iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5G: Mid-Range Mastermind or Overhyped Hopeful?

Click to find out! Is iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5G the king of affordable 5G or a mid-range miss? iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5G #Smartphone #Tech #Review

Although photography may not be iQOO’s greatest asset, its high-end smartphones are typically seen as performance-focused gadgets. At least with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC-powered iQOO Neo 7 Pro (review) from the previous year, which also took home the title of Phone of the Year (under Rs 35,000) from 91mobile, that was the case. Nonetheless, iQOO is redefining its market position rather significantly. It turns out that the newly released iQOO 12 (review) is a very strong competitor in the camera market. With its emphasis on performance and cameras, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro now seeks to continue the tradition. Remember, all of this is done while keeping costs low.

A Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and a 50MP primary camera (IMX920 sensor) with 8K video are among the notable features of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro.

A Red-White variation called Fiery Red is available from iQOO if you want a sportier look. This edition is now competitive with the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and Motorola Edge 40 thanks to the inclusion of vegan leather patches. Though I admit that the design is subjective, I feel the red-white color combination to be a little too forceful.

Both versions appear to be rather plain overall. For design reasons alone, I might choose the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or OnePlus 12R in that scenario. Remarkably, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5g has a thinner profile than its competitors, with a thickness of only 7.99mm.

iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5g Specifications

Rather than Full-HD+ resolution (2,800 x 1080 pixels), the iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s display now delivers 1.5K resolutions (2,400 x 1,260 pixels). The phone’s 6.78-inch AMOLED flat screen, with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz, is still a feature. The OnePlus 12R offers a slightly sharper viewing experience, while the iQOO Neo 9 Pro 6g is also a great option. Netflix is among the well-optimized apps that support HDR playback. Although the audio is strong and well-balanced thanks to its two speakers, it lacks bass.

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s flat screen provides a superior touch response than the OnePlus 12R’s curved display, even when gaming.

iQOO Neo 9 Pro Display

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5g boasts an impressive display and packing features that cater to both multimedia enthusiasts and gamers. Let’s break down its key highlights:

Size and Resolution:

• 6.78-inch: This expansive screen offers ample real estate for immersive viewing experiences, making it ideal for watching movies, playing games, or browsing the web.
• 1.5K AMOLED: The 1260 x 2800 resolution translates to sharp visuals with crisp details. AMOLED technology ensures vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, enhancing your viewing experience.

Refresh Rates:

• Dual refresh rates: The Neo 9 Pro goes beyond the standard 120Hz with a unique dual refresh rate approach.
• 120Hz standard: This refresh rate delivers smooth visuals for everyday use, ensuring a responsive and fluid experience while navigating the phone and using apps.
• 144Hz gaming mode: When you switch to games, the display kicks into high gear with a blazing-fast 144Hz refresh rate. This significantly reduces motion blur and improves responsiveness, giving you a competitive edge in fast-paced games.

Peak Brightness:

• 3000 nits: This incredibly high peak brightness level makes the display easily readable even under direct sunlight or in brightly lit environments. You won’t have to squint or shade the screen to see what’s on display, offering uninterrupted viewing anytime, anywhere.

Additional Features:

• HDR10+ support: This ensures wider color gamuts and improved contrast, delivering more realistic and immersive visuals for compatible content.
• SGS Eye Care Display certification: This indicates the display is optimized for eye comfort, reducing harmful blue light emissions to minimize eye strain during extended viewing sessions.

Overall:

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s display offers a compelling combination of size, resolution, refresh rates, and peak brightness. It caters to diverse user needs, providing a smooth and immersive experience for everyday use and transforming into a powerful gaming display when needed. With its focus on visual fidelity and eye comfort, it’s shaping up to be a strong contender in the mid-range segment.

iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5g Camera

The 50-megapixel primary camera on the iQoo Neo 9 Pro 5g has a 1/1.49-inch Sony IMX920 sensor with an f/1.88 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS). The 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera has an OmniVision OV08D10 sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. For selfies and video chats, the front of the device has a 16-megapixel Samsung S5K3P9SP04-FGX9 sensor with an f/2.5 aperture.
While the 4K and 1080p resolution options offer 30fps and 60fps modes, the iQoo Neo 9 Pro allows you to take video at up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second (this mode does not have OIS enabled). With no tearing or distortions, I discovered that the 4K/60fps mode provided the finest quality, unless you have an 8K

iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5g RAM & Storage

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro comes in two storage variants, but there’s more to the story than just the raw capacity. Let’s delve into the details:

Storage Options:

• 8GB + 256GB: This is the base variant, offering ample storage for most users. With 256GB, you can comfortably store apps, games, photos, videos, and other files without worrying about running out of space.
• 12GB + 256GB: This variant caters to power users who demand more storage headroom. The extra 4GB of RAM can be beneficial for multitasking and handling demanding applications.

UFS 4.0 Storage:

Both variants boast UFS 4.0 storage, the latest and fastest storage standard available. This translates to significantly faster data transfer speeds compared to older UFS standards, resulting in:

• Faster app launch times: Apps will open and load data quicker, minimizing waiting times.
• Smoother multitasking: Switching between apps and games will feel more seamless, with less lag or stutter.
• Improved gaming performance: Faster data transfer speeds can benefit game loading times and overall performance in some games.

Extended RAM:

An interesting addition is the 8GB or 12GB of “extended RAM” available on both variants. This feature utilizes a portion of the phone’s internal storage to act as temporary RAM. This can be helpful in:

• Boosting multitasking performance: With more “RAM,” the phone can handle more apps running simultaneously without performance slowdowns.
• Keeping frequently used apps in memory: Apps you use often will stay loaded in the background, launching faster when you need them.

Important Notes:

• Extended RAM is not as fast as traditional RAM, so there might be some performance limitations compared to phones with higher physical RAM capacities.
• The effectiveness of extended RAM depends on various factors like the specific tasks you perform and how much free storage you have.

Overall:

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro 5g offers a good balance of storage and RAM options. The UFS 4.0 storage ensures fast data transfer speeds and the extended RAM feature adds a layer of multitasking flexibility. Choosing the right variant depends on your individual needs and budget. If you’re a casual user, the 8GB + 256GB option might suffice. But for power users who demand more performance and multitasking headroom, the 12GB + 256GB variant with extended RAM could be a compelling choice.

iQOO Neo 9 Pro Battery

The smartphone has a 5160mAh battery that supports 120W rapid charging.

5160mAh Battery:

• Generous capacity: This large battery capacity is well-suited for heavy users who demand long-lasting performance. You can expect to comfortably get through a full day of moderate usage without needing to recharge.
• Real-world performance: Actual battery life depends on various factors like screen brightness, usage patterns, and specific applications used. However, the 5160mAh capacity suggests the phone should offer ample endurance for most users.

120W Fast Charging:

• Lightning speed: This impressive fast charging support promises to top up your battery in a fraction of the time compared to standard chargers. Leaks suggest the phone could reach full charge in as little as 20 minutes, perfect for quick on-the-go power boosts.
• Convenience factor: With fast charging, you can avoid the frustration of waiting hours for your phone to be fully charged. Even a short 10-minute charge can provide enough power for several hours of use.

Overall:

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s battery and charging combination seem promising. The large battery capacity should cater to most users, and the 120W fast charging offers unmatched convenience. However, remember to use compatible chargers and consider the potential impact of fast charging on battery health over time.

Also, read about Android 15!