Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo

Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Smartphone Review – The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo has finally debuted in Chinese and it is equipped with a decent combination of hardware and software. But the same version was released with a different name in India, which is known as the Vivo iQOO Z9. Anyway, the first impression of the Z9 Turbo is quite distinct as compared to other iQOO phones, especially the camera module is something worth noting. The good news is that the software is integrated with AI capabilities, which ensures a smooth experience.

Unlike their previous phones, the company ensures that the users are getting a massive battery configuration. Plus, the power-efficient hardware plays a significant role when it comes to performance and gaming. However, the camera configuration feels slightly underwhelming since the image processing is lacking, which is explained in the following iQOOO Z9 Turbo smartphone review.

Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Smartphone Review

Highlights

  1. The phone arrives with a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate.
  2. As for the software interface, you are getting the Android 14-based OriginOS 4 custom skin.
  3. The hardware section introduces the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset with amazing graphic support.
  4. In terms of the camera setup, the device is accompanied by a 50MP dual camera and 16MP selfie configuration.
  5. Under the hood, the device offers a 6000 mAh battery with an 80W wired charging.

Design and Display

At first impression, the Z9 Turbo looks stunning for a mid-range phone. Although, the thick bezels are noticeable om on the front screen. Still, the company ensures to showcase different paint jobs. You can choose this phone from Black, White, to Mint color options. If you want something standard and appealing, consider getting the regular Black or White variant. But if you are looking for something out of the box, the Mint paint job would be a fabulous choice.

There’s no denying that the phone integrated the IP64 certification, which increases durability to a certain extent. In terms of the build quality, the device has a slim side panel and it didn’t weigh that much. As for the design aspect, the camera module is something new that makes the iQOO Z9 Turbo a distinct look. However, it doesn’t justify the overall appearance quality. Yet, the front display offers a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and fingerprint scanner.

The fingerprint scanner is present under the screen, and it’s quite efficient to use. It won’t delay the touch response while providing top-notch security. At the same time, the device can produce impressive colors and contrast with HDR support. In terms of brightness support, the phone can easily deliver a 4500 nits brightness. With this, you won’t face any problem using the always-on display features in outdoors.

Memory and Internal

Among the regular mid-range phones, the Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo is one of the few phones that offers exceptional grade performance. Even though the processing speed can go up to 1×3.0 GHz cloaking speed. But still, the device can handle extreme performance and precisely manage multitasking. Alongside this, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset offers an impressive Adreno 735 GPU configuration. With all of those factors combined, the users can expect a decent performance.

When it comes to gaming, the device can smoothly grant lag-free gameplay and astounding touch response with a 144Hz refresh rate. Not to forget, a couple of hours of gaming won’t cause that many heating issues. However, the phone equips the OriginOS 4 custom skin with Android 14 configuration. The software interface brings a wide range of customization attributes It includes multiple themes, unique gestures, and many other interesting aspects.

But, there’s no denying that you will find several native Chinese apps and bloatware apps. Hopefully, it’s a blessing for those who want to enjoy a thorough experience with their favorite app. When it comes to applications and games, storage is something you should consider first. With the new Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo can easily grant up 256GB to 512GB UFS 4.0 space with 12GB to 16GB RAM. You can choose between a multiple storage and RAM option according to your needs.

Camera

The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo is an amazing phone if you desire superb software and hardware support. But when it comes to the camera section, there are a few shortcomings that are noticeable to the users. There’s no denying the phone offers a 50MP primary and 8MP ultra-wide lens. At the same time, you are also getting a 16MP selfie lens configuration on the front display. From the first impression, it might look average setup.

In the live test, the phone performs pretty well. The colors and contrast aren’t that bad if you are clicking the daylight photos. Although, the color saturation is slightly off, and the default filter clicks white wash photos. If you want to click natural colors, you might need to use the professional mode. As far as the lowlight photos are concerned, the colors are accurate with less noise. However, the details are mediocre since it’s a mid-range phone.

