vivo iQOO 9 SE review
The Vivo IQOO 9 SE is a formidable smartphone that packs a punch despite its price. With the Snapdragon Triple-A processor, UFS 3.1 storage, and up to 8+128GB configuration, this device breezes through benchmarks and offers seamless performance. Gaming experiences are taken to the next level with titles like Call of Duty and BGMI running smoothly at high settings. The phone's camera is another highlight, featuring OIS and a decent set of lenses that capture good images. However, battery life is somewhat disappointing, given its capacity of 4500mAh. Fast charging is a redeeming feature, allowing for quick top-ups even with minimal usage. Software-wise, the Vivo IQOO 9 SE runs on FunTouch OS 12 based on Android 12, offering an optimized experience that's close to stock. While some might find the default launcher lacking in certain features like swiping navigation gestures when using third-party launchers, overall, the software experience is commendable. Priced at ₹34,000 for the base variant, this device competes directly with the Realme GT Neo 2 and MI 11X, making it an attractive option. The IQOO 9 SE's price is a steal considering its impressive specs, OIS camera, and fluid performance. For those seeking a high-performance smartphone without breaking the bank, the Vivo IQOO 9 SE is a solid choice. While it may have some minor drawbacks, such as a mediocre battery life, the overall package makes it an excellent value-for-money proposition. In conclusion, the Vivo IQOO 9 SE is a commendable device that checks many boxes for users looking for a top-notch smartphone experience without shelling out more than ₹35,000. Its impressive performance, solid camera, and fast charging capabilities make it an attractive option in its price segment.
Build Quality and Design
The build quality and design of the vivo iQOO 9 SE are a testament to the brand's commitment to delivering high-end devices. The phone's sleek and premium design is immediately noticeable, with a smooth glass back that fits comfortably in the hand. One of the standout features of the device is its weight distribution. At just 185 grams, the iQOO 9 SE feels surprisingly light, despite its robust build quality. This makes it easy to carry around without feeling weighed down. The phone's dimensions are also well-balanced, with a compact design that doesn't compromise on functionality. The buttons and ports are strategically placed, making it easy to navigate through the various menus and access essential features like the volume rocker and charging port. The camera module is another notable feature of the iQOO 9 SE. With a sleek and minimalist design, it blends seamlessly into the phone's overall aesthetic. While some may find the prominent placement of the cameras to be somewhat conspicuous, it doesn't detract from the overall design. In terms of build quality, the vivo iQOO 9 SE is impressively durable. The glass back feels solid under touch, and the phone's metal frame provides a sturdy foundation for the device. Overall, the vivo iQOO 9 SE's build quality and design are true to its flagship status. With its premium materials, compact dimensions, and sleek aesthetic, it's clear that vivo has put significant effort into crafting a device that feels like a high-end product in every way.
Battery Life
The vivo iQOO 9 SE is an impressive device, but one aspect that feels slightly lacking is its battery life. Despite being equipped with fast charging capabilities of up to 66 watts, the 4500mAh battery feels small for a device with this much horsepower. During medium usage, even without gaming, I found myself needing to plug in my phone around 6 pm in the evening. If I did engage in gaming during the day, the battery would drain significantly faster, and I'd need to charge it while having lunch. While fast charging is undeniably a plus, it doesn't quite make up for the battery's relatively small capacity. The good news is that even 10 minutes of charge can get you through half a day of usage, so it's not all bad. In comparison to other flagship devices on the market, the iQOO 9 SE's battery life feels slightly below par. This may be a consideration for some users who rely heavily on their phone throughout the day. It's worth noting that the pricing for the device is competitive, starting at Rs 34,000 for the 8+128GB variant. However, if you're someone who relies on your phone to last all day without needing to recharge, you may want to consider other options or plan accordingly. Overall, while the battery life is a minor drawback, it's not enough to detract from the iQOO 9 SE's many impressive features and capabilities.
