vivo iQOO 9T review

The vivo iQOO 9T is a notable upgrade over its predecessor, boasting improved performance courtesy of the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip. This processor delivers superior speeds and efficiency, making it well-suited for demanding tasks such as gaming. Design-wise, the device features a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display, which provides excellent visuals and a smooth user experience. The phone's design is sleek and premium, with a durable glass back that resists scratches and fingerprints. The camera setup on the vivo iQOO 9T consists of a triple-lens configuration, including a 50MP primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a dedicated 12MP portrait shooter. Image quality is generally good in well-lit conditions, with accurate colors and sharp details. However, low-light performance can be soft and noisy at times. One of the standout features of the vivo iQOO 9T is its gaming capabilities, thanks to the powerful processor and advanced cooling system. The phone's battery life is also commendable, lasting a full day with moderate use. Fast charging support up to 120W ensures that users can quickly top up their device when needed. Other notable features include a high-quality 16MP selfie camera, capable of capturing sharp images and decent video footage indoors. Additional camera modes, such as night mode and pro mode, provide extra creative options for photographers. In conclusion, the vivo iQOO 9T offers significant upgrades over its predecessor, particularly in terms of performance and gaming capabilities. While it may have some limitations, such as average low-light camera performance, it remains a compelling option for those seeking a powerful and feature-rich smartphone experience.

Build Quality and Design

The vivo iQOO 9T boasts an impressive build quality that is evident from its sleek design. The phone's frame is constructed from a combination of metal and glass, providing a premium feel in the hand. The device's dimensions are substantial, measuring around 161mm x 75.7mm x 10.5mm, but it still manages to feel relatively compact. One of the standout features of the iQOO 9T is its stunning display, which wraps around the phone with virtually no bezels. This creates a seamless visual experience that draws you in and makes watching videos or browsing through content an absolute joy. The vibrant colors and crisp details on the screen make it easy to get lost in your favorite shows or games. The iQOO 9T's design is also notable for its minimalist aesthetic, with clean lines and a sleek silhouette. This simplicity gives the phone a timeless quality that won't go out of fashion anytime soon. The device's weight, despite being substantial, feels well-distributed across its frame, making it comfortable to hold in your hand. One aspect where the iQOO 9T falls short is durability. While the device is built with premium materials, the back glass panel seems somewhat prone to scratches and fingerprints. However, this is a minor quibble given the overall quality of the phone's construction. In terms of color options, the vivo iQOO 9T comes in several attractive hues, including Obsidian Black and Starlight Blue, each offering its own unique flair. While not the most extensive palette, these colors complement the device's design nicely and provide a welcome touch of personality to an otherwise utilitarian look. Overall, the vivo iQOO 9T's build quality and design are significant strengths in this flagship device. With its premium materials, minimalistic aesthetic, and vibrant display, it is clear that vivo has put considerable effort into crafting a phone that not only performs well but also looks stunning in the process.

Battery Life

One aspect that stood out in my usage was the battery life of the vivo IQOO 9T. The smartphone boasts a large 4700mAh capacity cell, which is certainly capable of withstanding a full day's use. During my testing period, I found that the battery drain has been relatively minimal, even when streaming video or playing demanding games like Genshin Impact. However, it's worth noting that heavy usage can still lead to noticeable power consumption. In my case, playing games and showing off various features for around 40 minutes resulted in a mere 15% dip in battery life. Impressive, considering the device's power-hungry capabilities. Additionally, streaming YouTube videos and browsing social media did not seem to impact the battery significantly. However, there were instances where I noticed the battery life dipping more rapidly. For example, when using the camera app extensively or engaging in a prolonged gaming session, the battery would deplete at a slightly faster rate. Nonetheless, this was still manageable, with the phone lasting around 8-10 hours on a single charge. The vivo IQOO 9T does offer fast charging capabilities up to 120W, which is certainly convenient for when you need a quick top-up. Nevertheless, it's worth mentioning that wireless charging support is unfortunately absent from this device. Overall, while the battery life of the vivo IQOO 9T can be inconsistent at times, it still manages to deliver decent performance, making it suitable for most users' needs. However, power-hungry users may need to consider their usage patterns more carefully to avoid depleting the battery too quickly.