Still, the dynamic range is improved with a good HDR configuration, while the camera software brings good results for photos. The camera also offers optical image stabilization, which ensures stable videos and photography. On the same note, the device can record up to 4K videos and various recording modes. It includes slow-mo, timelapses, and cinematic video options. The front camera can record up to 1080p resolution video, which is pretty much expected.

Battery and Others

In terms of battery capacity, the iQOO Z9 Turbo equips 6000 mAh isn’t something that you find in a regular mid-range phone. Typically, the users can obtain 6+ hours of the screen for normal activities, gameplay, and media consumption. Anyone can tell that the phone has a massive battery configuration. With this, it’s possible to enjoy screen time as much as you want.

Alongside this, the phone also delivers exceptional support with an 80W wired charger. Unlike other bands, it won’t even need 45 minutes to refuel the battery from 10% to full battery. However, having wireless charging could be a game changer for many people. But still, the device can support reverse charging and offers standard OTG support. With all of those factors combined, you won’t encounter that many problems while refueling the device.

On the other hand, the iQOO Z9 Turbo comes with stereo speakers with a fabulous deal. From this, you will obtain crisp and loud audio output. As for the additional sensors, the device brings the latest Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and other necessary sensors. Plus, the regular NFC features are available on the device. Lastly, let’s talk about the most important part, the price point. The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo is priced at $300 (Rs 24,990 in India) approx.

Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Pros and Cons

Vivo iQOO Z9
Image – Vivo iQOO Z9

Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Specifications Detail

Down below you can see the full specifications of the Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo smartphone.

SpecificationsVivo iQOO Z9 Turbo
Network2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
AnnouncedApril 2024
SIMDual SIM
Dimensions6.44 x 2.99 x 0.31 inches
Weight194.9 g
Size6.78 inches
DisplayAMOLED
1B colors
144Hz
HDR
4500 nits brightness
20:9 ratio
~453 PPI density
Always-on display
Protection/OthersIP64, dust and water resistant
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels
OSAndroid 14, OriginOS 4
Chipset4nm – Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
CPUOcta-core
1×3.0 GHz Cortex-X4
4×2.8 GHz Cortex-A720
3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A520
GPUAdreno 735
Card slotUnspecified
RAM12GB, 16GB
Internal256GB, 512GB
UFS 4.0
Camera50 MP (wide), PDAF, OIS
8 MP (ultrawide)
LED flash, panorama, HDR
Max – 4K@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie16 MP (wide)
Max – 1080p@30fps
LoudspeakerYes
(stereo speakers)
3.5mm jackNo
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
GPSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS (B1I+B1c)
NFCYes
Infrared portYes
RadioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
SensorsUnder display fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery6000 mAh
80W wired
7.5W reverse wired
ColorsBlack, Mint, White
Expected Price$300 (Rs 24,990 in India) approx
Disclaimer: We can not guarantee that the data available on this page is 100% correct.

Conclusion

The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo is an excellent phone in the mid-range segment, which allows users to get most of the trendy and useful specs. Unlike other brands, you are getting almost everything that can be expected from the phone. The plus point of buying this phone would be astounding performance, display, and good battery life. But, there’s no denying that the camera setup lacks to a certain extent. Moreover, the device will be limited to the Chinese smartphone market.

On the other hand, there are multiple options available in the market, and at the same price. Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are looking for a similar deal for comparison, we recommend a Xiaomi Redmi Turbo 3. To be fair, the Redmi offers better camera quality and overall performance. But still, you should consider other factors like performance, display, price, software, camera, etc. to make an informed decision. As always, we suggest you pick the phone that meets your expectations.

Aman Patel
Aman Rathore is a technology enthusiast and has excellent knowledge of smartphones. He writes for Oispice frequently about smartphones and reviews. Aman is available on email at amanr@oispice.com.