iQOO Neo 9 Pro Review: A Balance of Power and Affordability

iQOO's comfort phones have long been associated with great performance, however with less emphasis on photographic capabilities. However, the situation is changing, as seen by the iQOO Neo 7 Pro, which won 91mobile's Phone of the Year (around Rs 35,000) last year. Nonetheless, iQOO is witnessing an important change in its market posture.

The recently released iQOO 12 surpassed expectations by outperforming in the domain of photography. And now, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is prepared to carry on this legacy by focusing on both performance and camera capabilities. Surprisingly, this work is being performed while ensuring cost remains a priority.

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro's standout features include a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, a cutting-edge 50MP primary camera equipped with the IMX920 sensor, capable of recording stunning 8K videos, seamless 5G connectivity, the latest Android 14 operating system, and lightning-fast 120W charging, with the charger included for convenience.

However, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro confronts its most difficult hurdle yet: competing in India's brutally competitive smartphone market. Within this category, competitive competitors such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ combine slick aesthetics in design with increased durability. Furthermore, the OnePlus 12R faces significant competition because to its use of the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.

In this competitive climate, iQOO must successfully exploit its capabilities in order find out a unique niche and attract discriminating customers. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro seeks to distinguish out from its competitors by focusing on offering great performance and increasing camera capabilities, while also setting new standards for value and innovation.

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro upholds the legacy of its predecessor, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro, by providing dependable performance without breaking the budget. Its upgraded 50MP primary camera performs brilliantly in a variety of lighting conditions, while there is space for improvement in the ultra-wide camera. If you value long battery life and fast charging, the Neo 9 Pro is a good choice. However, for those who appreciate a simplified Android experience and seamless connection with the Android ecosystem, the OnePlus 12R, which features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, may be a better alternative.

iQOO Neo 9 Pro
Screen Size	6.78 inches
Display Type	LTPO AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Procesor	Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Graphics	Adreno 740
Memory	128 GB | 256 GB
RAM	8 GB | 12 GB
Rear Camera	50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide)
Selfie Camera	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Battery	5160 mAh, 120W wired

Name	Product	Platform
IQOO Neo9 Pro (Fiery Red, 256 GB) (8 GB RAM)		Flipkart
IQOO Neo9 Pro (Conqueror Black, 256 GB) (12 GB RAM)		Flipkart
slainte 50000 mAh 18 W Power Bank		Flipkart
ENTWINO Soldier SY755 Gaming Headphone		Flipkart
realme Buds Q2 with Active Noise Cancellation		Flipkart
ZEBRONICS Zeb-Rush Wired Gaming Headset		Flipkart

Design and display

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro's design changes significantly from that of the previous model, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro. However, getting into the Black model, which I've been studying, you'll see a familiar finish similar to its predecessor. This material choice, which is predominantly made of plastic, adds to the device's competitive price approach. Despite its plastic construction, the back panel has a satin-like feel that successfully hides fingerprints and tiny scratches. Specifically, the lack of a headphone connector may be a deal-breaker for certain customers.

For those who want a more significant look, iQOO offers the Red-White variation known as the Fiery Red color choice. This model features vegan leather patches, making it comparable to competitors such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and Motorola Edge 40. Personally, I think the Red-White color scheme is a little too sharp for my taste, but, as they say, design tastes are subjective.

In terms of design, both options may come off as uninteresting to my keen eye. In such a case, I could prefer the OnePlus 12R or Redmi Note 13 Pro+ because to their more attractive design. It's worth noting that the iQOO Neo 9 Pro has a smaller profile than its competitors, measuring at 7.99mm in thickness.

Moving on to the display, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro improves the viewing experience with an enhanced 1.5K resolution (2,400 x 1,260 pixels), which is a step up from Full-HD+ resolution (2,800 x 1080 pixels) on its predecessor. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro boasts a flat 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a blazing-fast maximum refresh rate of 144Hz, providing immersive graphics that match even the OnePlus 12R. Apps, especially streaming services like Netflix, are well tuned, providing HDR playback for a more immersive viewing experience. Furthermore, its two speakers deliver powerful and balanced music output, but with little bass.

