Battle Of The Titans: Unveiling The vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) - A Specs Showdown!

Body

Ah, the touch and feel of a smartphone - it's like choosing the perfect outfit for your tech-savvy lifestyle! Let's dive into the bodies of these contenders and see if they're comfy companions or hefty hassles. Here are the relevant specs:

Both the vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) have identical dimensions and weight, measuring 163.5×75.7×8 mm (or 8.3 mm), and tipping the scales at a modest 190 g (or 196 g). This makes them sleek and manageable, ensuring a comfortable grip for those marathon gaming sessions or Netflix binges.

Whether you're holding one of these phones in your hand for hours or slipping it into your pocket or bag, these dimensions strike a sweet spot. The phones feel substantial enough to exude premium quality but not burdensome to become a literal weight on your daily adventures.

Now, let's talk about the fashion statement these phones make with their color choices - Black, Blue, and Red. Each hue has its own personality, catering to different vibes and tastes.

Timeless and classy, the Black variant screams sophistication. It's for those who mean business, effortlessly blending into any professional setting.

Blue comes with a splash of vibrancy! This variant is for the trendsetters, the ones who love a pop of color in their lives. It's a cool choice for the free spirits and creative minds.

Bold, daring, and unapologetically attention-grabbing, the Red-White variant is for the extroverts who want their phone to make a statement - it's not just a device; it's an accessory.

In the grand scheme of things, the dimensions and weight of the vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) strike a commendable balance between comfort and style. Whether you're a power user glued to your phone all day or someone who values pocket space, these devices won't disappoint. And with colors that suit various personalities, you can flaunt your style while staying connected.

If we compare the phones to their respective predecessors, the vivo iQOO Neo8 and iQOO Neo8 Pro, they've gotten slightly smaller and slimmer; both the iQOO Neo8 series predecessors were 164.7×77×8.5 mm and 192 g. Build-wise, they sported a glass front, a glass or leather back, and a plastic frame.

IP Rating

(Related: IP ratings explained.)

Both the vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China), like their predecessors, lack an official IP (Ingress Protection) rating.

General Tip: It is a good idea to use a protective case and a screen protector to give your phone that extra layer of security.

Display: Visual Extravaganza

(Related: Know more about the various kinds of displays and screen specs.)

The LTPO AMOLED display, a massive 6.78 inches of eye candy, boasts a 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a mind-boggling 1400 nits HBM brightness. Whether you're binge-watching or gaming, the display of the iQOO Neo9 series is a feast for the eyes.

vivo iQOO Neo9 display. Image credit: vivo

Here are the relevant specs:

The vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) boast LTPO AMOLED displays, setting a new standard for visual brilliance. LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology not only ensures vibrant and accurate colors but also plays a pivotal role in power efficiency. It adapts to the content being displayed, dynamically adjusting the refresh rate to conserve energy when you're reading a static page and cranking it up when you're in the heart of a fast-paced game.

Buckle up for a buttery-smooth experience! The 144 Hz refresh rate means your scrolling, swiping, and gaming are as seamless as a hot knife through butter. Say goodbye to lags and hello to a visually exhilarating journey.

Prepare to be dazzled by 1260×2800 pixels of visual real estate. This translates to a pixel density of approximately 452 PPI, delivering razor-sharp details and crystal-clear imagery. Whether you're binge-watching your favorite series or editing photos, every pixel counts.

Sun's out, phones out! With a whopping 1400 nits High Brightness Mode (HBM), these displays are like a beacon in the daylight. Enjoy your content with clarity even under the blazing sun, and bid farewell to squinting at your screen.

It's not just a display; it's a canvas of a billion colors! The phones support a vast color spectrum, ensuring that every shade is vividly reproduced.

Finally, add HDR10+ into the mix, and you've got dynamic contrast and stunning details, making your content come alive with true-to-life colors and deep blacks.

These displays are not just about specs; they're about creating an immersive, intuitive, and irresistible experience that draws you in. Whether you're gaming, streaming, or simply scrolling through your social feeds, these LTPO AMOLED displays are your ticket to a visual wonderland. In the grand spectacle of smartphone displays, vivo's iQOO Neo9 series isn't just a participant; it's stealing the show! Get ready to be captivated every time you unlock that screen. It's not just a display; it's a masterpiece.

For comparison, both the predecessors iQOO Neo8 and iQOO Neo8 Pro featured a 6.78-inch, 1260×2800 px AMOLED display, with 144 Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1300 nits. It had support for 1 billion colors and HDR10. So the iQOO Neo9 series sees an upgrade here.