Display
The display is one of the standout features of the Vivo iQOO 9 SE. The phone boasts a stunning AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, and a refresh rate of 120Hz. This high-speed display ensures that visuals are crisp, sharp, and responsive to the touch. The color accuracy is impressive, with vibrant colors and deep blacks that make for an immersive viewing experience. Whether you're watching your favorite movie or playing games on this device, the AMOLED panel provides an engaging and immersive visual experience. One of the notable features of the display is its peak brightness, which reaches up to 1300 nits. This means that even in extremely bright environments, the screen remains readable and clear. The high peak brightness also helps to reduce eye strain while using the phone outdoors. Additionally, the Vivo iQOO 9 SE's display supports HDR10+ content, which offers improved color accuracy and contrast ratio compared to regular HD displays. This feature enhances the overall viewing experience, making it more engaging and realistic. In terms of touch response, the display is also quite responsive, with a quick and accurate response time. This makes navigation and interaction on the phone seamless and enjoyable. Overall, the Vivo iQOO 9 SE's display is an impressive feature that showcases the phone's capabilities in delivering a high-quality visual experience. With its crisp visuals, vibrant colors, and fast refresh rate, this AMOLED screen sets the bar high for other smartphones in its class. (4.5/5)
Camera
The camera on the vivo iQOO 9 SE is a highlight of the device. The phone features a quad-camera setup with a 48MP primary sensor, accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. In terms of performance, the camera delivers excellent results, both in daylight and low-light conditions. The 48MP primary sensor captures detailed images with good dynamic range, and the ultra-wide-angle lens allows for a wider field of view, making it ideal for landscape photography or capturing more people in a group shot. The camera app is intuitive and easy to use, with features like Pro mode, Ultra Night Mode, and the ability to shoot 4K videos at 60fps. The latter is particularly impressive, as it allows for smooth and detailed video capture. One of the standout features of the iQOO 9 SE's camera is its ability to take excellent low-light shots. The Ultra Night Mode feature uses advanced software processing to combine multiple frames and reduce noise, resulting in images that are remarkably clear and detailed. Additionally, the phone also offers a feature called "Super HDR" which helps to capture more detailed images by combining multiple exposures into one shot. This results in images with better dynamic range, colors, and contrast. However, like many other smartphones, the camera on the iQOO 9 SE can be slow to focus at times, especially in quick succession. But overall, the camera is a significant strength of the device, making it a great option for anyone who wants a high-quality smartphone camera.
Price and Value
The Vivo iQOO 9 SE is priced at ₹34,000 for the 8+128GB variant, making it a formidable competitor in its class. However, with an ICICI credit card, users can get an additional ₹3,000 off, bringing the price down to ₹31,000. In comparison to other devices in this range, such as the Realme GT Neo 2 and Xiaomi Mi 11X, the iQOO 9 SE offers a compelling value proposition. It features a Snapdragon 888 processor, OIS in its camera, and an MEMC chip, making it a powerful device with exceptional performance. One of the standout aspects of the iQOO 9 SE is its price-to-performance ratio. At ₹34,000, it competes directly with devices that are typically priced higher, such as the Vivo iQOO 7 series. This makes it an excellent option for users who want a high-end device without breaking the bank. While some may find the battery capacity of 4500mAh to be on the lower side, especially considering the device's powerful specifications, the fast charging capabilities (66W) make up for it to some extent. Users can easily juice up their phone and get by for several hours, making it a practical choice despite its relatively small battery. In conclusion, the Vivo iQOO 9 SE offers exceptional value at its price point of ₹34,000. With its powerful processor, excellent camera capabilities, and impressive performance, it's an attractive option for users looking to upgrade to a high-end device without sacrificing too much in terms of budget.
Performance
The performance of the Vivo IQOO 9 SE is undoubtedly its standout feature. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Triple A processor with UFS 3.1 storage, this device breezes through benchmarks with ease, offering a seamless and lag-free experience. In terms of gaming, the IQOO 9 SE performs exceptionally well, capable of handling demanding titles like Call of Duty and BGMI at their highest settings. The inclusion of frame interpolation within the game mode further enhances the gaming experience, making it feel more immersive and engaging. One of the notable aspects of this device is its ability to handle heavy usage without experiencing significant heating issues. Even after an hour of intense gaming, the phone only warms up slightly, with my fingers feeling a bit warm next to the camera module. This level of heat dissipation is impressive considering the powerful processor at play. The software experience on the IQOO 9 SE is another strong point, running smoothly with FunTouch OS 12 based on Android 12. The software skin is intuitive and well-optimized, providing an excellent user interface that's close to stock Android. However, one minor drawback worth mentioning is the inconsistent navigation bar gesture when using a third-party launcher. This seems to be a recurring issue across all FunTouch OS devices, making it feel like a bug that needs fixing. Despite this minor complaint, the overall performance of the Vivo IQOO 9 SE is truly exceptional, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a powerful and feature-rich smartphone experience.
Pros
1. The device offers a flagship experience with a Snapdragon Triple 8 processor at an affordable price of Rs. 34,000.
2. It has optical image stabilization (OIS) in the camera, which is a great feature to have.
3. The phone's performance is fluid and lag-free, making it suitable for gaming and other resource-intensive tasks.
4. The fast charging capability of 66 watts is impressive and can quickly top up the battery.
Cons
1. The battery capacity feels small at 4500mAh, which may not provide the best backup for heavy users.
2. The phone's software experience is good, but using a third-party launcher breaks some gestures, which is a minor annoyance.