In terms of gaming, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro's flat screen outperforms the OnePlus 12R's curved display, providing a faster touch response. This results in a smoother and more responsive gaming experience, adding to the iQOO Neo 9 Pro's already impressive credentials.

Performance and Software

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC improves the previous model, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro, which used the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. The device I'm now testing has 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4 storage, providing enough of power for demanding applications.

In benchmark tests like as Geekbench, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro outperforms its predecessor by around 20% in single-core and 28% in multi-core performance. Similarly, the AnTuTu score shows a noteworthy increase of almost 24%. Notably, the device exhibits amazing stability in the CPU Throttling test, which might be ascribed to its massive 6,043mm sq vapor chamber cooling system and specialized Q1 performance chip. However, it is important to note the possibility of abnormalities in the test findings, such as app-specific issues.

In real-world use, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro provides a smooth and fluid experience with no visible stuttering or latency. Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the improved gaming experience made possible by features such as 4D haptics in game mode and a flat display. In a head-to-head comparison with the OnePlus 12R while playing popular games like BGMI and Call of Duty, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro provides a more refined gaming experience.

However, in terms of delivering a clean Android experience, the OnePlus 12R has a little advantage. Although the iQOO Neo 9 Pro guarantees three years of significant Android OS upgrades, which is noteworthy, there is still space for improvement in order to compete with industry titans like as Samsung and Google in this regard.

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro features a large 5,160mAh battery, allowing for continuous use without the need for regular recharges. Under regular use conditions, the gadget easily provides all-day battery life. Enabling performance mode increases its efficiency, providing users with around 8.5 hours of screen-on time, which is excellent for a smartphone in this category. Unfortunately, we discovered a problem while doing the backup test with PCMark's battery test, which was caused by a flaw in the application. Rest assured that we will fix this issue and offer updates in due time.

On the charging front, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro stands out with its included 120W charger, which allows for quick charging. With this charger, the smartphone can achieve full charge in only 35 minutes, offering little downtime and maximum convenience for customers on the go.

Camera

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro stresses providing customers with a basic however polished camera experience. The rear camera configuration includes a 50MP main lens and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. Notably, unlike its flagship cousin, the iQOO 12, it does not contain a periscope-style telephoto camera.

During my test, the photographs taken with the iQOO Neo 9 Pro had a faint sepia-like tinge, which adds a charming aesthetic but may impair color fidelity. Nonetheless, the primary camera impresses with its ability to capture sharp details without adding unnecessary noise to the photographs. In compared to the OnePlus 12R, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro performed better in both daytime and low light scenarios. Portrait images produced with the 50MP camera provide a deep bokeh effect, although they may be oversaturated at times, which can be difficult to work with in post.

However, the 8MP ultra-wide camera produces only acceptable results, with a notable loss of clarity in the photographs. While there is consistency in images obtained with wide and ultra-wide lenses, the latter frequently falls short of clarity.

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro keeps a 16MP front camera capable of taking stunning selfies in well-lit conditions. Although skin tones may occasionally look oversaturated, overall image quality remains high. Portrait selfies also have clarity, but with uneven edge detection. While the front camera performs well in daylight, nighttime selfies may have challenges with proper skin tone identification and detail retention.

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro offers 8K video recording, although with certain limitations. While colors seem balanced under controlled lighting circumstances, handling the huge file volumes associated with 8K film can be difficult. Additionally, recording at 8K may result in faster device heating and poor stability. For the best results, use the ultra-stabilization option (Full-HD, 60fps) for smoother film.

Unfortunately, the front camera is still restricted to Full-HD recording at 30fps, leaving out the greater resolution options available for back camera recording.

Conclusion

In the sub-Rs 40k category, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro, like its predecessor, remains the top choice for gamers and performance fans. The device's increased 50MP primary camera delivers consistent performance in capturing moments, but the lack of a telephoto lens or a better ultra-wide lens may leave some customers wanting more.

On the other hand, if you value a clean Android experience and seamless integration into the Android ecosystem, the OnePlus 12R is an intriguing choice. However, for those who want smooth performance and huge 256GB storage without breaking the budget, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is still a great candidate that checks all the appropriate boxes.