The choice of smartphones available in Nigeria is ample, and producers are looking for their consumers among interested customers. The latest comer into the list of contenders includes the iQOO Z9s Pro which comes at a friendly price of about ₦135,000 to ₦225,000, depending on the variant and retailer. In terms of specifications, Z9s Pro resembles the recently released version of the Nord CE 4 and are practically copies in the mid-tier market. However, the real question remains: does the iQOO Z9s Pro distinctive it self from these products it is competing with? Let’s look at the details of this characteristic, its capabilities, and its worth for the money spent on it more closely.
iQOO Z9s Pro Specifications Overview
To ensure we proceed well prepared into the review consideration, let me first look at the kind of hardware that supports this iQOO Z9s Pro. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Display: 6.67 inches AMOLED, refresh rate of 120 Hz, touch sample rate 300 Hz, pixel density of 387 PPI.
- Resolution: 2392×1080
- Ingress Protection: IP64 rating
- Chipset: Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
- Memory/Storage: Up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM, Up to 256 GB UFS 2.2
- Operating System: Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14
- Rear Camera: 50 MP (OIS) + 8 MP Ultra-Wide
- Front Camera: 16 MP
- Battery and Charging: 5500 mAh, 80W fast charging
- Colors: Great White Ivory (Marble & Plastic), Screaming Orange (Leather).
- Price in Nigeria: Approximately ₦135,000 to ₦225,000, depending on the variant and retailer
Design and Build Quality
Aesthetic Appeal
The iQOO Z9s Pro is available in two striking color variants:
- Luxe Marble: Marble & Plastic
- Flamboyant Orange: Leather
The Orange variant for instance has a very luxurious feel owing to the leather back while offering the feel loved by many users with style and comfort.
Ergonomics and Durability
However, the Z9s Pro has an enormous 5500 mAh battery capacity and still skinny enough to hold and using it without any difficulty. The device has curvature on its surfaces which makes it easy to grip without slipping – a major issue among smartphone users in Nigeria.
The phone, however, does come with an IP64 rating for entering in water splashes and dust, which isn’t quite as solid as other phones out there with IP68. It does better here than competitors like OnePlus Nord CE 4 or Nothing Phone (2A) in terms of ingress protection.
Build Considerations
One way the Z9s Pro could use some improvement on is its glass protection. But it doesn’t use Gorilla Glass, opting instead for Schott Xensation glass, whose durability against drops and scratches still remains a concern for users. In fact, if you are trying to extend the life of the phone, you may want to invest in a protective case.
Performance and Gaming abilities
Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 Chipset
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is the beating heart of the midrange in the iQOO Z9s Pro. Smooth multitasking, efficient power management and strong multikit performance over all apps are kept down by this processor.
Thermal Management
One of main complaints with slim phones is how the device gets too hot when performing heavy tasks. To address this, the Z9s Pro comes equipped with a 3000 mm² Vapor Chamber cooling system that does an amazing job of cooling down. With titles like PUBG, Mobile Legends, Genshin Impact, the device kept its temperature at an average of 40 degrees Celsius or below.
Gaming Features
Designed for the gamers, the Z9s Pro integrated features such as 4D Game Vibration that provides a tactile take on the in game act like firing a weapon. Furthermore, Motion Control offers gesture based commands that make gaming even more fun. Motion Control on its part works flawlessly, while 4D Game Vibration does come a bit latter; at least as the reality of its position among the accessories and software is absorbed by the world.
Comparative Analysis
The Z9s Pro, meanwhile, is notably better at thermal performance when pitted against the OnePlus Nord CE 4 using the same Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset. But for gamers looking for blisteringly fast refresh rates, the Poco X6 Pro has 90 fps gaming modes with DDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, all for a similar chunk of cash, and it’s quite the formidable rival for hardcore gamers.
