game frame rates, the phone’s overall gaming performance remains commendable. The software experience, while offering customisation options, might require some housekeeping to remove pre-loaded apps you don’t need. We’ll delve deeper into the camera system, battery life, and software experience in the following sections.
Camera
The iQOO Neo9 Pro’s camera system prioritizes a powerful primary sensor over a versatile multi-lens setup. The rear features a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, promising good low-light performance. However, the ultrawide sensor takes a step back with a resolution of only 8MP and an f/2.2 aperture. The front-facing camera for selfies and video calls boasts a 16MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture.
To assess the camera’s capabilities, we captured photos in various lighting conditions, from bright daylight to dimly lit environments.
Daylight Performance:
In daylight, the 50MP primary sensor shines. Photos capture accurate colors with a pleasing balance between saturation and vibrancy. The level of detail is impressive, allowing you to zoom in and still discern fine textures. Autofocus is quick and accurate, ensuring your subjects remain sharp.
However, there’s a caveat. The phone offers a 50MP high-resolution mode that captures additional detail. While this sounds promising on paper, we observed inconsistencies in image processing between the standard and high-resolution modes. In some instances, the high-resolution photos exhibited a slight oversharpening effect, leading to unnatural-looking details.
Low-Light Performance:
While the 50MP sensor boasts improved low-light performance compared to the iQOO Neo7 Pro, it still has limitations. Night mode helps to brighten up scenes and reduce noise, but details can become slightly soft in darker environments. Compared to flagship phones, the iQOO Neo9 Pro struggles to capture the full dynamic range in low-light situations, resulting in some areas appearing overly dark or blown out.
Ultrawide Sensor:
The 8MP ultrawide sensor delivers mixed results. In daylight, it captures decent wide-angle shots, allowing you to fit more of the scene into the frame. However, the lower resolution compared to the primary sensor becomes apparent when zooming in, as details appear noticeably softer. The ultrawide sensor’s low-light performance is its Achilles’ heel. Photos taken in low-light conditions exhibit significant softness, noise, and washed-out colors.
Front-Facing Camera:
The 16MP front-facing camera captures decent selfies in good lighting conditions. However, details are not as sharp as those captured by the rear sensor. The front-facing camera is limited to 1080p video recording at 30 FPS, which might be a drawback for vloggers or those who prefer high-resolution selfies.
Battery Life and Charging
The iQOO Neo9 Pro packs a hefty 5,160mAh battery, promising ample endurance on a single charge. During our testing, we achieved impressive screen-on time results that varied depending on the refresh rate and usage patterns.
With the refresh rate set to 120Hz and engaging in mixed usage (browsing the web, social media, occasional gaming), we consistently achieved over 7 hours of screen-on time. This translates to a full day’s worth of usage for most users with moderate phone habits.
For users who prioritize battery life, switching the refresh rate down to 60Hz can further extend screen-on time. We observed an additional 1-1.5 hours of screen-on time under this setting with similar usage patterns.
However, heavy gaming sessions do take a toll on the battery. Playing graphically demanding games for extended periods can drain the battery faster. In such scenarios, you can expect around 4-5 hours of screen-on time before needing to reach for the charger.
The good news is that the iQOO Neo9 Pro boasts 120W fast-charging technology, which is incredibly fast by most standards. The phone comes bundled with a powerful 120W charger that, according to iQOO, can take the battery from 1% to 50% in just 11 minutes.
To test this claim, we conducted our own real-world fast-charging test. Plugging the phone in at 5% battery level, we observed the following results:
- 10 minutes: 52%
- 15 minutes: 70%
- 20 minutes: 85%
- 25 minutes: 95%
As you can see, the fast-charging is undeniably rapid. While it might not reach exactly 50% in 11 minutes as advertised, it delivers close results and significantly reduces charging time compared to most phones on the market.
It’s important to note that ambient temperature can affect charging speed. In very hot or cold environments, the charging speed might be throttled slightly to protect the battery.
Conclusion:
The iQOO Neo9 Pro has carved a unique niche in the mid-range smartphone segment. It prioritizes raw processing power with the mighty Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, making it a compelling option for users who crave a smooth and responsive experience for everyday tasks and demanding games. The 144Hz display further elevates the user experience with its exceptional smoothness, ideal for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts.
However, the phone isn’t without its shortcomings. The camera system, while functional, falls short of flagship capabilities. While the 50MP primary sensor delivers good results in daylight, low-light performance remains a weak spot. The ultrawide sensor is a decent option for capturing wider shots in good lighting but struggles significantly in low-light conditions.
The software experience might require some personalization, as Funtouch OS 14 comes with pre-loaded third-party apps. Battery life is impressive for moderate users, and the 120W fast charging is undeniably rapid, significantly reducing charging time.
So, who is the iQOO Neo9 Pro for? This phone is ideal for users who prioritize performance above all else and are looking for a powerful mid-range option for gaming and everyday tasks. The large and vibrant display, coupled with the smooth 144Hz refresh rate, is another major selling point. However, if you prioritize exceptional camera performance or a clean software experience, you might want to consider other alternatives.
Ultimately, the iQOO Neo9 Pro delivers a compelling package for its price range. It offers top-notch performance, a stunning display, and incredibly fast charging, making it a strong contender in the competitive mid-range market.