Networks

(Related: Cellular networks explained.)

Networking is the invisible thread that connects us all in the digital realm! The vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China), with their support for the GSM, CDMA, HSPA, CDMS2000, LTE, and 5G technologies, are like well-connected socialites in the world of networks.

GSM, the reliable workhorse, lays the foundation for 2G connectivity, ensuring seamless voice calls and text messages. CDMA is a parallel powerhouse, offering a different approach to network communication with distinct coding techniques. Then, HSPA steps up to the plate, championing 3G connectivity, providing faster data transfer rates and improved multimedia capabilities.

CDMA2000, another evolution in CDMA technology, further refines high-speed data transmission, enhancing the user experience.

LTE, the bedrock of 4G networks, elevates the user experience with swift internet speeds and enhanced call quality. And of course, the star of the show - 5G. This powerhouse not only promises lightning-fast download and upload speeds but also significantly reduces latency, opening up a realm of possibilities for innovative applications and technologies that will shape the future.

SIM

The vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) support dual Nano-SIM (dual stand-by). This capability adds a layer of convenience for those juggling work and personal life on a single device.

Chipset: Power-packed Performance

Under the hood, the iQOO Neo9 flexes its muscles with the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, an octa-core beast that ensures seamless multitasking and swift app launches. Paired with Adreno 740 GPU, gaming and graphics-intensive tasks become a breeze.

The iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) takes a different route with the Mediatek Dimensity 9300 chipset, offering an octa-core configuration that promises unrivaled speed and efficiency. The Immortalis-G720 MC12 GPU ensures that your graphics-heavy tasks run like a well-oiled machine.

Here are the relevant specs:

The iQOO Neo9 is fueled by the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a powerhouse that ensures your smartphone experience is nothing short of extraordinary. It houses an octa-core CPU consisting of four types of cores.

The Cortex-X3 (3.2 GHz) core is the maestro of the ensemble, leading with sheer power. It handles the most demanding tasks, ensuring swift app launches and seamless multitasking.

The two Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz) cores are like the seasoned musicians in the orchestra, handling the heavy lifting with a clock speed of 2.8 GHz. They provide a perfect balance of performance and efficiency.

The two Cortex-A710 (again, 2.8 GHz) cores are the versatile performers, specializing in a wide range of tasks. Despite sharing the clock speed with the A715 cores, they bring a different skill set to the table, contributing to the overall harmony of performance. They have different architectural features and efficiencies. The A715, being more performance-oriented, handles heavier tasks, while the A710, with a focus on power efficiency, ensures a balance in power consumption during less demanding operations. It's like having the best of both worlds - raw power when you need it and energy efficiency when you don't.

And the three Cortex-A510 (2.0 GHz) cores are the nimble players, taking care of less demanding tasks and optimizing power consumption. They ensure efficiency without compromising on responsiveness.

Backing up this CPU ensemble is the Adreno 740 GPU, a graphics powerhouse that transforms your gaming and multimedia experience into a visual extravaganza. It ensures that every frame is rendered with precision, whether you're conquering virtual worlds or streaming high-definition content.

The iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) goes with Dimensity dominance, housing a CPU ensemble consisting of a trio of excellence.

The lead soloist, the single Cortex-X4 (3.25 GHz) core, hits a clock speed of 3.25 GHz, ensuring that the iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) blazes through the most demanding tasks with lightning speed.

The three Cortex-X4 (2.85 GHz) cores specialize in high-performance scenarios. They provide a balance of power and efficiency, ensuring optimal performance in a variety of applications.

And the quartet of the Cortex-A720 (2.0 GHz) cores takes on less demanding tasks, contributing to the overall efficiency and smooth functioning of the device.

The iQOO Neo9 Pro (China)'s graphical prowess is in the hands of the Immortalis-G720 MC12 GPU, ensuring that every visual element, from gaming graphics to video playback, is a treat for the eyes.

In the grand performance of smartphone processing, both the vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) take center stage, showcasing the brilliance of their respective chipsets, CPUs, and GPUs. Whether you're pushing the limits of performance or savoring efficiency, these smartphones are designed to deliver a symphony of speed and reliability.

For comparison, the predecessor iQOO Neo8 sported the Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) chipset, housing an octa-core CPU (1×3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 + 3×2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 + 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) and the Adreno 730 GPU; whereas the iQOO Neo8 Pro sported the Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ (4 nm) chipset, housing an octa-core CPU (1×3.35 GHz Cortex-X3 + 3×3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 + 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) and the Immortalis-G715 MC11 GPU.

