Vivo iQOO Z5 Review, Pros and Cons – There has been hype about the iQOO models for a few days. It proved to be an amazing smartphone. That’s why we see it’s 5th successor. Vivo launched the iQOO Z5 smartphone on September 28, 2021, which is the successor to the iQOO Z3 model. With some great features, this series has given a new perspective on the smartphone world. If you like the brand, you can try this model once. The phone is now available globally.
With amazing features like an amazing screen, powerful chipset, wonderful cameras, and a huge battery, the Vivo iQOO Z5 model attract millions of users. Even the budget is quite affordable. You can get it at a mid-range price. You will see some differences between the iQOO Z3 and the iQOO Z5, but the successor brings a lot of hope from users. It is also equipped with 5G cellular connectivity. So let’s start the detailed review of the Vivo iQOO Z5 smartphone.
Table of Contents
Vivo iQOO Z5 Review
Highlights
- Although there is a 6.67 inches IPS LCD screen, additional features like a 120Hz refresh rate will surprise you.
- It runs on the Android 11 operating system with custom UI support.
- Based on the 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, you will be embracing perfect performance.
- The triple camera with a 64 MP primary camera allows you to record 4k videos while keeping the videos stable.
- With a massive Li-Po 5000 mAh battery, you can enjoy a full day of intense gaming experience.
Design and Display
Vivo has launched a great-looking model with small rounded edges, providing a comfortable grip power. Colors like Arctic Dawn, Mystic Space, and Aurora are sure to impress you. The plastic back and plastic frame add to the glam of the phone’s range. On the other hand, there is a triple camera installed in the square space just above the corner of the back panel. You have the fingerprint sensor in the sidebar. The hole is located at the top of the front panel.
The display panel comes with a 6.67 inches IPS LCD screen. Although it’s standard quality, it offers better visual quality because of its other mind-blowing additions. Each film represents smoothness due to the 120 Hz refresh rate. There’s no stress on losing color. You have a maximum brightness level of 650 nits. That’s amazing when you’re in daylight. With HDR10 certification, it allows for better image quality on-screen. You will have a 1080p resolution screen that offers an amazing viewing experience. Furthermore, the presence of a density of 395 PPI makes the phone stand out among others.
What’s interesting is its Panda Glass protective cover. This makes your phone safe to drop from your hands. You don’t have to worry about the weight as it is a 193g phone. Even the 8.5 mm thick sidebar allows for comfortable handling of the phone. Although there is no dust/water resistance, you will still gain just because of its price.
Memory and Internal
When we talk about built-in features, the issue of playability always comes to mind. Whether a phone is strong or not, built-in resources decide a lot of it. Without a doubt, the presence of the Android 11 OS, offering smooth performance. Every operation is executed so perfectly that there will be no complaints. As for the UI, there is a small adjustment. For international customers, the phone will have Fountouch 12. For the Chinese region, there will be OriginOS for iQOO 1.0 UI.
Coming with a 6nm Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G chipset, it delivers perfect gaming power. You will notice the high capacity of the mobile gaming experience. The 2.4GHz maximum clock speed is rendered by the Octa-core processor. On the other hand, you experience the beauty of the celestial visual experience because of the Adreno 642L graphics unit. Whether this combination is great and can give you decent performance. With such a wonderful setup, this phone can be a good buy for all smartphone lovers.
It comes with three variants, allowing you to choose the most perfect one. There are two 8GB RAM variants that combine 128GB and 256GB variants. On the other hand, you’ll get a superior variant that also offers more power than what comes with 12GB RAM with a 256GB combo. Unfortunately, there is no microSD card slot. Hope you don’t need one if you choose the perfect combination of storage capacity.
Camera
In terms of the camera, the brand kept great settings. At this price point, you’ll be able to capture photos through the triple camera that has the 64MP primary autofocus sensor. If you are a photogenic person, you can appreciate its crystal clear images. Although there is no OIS technology attached to the phone, you will get the best out of it just because of a good combination of cameras. Where there’s an ultra-wide 8MP sensor to provide a 120-degree view, the 2MP macro camera lets you experiment with close-ups.
