Hello friends! Today, I’m excited to discuss the newly launched iQOO Neo 9 Pro. The Neo series from iQOO has always been thrilling, especially because they offer great value for money. Previously, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro was known as the most affordable smartphone featuring the 8th Gen 1 processor. Continuing this trend, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is now the cheapest phone available with the 8th Gen 2 processor.
Pricing and Competition
Let’s start by discussing the price. The base variant of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is expected to be around Rs 30,000, which is significantly lower than its competitors priced around Rs 40,000. This affordability makes the Neo 9 Pro an exciting option for those looking for high performance without breaking the bank.
Unboxing the iQOO Neo 9 Pro
The Neo 9 Pro comes in two colours: a striking Fiery colour and a classic Black. In this review, I’ll be showcasing the Fiery variant. Upon opening the box, you’ll find a compact camera module, a decent protective case, the usual documentation, a SIM card tool, and an impressive 120W charger. This charger is a standout feature as it supports fast charging for the phone’s 5160 mAh battery. Also included is a USB Type-C to Type-C charging cable, which is a nice touch compared to the more common USB Type-A to Type-C cables.
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Design and Build
The design of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is quite distinctive, featuring a dual-tone colour scheme and a vegan leather back. This material not only looks premium but also feels great in hand. Despite housing a large 5160 mAh battery, the phone remains relatively light, weighing around 191 grams. The build quality is excellent, with a subtle Neo branding and iQOO logo adding to its aesthetic appeal.
Display
The display on the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is identical to that of the flagship iQOO 12. It features a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, 3000 nits peak brightness, and HDR10+ support. This ensures an immersive viewing experience with vibrant colours and sharp details. The bezels are minimal, making the display feel even more expansive. For protection, it comes with a Short Sensation Glass.
Read also: Realme 12 Pro+ camera features unveiled: Grand launch on Flipkart early access sale
Performance and Specifications
Under the hood, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is powered by the 8th Gen 2 processor. It offers three variants: 8GB RAM with 128GB storage, 8GB RAM with 256GB storage, and 12GB RAM with 256GB storage. The 128GB variant uses UFS 3.1 storage, while the 256GB variants feature the faster UFS 4.0 storage. The RAM type is LPDDR5X, which ensures speedy and efficient performance.
The phone has an impressive AnTuTu score of 1.6 million, making it one of the highest-scoring devices with the 8th Gen 2 processor. During CPU throttle tests, it maintained 86% efficiency, indicating robust performance under sustained loads.
Gaming Performance
For gamers, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is a dream come true. It supports 120 FPS gameplay for Call of Duty Mobile and consistently delivers 59-60 FPS for Genshin Impact. The phone’s thermal management is exceptional, thanks to its 6000mm² vapour cooling chamber, ensuring it remains cool even during intense gaming sessions. Additionally, the Q1 chipset helps upscale games from 720p to 900p, enhancing the overall visual experience.
Multimedia Experience
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro excels in multimedia consumption as well. The Q1 chipset also upscales streaming content, providing a better viewing experience for platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. The device features stereo speakers, which enhance the audio experience while watching movies or playing games.
Software and User Interface
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro runs on Android 14 with FunTouch OS 14 layered on top. While FunTouch OS is subjective and may not appeal to everyone, it offers a smooth and responsive user experience. iQOO promises three major updates and four years of security updates, ensuring the device remains up-to-date.
Connectivity and Sensors
In terms of connectivity, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro supports 5G sub-band, dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi calling, Bluetooth 5.3, and an IR blaster. Unfortunately, NFC is not included. The phone also features virtual RAM support, which can be expanded to match the physical RAM (up to 12GB). Other sensors include an in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock, both of which work flawlessly.
Camera
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro sports a dual-camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor (Sony IMX920) with OIS and an 8MP ultrawide sensor. The front camera is a 16MP sensor housed in a center punch-hole. The primary sensor is the same one used in the Vivo X100, a flagship camera-centric smartphone, ensuring excellent photo quality. The camera supports 8K video recording and 4K at 60 FPS.
In various tests, the camera performed admirably, delivering sharp images with vibrant colors and good dynamic range. Night photography is also impressive, thanks to the 50MP sensor’s low-light capabilities. The phone also supports 4K night video recording and selfie videos, although it would have been better with 4K support for selfies.
Additional Features
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro includes several additional features such as IP54 certification for dust and water resistance, support for Camera2 API, and a variety of camera modes like Snapshot, Night, Portrait, Photo, Video, Slow Motion, and Time Lapse. The phone also has an AI Voice Game Changer feature for gaming, which allows users to change their voice during gameplay.
Conclusion
To sum up, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is an incredibly well-rounded smartphone that offers excellent value for money. Its powerful performance, impressive display, robust gaming capabilities, and versatile camera make it a compelling choice in its price range. With offers available until February 26th, including an instant bank discount of Rs 2,000 and additional exchange offers, it’s a great time to consider purchasing the iQOO Neo 9 Pro.
If you enjoyed this detailed review, please like and share this article with your friends who are looking for a high-performance phone on a budget. Until next time, keep tracking and stay safe!