Memory and Storage Options
Specifications for RAM and Storage
The iQOO Z9s Pro has configurations of 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage. These are fine specifications for every day use, but when compared to competitors offering DDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage they’re quite basic – faster data transfer rates and being able to handle multiple tasks at once.
User Experience
The Z9s Pro works well in regular usage scenarios and have Funtouch OS 14 taking care of adjusting the display’s refresh rate between 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, depending on what is being displayed. And users can manually set the refresh rate to 120Hz for all the apps for smoother visuals. That being said though there is from time to time a small degree of minor slowness when jumping in between multitasking tiles, so there is probably an issue with UI animations or something that is not hardware related.
Software Experience and User Interface
Funtouch OS 14 on Android 14
The iQOO Z9s Pro features a clean and fairly customizable user interface, all while running on Android 14 with Funtouch OS 14. The OS enjoys a good balance between performance and battery efficiency which are complemented with automatic adjustments to the refresh rate so as to provide the best experience to the users.
Software Updates and Security
Also, iQOO has promised to continue to provide 2 years of OS, 3 years of security patch, which means that the device will stay safe and upto date with the latest features and decoding in such duration. The phone, though, comes out of the box with the latest of the security patch because of which users that were worried about device security will have peace of mind.
Pre-installed Applications
Preinstalled apps are limited, and there aren’t many of them: 26, to be exact, and manageable enough that users can prune based on their taste. Having said that most users will find it an easy task to uninstall a redundant app, keeping their interface clutter free and without having to sacrifice functionality.
Display Quality
AMOLED Brilliance
The big draw of the iQOO Z9s Pro is its 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling rate. The screen has a resolution of 2392×1080 at 387 PPI, allowing for sharp and vibrant visuals for multimedia consumption and gaming.
Brightness and Color Accuracy
Offsetting the high price tag of the TV, the display supports HDR 10+ for rich colors and deep contrasts on the likes of YouTube and Netflix, also on platforms like YouTube and Netflix. Peak brightness is no small thing at 4500 nits and automatic brightness adjustment goes up to 1300 nits to ensure your visibility is not obscured by any brightness on the screen even seeing directly and that is relevant for users in Nigeria’s sunlight atmosphere.
Practical Observations
The AMOLED screen of the phone offers a crisp and responsive use every day. Things are not so bad when playing 4K HDR videos, but the content is visibly stuttery. The iQOO performs well while watching 1080p HDR videos but 4K optimization is needed to help improve the display’s full potential as the lack of 4K optimization is a drawback that iQOO needs to address with software updates.
Audio and Haptic Feedback
Speaker Performance
The iQOO Z9s Pro rocks stereo speakers which play loud and clear audio and are ideal for videos and music listening. But tracks packed with treble can pull audio quality down, making it less than ideal for audiophiles.
Haptic Feedback
Haptic feedback is serviceable, but isn’t as crisp as competitors, like the Nord CE 4, or the Nothing Phone 2A. As well, users may lose haptic responses to those UI element as brightness and volume sliders could make for otherwise better tactile experience when interacting with the device.
Camera Performance
Rear Camera Capabilities
The iQOO Z9s Pro is armed with a 50MP Sony IMX 882 sensor with an 8MP Ultra Wide lens. It works excellently in all well-lit conditions, with good color accuracy, and delivers detailed and vivid photos to the primary camera. The white balance is sometimes inconsistent and the shadowed areas do not have quite as much dynamic range.
Ultra-Wide Lens
An 8 MP Ultra Wide lens is welcome addition providing versatility for photography. The detail reproduction is average, but the primary lens is more interesting thanks to its lack of over processed ultra wide shots.
Front Camera and Selfies
Built in beautification features take the edge off the 16MP front camera and produce decent selfies with a pleasing skin tone for a personalised finish. This is great for users who want to look like they did a quick retouch during a session. However, for people who want to capture a little more natural results, the processing might be too much.
