iQOO 9 Pro long-term review: A stellar alternative to the OnePlus 10 Pro

iQOO is not a model that might be acquainted to these within the west, however the Vivo sub-brand has made inroads in Asian markets over the past two years. iQOO payments itself as a gaming-focused entity, and its merchandise are catered towards a youthful viewers. Last 12 months’s iQOO 7 Legend was top-of-the-line worth flagships out there, and the model forayed into the price range class with the Z sequence.iQOO turned issues up a gear in 2022 with the launch of the iQOO 9 Pro. Like the iQOO 7, the telephone is made in collaboration with BMW’s M division and options the motorsport model’s livery on the again. It is not missing on the internals both, that includes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a QHD+ AMOLED display, digital camera with gimbal stabilization, and 120W quick charging. It’s clear that the iQOO 9 Pro makes use of a whole lot of the identical elements as its BBK siblings, together with the Find X5 Pro, Vivo X80 Pro, and the OnePlus 10 Pro, and the gaming-focused technique provides the outfit a brand new target market.I used the iQOO 9 Pro again when it launched however wasn’t capable of do a overview, so I’m do a shorter take now that the telephone has picked up the Android 13 replace. The telephone is restricted to a couple Southeast Asian nations, and in India it’s accessible for ₹59,990 ($853) for the model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.There’s a 12GB/256GB mannequin that is accessible for ₹54,990 ($920), and an ordinary variant dubbed the iQOO 9 with an FHD+ display, barely totally different {hardware} within the type of the Snapdragon 888+, and a smaller 4350mAh battery with 120W tech for ₹42,990 ($564). The commonplace mannequin has gimbal stabilization tech, however switches out the 50MP lens for a 48MP sensor, and also you get a 13MP wide-angle lens.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)I typically like what Vivo is doing on the design entrance with its units — the V23 and now the V25 sequence have enticing designs that stand out — and on condition that the iQOO 9 Pro is aimed toward a youthful viewers, the system has a daring styling that calls consideration to itself. I’m utilizing the Legend version, and it has a vertical line operating via the again that pays homage to BMW’s M sequence colours. The blue accent for the ability button can be a pleasant addition, and the big digital camera housing on the again provides to the design aptitude.The digital camera housing is not fairly as massive as among the POCO telephones I used lately, nevertheless it comes shut. The rectangular housing contains three sensors and the related {hardware} for gimbal stabilization, and what I like about it’s that it does not actually protrude an excessive amount of. The telephone has a big 6.78-inch display, and it’s taller than even the Galaxy S22 Ultra by 1.5mm (coming in at 164.8mm). But what makes it barely simpler to make use of is the narrower width at 75.2mm. And at 204g, it’s lighter than the Pixel 7 Pro, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and the Xiaomi 12 Pro.Image 1 of 4(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The white colour scheme mixed with the splash of colour operating on the again provides the iQOO 9 Pro a whole lot of character, and it is among the best-looking telephones I used this 12 months. The glass again additionally has a matte end that feels great to carry and use, and it does not decide up smudges. I just like the design on the entrance as properly, with iQOO doing a implausible job curving the extremities of the system whereas guaranteeing that the panel itself is flat.Another space the place the iQOO 9 Pro comes out forward is the in-screen reader; it’s the largest of any telephone I’ve used, and it’s the quickest as properly. It works unerringly due to the extra-large floor space, and I do not actually perceive why different manufacturers do not use a similarly-large module on their units.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)On that observe, the display itself is simply as vibrant as that on Realme and Vivo flagships, with the 6.78-inch AMOLED display that includes 120Hz refresh with Dolby Vision and max brightness of 1500 nits for HDR content material. It is marginally bigger than the remainder of the BBK portfolio, and it has stereo sound as properly (albeit inferior to Xiaomi units) and is mostly a implausible system for streaming media and taking part in video games.Continuing with the positives, the iQOO 9 Pro holds its personal in opposition to the very best Android telephones on the {hardware} entrance, and though the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 does not have the identical effectivity figures because the 8+ Gen 1, it continues to ship on the efficiency aspect of issues. There have been no slowdowns in anyway right here, and I do not see that altering in 2023 and past.