You won’t face a lot of headaches when taking pictures of the nightlife. Daylight shots are amazing without losing color, but with a balanced tone. The combination provides a high-quality image without any noise. On the other hand, there is a 16 MP selfie camera that is much better than other alternatives. It can capture amazing self-portraits without causing image grain.
People who are very addicted to selfies can be attracted to the camera. With HDR performance, the front camera attracts millions of users regarding the video recording feature, the main camera allows you to record 4k videos while the selfie camera allows you to record 1080p videos. The rear camera has gyro-EIS capability, although there is no such feature with the selfie camera.
Battery and Others
This Vivo iQOO Z5 comes equipped with a Li-Po 5000mAh battery that is much better than any other alternative, although you will find some specific smartphones that come with a large capacity battery. You can use it aggressively for a long day purpose. Instead of a 55W fast charger included with the iQOO Z3, you will get a 44W fast charger with the Vivo iQOO Z5 smartphone. Even a full day of intense games doesn’t drain your battery much. A fully charged battery can last up to two days. The expected price of the Vivo iQOO smartphone is $320 (RS 23,990) approx.

Vivo iQOO Z5 Specifications Detail
Down below you can see the full specifications of the Vivo iQOO Z5 smartphone.
Specifications | Vivo iQOO Z5 |
Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
Announced | September 2021 |
SIM | Dual SIM |
Dimensions | 6.48 x 3.02 x 0.33 inches |
Weight | 193g |
Size | 6.67 inches |
Display | IPS LCD 120Hz HDR10 650 nits brightness 20:9 ratio ~395 PPI density |
Protection | Panda Glass |
Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
OS | Android 11 Funtouch 12 (Global) OriginOS for iQOO 1.0 (China) |
Chipset | 6 nm – Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G |
CPU | Octa-core 4×2.4 GHz Kryo 670 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 670 |
GPU | Adreno 642L |
Card slot | No |
RAM | 8GB, 12GB |
Internal | 128 GB, 256 GB UFS 3.1 |
Camera | 64 MP (wide), PDAF 8 MP (120° ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) LED flash, HDR, panorama, gyro-EIS Max – 4K@30/60fps |
Selfie | 16 MP (wide) HDR Max – 1080p@30fps |
Loudspeaker | Yes |
3.5mm jack | Yes |
WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
NFC | No |
Infrared port | No |
Radio | No |
USB | USB Type-C, USB On-The-Go |
Sensors | Side-mounted fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
Battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh Fast charging 44W |
Colors | Arctic Dawn, Mystic Space, Aurora |
Expected Price | $320 (Rs 23,999) Approx. |
Vivo iQOO Z5 Pros and Cons
Down below you can see the list of pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) of the Vivo iQOO Z5 smartphone.
Pros
- Tall IPS LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate.
- Full HD screen supported by 650 nits brightness.
- Panda Glass protection.
- Custom UI support.
- Android 11 OS upgradeable to Android 12.
- Decent camera performance.
- 4K video recording with gyro-EIS support.
- Huge battery capacity with 44W fast charger.
- 5G enabled.
- Decent performance in multitasking and gaming.
Cons
- IPS LCD display instead of AMOLED display.
- No micro-SD card support.
- Without an optical zoom camera.
- NFC support is not available.
- Without wireless charging feature.
- Power sharing or reverse charging is not enabled.
Conclusion
While the price may seem cheap, it’s a beast with advanced specs. The iQOO Z5 is really a big competitor in the lower mid-range category. It excels in several areas that attract many users. If you’re looking for the best design with built-in performance, this model could be an incredible choice. As you can see, there’s a great display, powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, amazing camera, even the battery capacity is admirable. So what else do you need for your gaming purpose?
This model really stands out for its spectacular features. Vivo did a great job of offering a great series. Whether you’ve used it or not, you can always try the Vivo phone. If you’re looking for alternatives options then definitely check the Xiaomi Poco X3 GT smartphone, on a similar budget.