Memory and Storage

Here are the relevant specs:

For comparison, the predecessor iQOO Neo8 came in three variants of RAM / UFS 3.1 internal storage, namely, 12 GB / 256 GB, 12 GB / 512 GB, and 16 GB / 512 GB; and the iQOO Neo8 Pro came with 16 GB RAM and three variants of UFS 4.0 internal storage, namely, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB.

Camera Magic

The dual-camera setup of the iQOO Neo9, featuring a 50 MP wide lens and an 8 MP ultrawide, captures every detail in stunning clarity. From 8K video recording to mesmerizing panorama shots, this phone turns every moment into a visual masterpiece.

What sets the iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) apart is its double vision camera setup, comprising dual 50 MP cameras - one wide and one ultrawide. Both lenses combine forces to deliver jaw-dropping visuals, ensuring your photography and videography endeavors reach new heights.

Rear Camera

Let's put on our photographer hats and explore the visual wonders that the main camera systems of the vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) have in store for us. From wide-angle masterpieces to ultrawide panoramas, these cameras are poised to capture every moment in stunning detail.

vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro (China). Image credit: vivo

Here are the relevant specs:

Specification	iQOO Neo9	iQOO Neo9 Pro (China)
Number of Cameras	2 (Dual)	2 (Dual)
Resolution (Megapixels)	50 MP (wide), 8 MP (ultrawide)	50 MP (wide), 50 MP (ultrawide)
Aperture	f/1.9, f/2.2	f/1.9, f/2.0
Sensor Size	1/1.49″, N/A	1/1.49″, 1/2.76″
Pixel Size	N/A, N/A	N/A, 0.64 μm
Autofocus	PDAF, N/A	PDAF, AF
Image Stabilization	OIS, N/A	OIS, N/A
Field of View	N/A, 119°	N/A, 119°
Video Recording	8K, 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS	8K, 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS
Other Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, panorama, HDR

The 50 MP wide lens in both the phones is the star of the show, capturing every nuance with precision, ensuring stunning clarity and detail in every shot. With a wide aperture of f/1.9, it excels in challenging low-light conditions, ensuring your night shots are as vibrant as your day shots. This lens is your go-to for capturing detailed portraits and immersive landscapes.

The iQOO Neo9's 8 MP (f/2.2) ultrawide lens expands your horizons with its 119° field of view. It's your ticket to capturing sweeping landscapes and group photos without missing a beat. The distortion-free wide-angle ensures that every detail remains intact, giving your photos a professional touch.

The iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) takes the ultrawide game up a notch with its 50 MP ultrawide lens. With a slightly wider aperture of f/2.0, it still boasts a 119° field of view, promising distortion-free and breathtaking wide-angle shots.

Say goodbye to blurry shots. PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) in both the phones ensures that your subjects are in focus in the blink of an eye, even in dynamic scenes.

OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) technology acts as a steady hand, minimizing shakes and jitters, resulting in sharp images, especially in low-light scenarios.

The gyro-EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) feature takes your video recording to the next level. Smooth, shake-free videos make your memories come alive.

When the lighting is less than ideal, the LED flash steps in, ensuring your photos maintain their brilliance even in the dark.

Sweep across your surroundings and capture the full scope of the scene with the Panorama feature, transforming ordinary scenes into breathtaking vistas. Capture the grandeur of landscapes with a simple sweep.

And HDR (High Dynamic Range) brings out the details in both bright and dark areas of your photos, ensuring that every element pops with lifelike clarity for a visually striking result.

In the realm of smartphone photography, both the vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) bring a visual extravaganza to your fingertips. From vivid portraits to sweeping landscapes, these cameras are more than just lenses - they're storytellers, capturing the essence of every moment with brilliance and precision. Smile for the camera; the iQOO Neo9 series is ready to turn your snapshots into masterpieces.

For comparison, both the older vivo iQOO Neo8 and iQOO Neo8 Pro had dual cameras. They both featured a 50 MP wide lens (supporting PDAF and OIS), similar to the one in the iQOO Neo9 series. For the second lens, whereas the iQOO Neo8 sported a 2 MP (f/2.4) depth sensor, the iQOO Neo8 Pro came with an 8 MP (f/2.2) ultrawide lens with a 114° field of view. Both the iQOO Neo8 series predecessors had video recording capabilities of 8K at 30 fps, 4K at 30/60 fps, and 1080p at 30/60 fps; with gyro-EIS support. And their feature set included LED flash, panorama, and HDR.

