iQOO 9 Pro Review – Best Flagship Phone You Can Buy Right Now

Given iQOO’s past history of squeezing maximum value from its mid-tier phones, I couldn’t avoid but question what the brand could deliver in the premium market. The iQOO 9 Pro, a specs behemoth on paper, has been launched by iQOO. It comes with a more advanced FuntouchOS. However, the main question is, is it better than every other flagship on the market at the moment?

The iQOO 9 Pro is designed to compete directly with other flagship smartphones. It has top-of-the-line specifications, an outstanding camera setup, and lightning-fast charging, all for under Rs. 70,000. So, is this premium offering from iQOO worth the price tag? We’ll put it through heavy games and test it in day-to-day scenarios to see if it’s worth the consideration.

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The iQOO 9 Pro comes in two colours and two RAM options. The base variant with 8GB of RAM costs Rs. 64,990, while the top-end option with 12GB of RAM costs Rs. 69,990 in India. Both variants offer 256GB of internal storage and come in Legend (white) and Dark Cruise (black) colour options.

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The iQOO 9 Pro packs the following items inside the box:

• 120W Charger
• Type-C USB Cable
• Warranty Card
• Quick Start Guide
• SIM Eject Tool
• Phone Protective Case
• Earphone Jack Adapter

Before we talk in detail about the iQOO 9 Pro, let’s see what the on-paper specs look like:

• Display: 6.78 inches AMOLED
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
• RAM & ROM: 8GB RAM 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM 256GB Storage
• Software: Android v12
• Rear camera: 50MP + 50MP + 16MP
• Selfie camera: 16 MP
• Battery: 4700 mAh
• Weight: 204 grams
• Dimensions: 164.8 x 75.2 x 8.8 mm

The iQOO 9 Pro is a stunning phone, particularly in the ‘Legend’ colour option. The Motosport variant maintains the classic BMW three-colour stripes that run from the upper half of the rear panel to the bottom. It boasts one of the most well-designed back panels among flagship phones. The design is so attractive that it caught my eye from a distance. It’s comfortable to hold thanks to the matte glass design on the back and also features Gorilla Glass 5 on the front.

The iQOO 9 Pro has a giant camera setup on the back that runs the length of the top half of its backside. The module features the Gimbal Stabilization logo as well as other camera information. The iQOO logo can also be found on the lower backside. The camera module, despite its size, does not protrude significantly, preventing the device from wobbling when placed on a flat surface.

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A robust metal frame keeps the two sides intact and, thanks to its wonderful matte texture which improves grip. The physical buttons are built of the same material and provide an excellent clicky response. The volume buttons are placed above the blue-coloured power button on the right metal frame. The frame is flush with the bottom edge, allowing a place for the SIM tray which is beside the USB Type-C charging port and the primary speaker grille.

It’s hard to digest that the Rs. 65,000 premium smartphone lacks an IP rating, making it prone to water and dust damage. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, however, a 3.5mm to USB-C adaptor is included. Overall, the phone has a very nice feel in the hand. It features a high-end design and a solid build quality.

The iQOO 9 Pro, as a flagship, includes the most up-to-date and best display technology available on a smartphone in 2022. You get a vivid E5 AMOLED display with a sharp 2K resolution. When you add in a big 6.78-inch 10-bit panel, you have one of the best smartphones for multimedia consumption. It has a high refresh rate of 120Hz that is adaptable and can be lowered as needed. The touch sampling rate of 300Hz ensures that the touch is incredibly responsive, and the high refresh rate ensures that scrolling is fluid.

The E5’s AMOLED display features bright colours, deeper blacks, and crisp text. It’s also really bright, both inside the house and outdoors. The display on the iQOO 9 Pro is HDR10+ certified and has a maximum brightness of 1500 nits. The biggest drawback was that HDR 10 compatibility was unavailable in apps such as Netflix and Prime Video, which is yet another major flaw for a flagship smartphone.

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The screen is curved on the sides to provide an immersive viewing experience. The screen curvature isn’t as aggressive as it could be, but it’s enough to fit in with the device’s metal frame without causing accidental touches. What else can you ask for? The phone has a beautiful display, so you won’t have any problems watching movies or playing games.