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Battery life is nice as properly, and though it has a smaller battery than the Find X5 Pro, it manages to final all day with ease. Of course, newer units just like the Zenfone 9 last more due to the energy-efficient 8+ Gen 1, however the 9 Pro constantly delivers all-day use even with heavy workloads involving a whole lot of gaming. And you do not discover any omissions on the charging entrance, with the system providing 120W wired charging together with 50W wi-fi and 10W reverse wi-fi charging.iQOO touts a 20-minute mark for absolutely charging the battery, however in my use, that determine is nearer to 30 minutes. That mentioned, it’s sooner than simply about some other telephone I used this 12 months, barring the Realme GT Neo 3 and its 150W charging tech.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Switching over to the cameras, the iQOO 9 Pro contains a 50MP f/1.8 module with OIS and gimbal stabilization tech based mostly on Vivo’s newest telephones, and it is joined by a 50MP wide-angle lens with a 150-degree subject of view and 16MP zoom module with 2.5x optical zoom. If that wide-angle lens appears acquainted, it is as a result of it’s the similar sensor that is used within the OnePlus 10 Pro.Image 1 of 7(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)Given the caliber of the cameras, it is no surprise that the telephone takes fabulous photographs in nearly any lighting state of affairs. Daylight pictures have loads of element and good dynamic vary, nevertheless it’s in low-light the place the iQOO 9 Pro comes into its personal, producing pictures with good colour constancy and little to no seen noise. iQOO is not reinventing the wheel right here, as a substitute counting on the identical digital camera tuning algorithms that Vivo makes use of on its units, and meaning you get standout pictures in any situation.The wide-angle lens is first rate sufficient in its personal proper, and the 150-degree subject of view results in attention-grabbing pictures. It manages to ship photographs with the identical colour stability as the principle lens, and does a superb job even in low-light conditions. The Night Mode routinely kicks in at night time and delivers higher element out of shadows and maintains highlights, and the ensuing pictures look nice. Overall, the iQOO 9 Pro is on par with its BBK siblings on this space.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Finally, the software program. The iQOO 9 Pro launched with Funtouch 12 based mostly on Android 12, and it has picked up the Android 13 secure construct firstly of November, 2022. One of the principle causes for scripting this long-term take is to speak concerning the good issues Vivo and different BBK manufacturers are doing on the software program entrance this 12 months.Vivo was one of many final manufacturers to roll out platform updates to its telephones, so it’s nice to see the model introduce Android 13 to its units only a few weeks after Samsung. For context, my Xiaomi 12 Pro continues to be on Android 12, and it does not seem like the telephone will get the Android 13 construct earlier than the tip of the 12 months.As for the interface, Funtouch 13 has a whole lot of similarities to ColorOS 13, and it is clear that BBK is constructing out a unified software program imaginative and prescient despite the fact that its varied manufacturers have their very own naming. OxygenOS, Realme OS, and Funtouch OS share the identical basis as ColorOS, with every interface differing in minute methods and providing its personal customized feature-set.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)With the Android 13 construct, ColorOS switched to a notification shade that has bigger tiles for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, however iQOO has retained the older ColorOS 12-style pane with six toggles. The settings web page can be an identical to older builds of ColorOS, and for the big half, utilizing the interface is similar to that of different units within the BBK portfolio. The one factor I did not like right here is the bloatware; there may be a whole lot of it, and it’s according to what Realme has on its units nowadays.While a lot of the bloatware could be uninstalled, there is a native browser that can’t be disabled, and it continues to ship annoying advertisements by way of notifications. The greatest you are able to do right here is disable notifications for the browser, and in subsequent variations I would like iQOO so as to add the flexibility to uninstall it. Other than that, it is easy crusing on the software program aspect of issues. There’s an excellent quantity of customizability, the interface feels fashionable, and it’s optimized to take full benefit of the {hardware} and that chic 120Hz panel.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Overall, the iQOO 9 Pro is an underrated gem that has so much to supply. I actually just like the design of the Legend variant, and the {hardware} is on par with the very best units on this class. The cameras do a implausible job as properly, and also you get a big AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh, long-lasting battery with 120W charging tech, and software program that has a whole lot of customizability.With iQOO set to launch its 2023 portfolio within the coming weeks, the iQOO 9 Pro ought to get attractive reductions that can make it an much more enticing possibility when you’re on the lookout for a flagship that does not miss out in any space.