Battery and Charging

(Related: Battery specs and charging types explained.)

Here are the relevant specs:

For comparison, both the iQOO Neo8 predecessors sported a 5000 mAh battery, supporting 120 W wired charging but no reverse charging.

Sound

Here are the relevant specs:

The "closed type" refers to a speaker design that features an enclosed or sealed casing, i.e., the speakers are housed in a closed space within the phone's chassis. The closed design helps in isolating sound within the speaker enclosure. This can enhance the clarity of audio by preventing interference from external noise, ensuring that what you hear is the intended sound from the speaker.

This design can contribute to a more robust bass response. The sealed enclosure allows for better control over low-frequency sounds, providing a richer and more immersive audio experience. And the closed type design also offers some protection to the speaker components. The enclosure helps safeguard the delicate internals of the speaker from dust, moisture, and other external elements, contributing to the overall durability of the audio system.

For comparison, the older vivo iQOO Neo8 and iQOO Neo8 Pro featured stereo loudspeakers. They did not support the headphone jack, either.

Connectivity

In the connectivity department, the vivo iQOO Neo9 series offers a comprehensive range of options. With support for dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, it covers all the bases, ensuring you can connect to any Wi-Fi network, old or new. Also, there's Wi-Fi Direct, a feature that allows direct device-to-device connections without the need for a router. It's perfect for fast file transfers and seamless collaboration.

The vivo iQOO Neo9 features Bluetooth 5.3 whereas the iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) boasts Bluetooth 5.4, both ensuring a seamless and high-quality connection, whether you're connecting to headphones, speakers, or other devices. With features like A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for high-quality audio streaming, LE (Low Energy) for power efficiency, aptX HD for superior audio quality, aptX Adaptive (iQOO Neo9 only) for dynamically and efficiently adjusting the audio bit-rate based on the complexity of audio and the quality of connection, and aptX Lossless (iQOO Neo9 only) for delivering uncompromised audio fidelity without any loss in quality during transmission (as if you were listening through a wired connection), your Bluetooth experience reaches new heights.

Lost? Not with the positioning capabilities of the iQOO Neo9 series! The iQOO Neo9 supports GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, and BDS (B1I+B1c), whereas the Pro version supports GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), and NavIC (L5). This means your phone always knows where you are, no matter where you travel in the world. Whether you're navigating through bustling cities or remote wilderness, your phone's positioning technology ensures you're always on the right path.

The vivo iQOO Neo9 series features NFC, the digital magician! This technology allows you to make contactless payments, share files, and connect with other NFC-enabled devices with just a tap. It's like having a digital handshake, simplifying tasks and making your phone interactions effortless.

Both the phones also sport infrared port.

Last but not least, the trusty USB-C 2.0 - the universal connector. Whether you're charging your device, transferring files, or connecting to external devices, USB Type-C 2.0 ensures a reliable connection. It's the jack-of-all-trades, allowing you to expand your device's capabilities and stay connected to the wider world of technology. And the support for OTG (USB On-The-Go) enables your device to act as host and connect to other USB devices, such as flash drives, keyboards, cameras, and more, without needing a computer as an intermediary.

Sensors

The vivo iQOO Neo9 series comes equipped with the following sensors:

• Proximity Sensor: Detects the presence or movement of an object (say, with infrared, sound, light, or electromagnetic fields) without physically contacting it. It is used, for example, to turn off the screen when you position your device close to your ear while making a call.
• Fingerprint Sensor: Used for quick and secure unlocking. It is side-facing in both the models.
• Gyro: The gyroscope can detect when your device is being twisted or turned in any direction. It enhances the accuracy of apps and games that rely on precise motion, like augmented reality (AR) apps and racing games.
• Accelerometer: The accelerometer detects changes in the device's orientation and acceleration. If you tilt, shake, or move your device, the accelerometer knows.
• Compass: The compass determines your device's orientation. It is essential for navigation apps, map orientation, and augmented reality experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) release date?

  Both the vivo iQOO Neo9 and iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) have been announced on the 27th December, 2023. They're expected to release on the 30th December, 2023.

• What is vivo iQOO Neo9 price?

  The vivo iQOO Neo9 is priced starting from CNY 2299 (about USD 323) for the 12 GB / 256 GB variant, and goes up to CNY 3199 (about USD 450) for the 16 GB / 1 TB variant.

• What is vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) price?

  The vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro (China) is priced starting from CNY 2999 (about USD 422) for the 12 GB / 256 GB variant, and goes up to CNY 3999 (about USD 563) for the 16 GB / 1 TB variant.