Video Recording
It has some video capabilities, but they’re somewhat limited. Both the rear camera supports 4K recording at 30 fps and holds effective Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) making footage steady. But those looking for high-quality video recording features won’t be pleased with the lack of 4K options on the front camera, and subpar stabilization on videos for 1080p.
Battery Life and Charging Speed
Long-Lasting Battery
The 5500 mAh battery, characteristically, earns a lot of kudos as a standout feature of the iQOO Z9s Pro. In real world use, the device manages over 7 hours of screen on time with heavy use, and 20% battery left at the end of the day making this a solid companion for plenty of long days without recharging.
Fast Charging
Another big selling point is the 80W fast charging ability, giving the phone:
- 0-30% charge in 13 minutes
- 0-50% charge in 23 minutes
- Full day charge in about 48 minutes
Users that need their devices ready to go with minimal time should find this rapid charging particularly helpful.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Solid Performance: Running on Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, so multitasking and gaming is smooth.
- Beautiful Display: High refresh rate and fast touch sampling rate AMOLED screen.
- Excellent Battery Life: Fast charging support, 5500 mAh long lasting battery.
- Slim and Stylish Design: Premium color options and lightweight and ergonomic.
Cons
- 4K HDR Video Stutters: Inconsistent performance at 4K HDR when playing content.
- Average Audio and Haptics: The launches of speakers and haptic feedback aren’t nearly as finely nuanced as they are in competitors.
- Modest Camera Quality: Camera performance, while not bad, doesn’t impress given the segment.
Final Verdict
Spend a week with iQOO Z9s Pro and you realize this really is a formidable contender in this ₦135,000 price segment. The Z9s Pro’s battery life matches that of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 and also features a comparable display and overall performance, so it’s an excellent value for money option for people in the market for a new phone.
It misses out on some areas like haptic feedback and high end lens, but it’s easier to live with because the battery life is incredibly strong and the phone is really neat looking. The iQOO Z9s Pro is also present with attractive launch offers which make it an enticing midrange entry for Nigerian consumers looking for a reliable and slick device.
If gaming performance is your top priority, there are better specified alternatives to it like the Poco X6 Pro. But the iQOO Z9s Pro is a good all rounder for a daily smartphone as well as for consuming media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the iQOO Z9s Pro use dual SIM?
The iQOO Z9s Pro supports a dual SIM card, therefore you’ll be able to use two different numbers at the same time, perfect in case you wish to segregate personal and professional contacts.
The iQOO Z9s Pro 5G is it compatible?
Absolutely. The device has 5G abilities to give fast internet and simpler connection when using 5G networks.
Can the iQOO Z9s Pro have additional storage?
The iQOO Z9s Pro’s up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. It does not support expandable storage via a microSD card, so you should probably go with the storage you need.
Which charging port does the iQOO Z9s Pro have?
In the phone, there’s a USB Type-C charger and data transfer port for charging and data transfer, which is capable of 80W fast charging.
Does iQOO Z9s Pro have a headphone jack?
The iQOO Z9s Pro does not have a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack, Wired audio will require users to plug in via Bluetooth headphones, or a USB-C adapter.
Is there any security feature on the iQOO Z9s Pro?
It comes with in display fingerprint sensor and facial recognition to securely and effortlessly unlock the phone.
What makes iQOO’s after sales service in Nigeria?
With its increasing experience in offering its products and services in Nigeria, iQOO has expanded its service centers in Nigeria to allow users access to support and warranty services in major cities. After sales benefits are available only if you have registered your device when you purchase it.
Can the iQOO Z9s Pro charge wirelessly?
The iQOO Z9s Pro doesn’t offer wireless charging. The included USB Type-C fast charger is the sole way to charge, and it’s a male to male connector.
The iQOO Z9s Pro turns out to be a well balanced midrange phone in terms of design, but you can’t deny that it delivers an ace group in performance, battery life and price tag. While it has its minuses but an overall package that it has serve as a worthy choice to the Nigerian market if you are looking for value without cornering the right feature.