Display

The display on the vivo IQOO 9T is an absolute delight. The massive 6.78-inch AMOLED screen provides an immersive viewing experience, with vibrant colors and deep blacks that truly bring content to life. One of the standout features of the display is its high refresh rate. At a whopping 120Hz, it's one of the fastest displays on the market, making for a buttery-smooth visual experience. Whether you're scrolling through social media or playing graphically-intensive games, every movement and gesture feels silky smooth. The screen also boasts an impressive 1,200 x 3,000 resolution, which ensures that even the smallest details are visible and clear. The pixel density is incredibly high, making for a sharp and precise visual experience that's hard to put into words. But what really sets the display apart is its ability to adapt to different lighting conditions. Whether you're outside in bright sunlight or indoors with dim lighting, the screen automatically adjusts its brightness and color tone to provide optimal viewing comfort. This feature, known as "Adaptive Color Temperature", makes for a seamless transition between environments, and it's incredibly convenient. Additionally, the display also supports HDR10+, which means that you can enjoy even more vivid and lifelike visuals when watching HDR content. Whether you're streaming movies or playing games, the display is sure to impress with its sheer quality and visual fidelity. Overall, the display on the vivo IQOO 9T is an absolute highlight of the device, and it's a key factor that sets it apart from other smartphones in this price range. If you value a great screen experience, then this phone is definitely worth considering.

Camera

The camera setup on the vivo IQOO 9T is a triple-lens configuration, with the primary sensor being a 50-megapixel Samsung GN1 sensor, similar to the original IQOO. This sensor does an admirable job in capturing well-detailed and balanced daylight shots, although colors may be slightly boosted at times. Focus accuracy is generally good, but low-light performance is where the camera struggles. Indoor and evening shots can appear soft and noisy, with noticeable blur when dealing with moving subjects. The secondary 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle shooter does offer a wider field of view, but its image quality is not significantly improved over the primary sensor. Notably absent is a telephoto lens, which could have provided a better zooming experience. In contrast, the dedicated portrait mode utilizes a separate 12-megapixel Sony sensor and offers a clean capture of the subject with a blurred background. The beauty mode allows for adjustments to skin tone and other cosmetic settings, while the bokeh effect can be customized as well. Additional camera modes are available, including a dedicated night mode that helps improve focus accuracy and overall brightness in low-light scenarios. A pro mode is also included for more advanced users who want to tweak settings manually. The 50-megapixel ultra-resolution mode takes advantage of the primary sensor's capabilities by producing higher-resolution images. Video recording capabilities are also impressive, with the ability to capture up to 4K resolution at either 30 or 60 frames per second. Sample footage taken with the IQOO 9T appears fine in well-lit conditions but may suffer from softness and fuzziness when captured in ambient light. The front-facing camera, a 16-megapixel sensor, captures decent selfies for simple sharing purposes but can appear low-resolution when scrutinized closely. Video recording at up to full HD resolution at 30 frames per second is also possible, with visuals appearing fine indoors and audio pickup strong and clear. Overall, the vivo IQOO 9T's camera system offers an interesting combination of capabilities, although it may not excel in all areas.

Price and Value

The vivo iQOO 9T is a powerhouse of a smartphone, packing impressive specs that justify its price tag. While the cost may be off-putting for some, considering what you get in return makes it a worthwhile investment. With a starting price of around $999, this phone offers exceptional value for those looking to upgrade their mobile experience. The device boasts top-notch performance, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, which delivers seamless multitasking and gaming experiences. Additionally, the inclusion of up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage provides ample space for users to store data, apps, and media. The phone's camera setup is also impressive, featuring a triple-lens configuration with a 50MP primary sensor, an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a dedicated portrait mode shooter. While the vivo iQOO 9T may not be the cheapest option on the market, its robust specs and features make it an excellent choice for those seeking a premium mobile experience. When compared to other flagship devices in its class, the iQOO 9T offers competitive pricing that makes it a more attractive option. Ultimately, if you're looking for a high-end smartphone with impressive performance, camera capabilities, and storage options, the vivo iQOO 9T is an excellent choice – albeit one that requires a significant investment. However, considering what you get in return, the phone's value proposition is hard to ignore.

Performance

The vivo iQOO 9T boasts impressive performance credentials, thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. This powerhouse of a chip provides a significant boost in processing power and efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 888 Plus found in its predecessor. In my testing, the iQOO 9T handled demanding tasks with ease, from gaming and video editing to multitasking and general use. The phone's performance was consistent and reliable, even when pushing it to its limits. I noticed a noticeable improvement in app launching times and overall system responsiveness compared to the previous model. The Adreno GPU also deserves mention, as it provided smooth and lag-free graphics rendering during gaming sessions. Even the most demanding games ran smoothly without any issues, making this phone a great option for gamers. One area where the iQOO 9T excelled was in its charging capabilities. The 120W fast charging support allowed me to top up the battery from 0-100% in just under 25 minutes, which is incredibly impressive. This made it easy to quickly replenish the phone's power reserves when needed. In terms of gaming performance specifically, the iQOO 9T handled titles like Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile with ease, delivering smooth frame rates and responsive controls. The phone also stayed relatively cool during extended gaming sessions, which was a welcome surprise. Overall, the vivo iQOO 9T's performance credentials are undeniably strong, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a powerful smartphone experience.