iQOO Neo 9 Pro Review
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro has just launched in India, bringing flagship‐level Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance to an unprecedented entry‐level price. Starting at around Rs. 30,000 for the base model, it undercuts many rivals while packing top-tier silicon, a bright 144Hz display, advanced cooling, and a versatile camera system borrowed from Vivo’s flagship X100. After spending time with the Neo 9 Pro, here’s how it stacks up in real-world use across design, performance, software, photography, and more.
Unboxing and First Impressions
Inside the retail box you’ll find:
- The Neo 9 Pro handset (available in Fiery Red vegan leather or Black glass finishes)
- A clear TPU protective case
- Documentation and SIM-eject tool
- A 120W SuperCharge wall adapter
- A USB-C-to-C charging cable
Pulling it out for the first time, the phone feels remarkably slim and light given its 5160 mAh battery. At just 191 g, it balances a large cell with an in-hand comfort you wouldn’t expect from a mid-range package.
Design and Build
iQOO blends premium materials with understated branding:
- Dual-tone vegan leather back or smooth glass option, both embellished with a small “iQOO” logo near the bottom
- Flat aluminium frame with a hybrid dual-SIM tray (no microSD slot), speaker grille, USB-C port, and primary microphone on the bottom edge
- Power button and volume rocker on the right side; IR blaster and noise-cancelling mic on top; left side remains clean
- A minimalist camera island housing two sensors and a subtle LED flash
Despite its 6.78″ footprint, subtle curves on the sides and a balanced weight distribution keep one-handed use manageable. The vegan leather finish adds grip and resists fingerprints, while the glass model offers a more reflective, classic look.
Display
At its heart lies a flat 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with:
- 1.5K resolution (≈2800 × 1260 pixels) for crisp text and images
- 144Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth scrolling and gaming (120Hz in standard mode)
- Peak brightness up to 3000 nits, making outdoor visibility exceptional
- HDR10+ certification for richer contrast in supported content
- Schott Xensation Up protective glass and IP54 splash/dust resistance
The bezels and chin are impressively thin and symmetrical, creating an immersive canvas for everything from streaming movies to competitive gaming. Adaptive refresh automatically throttles down to 1Hz during static content, conserving battery without compromising fluidity.
Performance and Benchmarks
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 pairs with a dedicated Q1 graphic chip to deliver flagship-class power:
- AnTuTu Score: Above 1.6 million points, placing it among the top performers on market
- CPU Throttling: Retains 87 percent of peak performance after prolonged load, thanks to advanced thermal controls
- RAM and Storage:
- 8GB + 128GB UFS 3.1
- 8GB + 256GB UFS 4.0
- 12GB + 256GB UFS 4.0
- LPDDR5X memory with matching virtual RAM (adds another 8 GB or 12GB)
Whether launching heavyweight apps, compiling code, or juggling dozens of background tasks, the Neo 9 Pro remains responsive and lag-free.
Gaming and Multimedia
iQOO optimizes the Neo 9 Pro for marathon gaming sessions:
- Thermal Management: A four-zone vapor chamber covering 6,000 mm² keeps surface temperatures around 40-42 °C under sustained load
- High-Frame-Rate Play:
- Call of Duty: Mobile at a locked 120 FPS without stutters
- Genshin Impact at a consistent 59–60 FPS on max graphics settings
- AI Features:
- Voice Game Changer offers character voice packs in real time
- Q1 chip upscales in-game graphics from 720p to 900p and enhances streaming content on Netflix or Prime Video
- Audio: Dual stereo speakers deliver rich, balanced sound for gaming, movies, and music
Extended sessions reveal minimal thermal throttling, so frame rates stay rock solid even after 30 minutes of intensive play.
Software & Updates
The Neo 9 Pro ships with Android 14 overlaid by Funtouch OS 14, with:
- Three years of OS upgrades (Android 15, 16, 17)
- Four years of monthly security patches
- A streamlined interface free of excessive “hot apps” bloat, though a handful of useful third-party tools remain
- Handy features like floating windows, smart sidebar shortcuts, and gesture-based navigation
iQOO’s skin balances customization and performance, giving you control over themes, icon shapes, and systemwide accent colors without bogging down the UI.
Sensors and Connectivity
This model covers all the essentials plus a few extras:
- In-display optical fingerprint sensor and reliable face unlock
- Ambient light, proximity, accelerometer, compass, and gyroscope for accurate motion sensing
- Global 5G band support, dual-SIM VoLTE, and Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.3 and infrared blaster for remote control functions
- Camera2 API unlocks advanced photography apps
NFC is notably absent, and there’s no notification LED, but the rest of the wireless and sensing suite is complete for both everyday use and specialized workflows.
Camera Hardware
The Neo 9 Pro adopts a simplified yet versatile dual-lens array:
- 50 MP Sony IMX920 main sensor with OIS (the same flagship sensor used in the Vivo X100 series)
- 8 MP ultra-wide lens for 120° field of view
- 16 MP front camera for high-resolution selfies
- LED flash and software-driven portrait lighting
While it eschews a dedicated macro or telephoto lens, the large main sensor’s pixel binning and smart cropping yield excellent digital zoom up to 10×.
Camera Performance
Real-world shooting demonstrates the handset’s photographic chops:
- Daylight: Sharp details, accurate colors, and well-controlled dynamic range. HDR processing rarely overcooks highlights or shadows.
- Low Light: Thanks to the big IMX920 sensor and pixel-binning, nighttime photos are bright with minimal noise. Night mode intelligently merges multiple frames for cleaner results—though shots take a second or two longer to process.
- Portraits: Edge detection is solid in both front and rear modes, producing natural background blur and sharp subject separation. Complex edges (hair or intricate patterns) show occasional artifacts but overall look pleasing.
- Selfies & Video:
- Front camera stills are detailed and balanced in good light, with 1080p/30 FPS video.
- Main lens records 8K/24 FPS, 4K/60 FPS, and a dedicated 4K Night Video mode for low-light clips.
Colors remain true to life, and video stabilization keeps handheld footage smooth. The only quibble: selfie video is capped at 1080p.
Camera Modes and Features
The Neo 9 Pro’s camera app offers:
- Photo, Portrait, Night, and Snapshot modes
- Slow Motion and Time-Lapse
- Long Exposure for light trails
- Document Scan and native 50 MP capture
- Real-time AI filters and smart scene detection
With this array of modes, you’ll rarely need a third-party photography app to explore creative shooting techniques.
Battery Life and Charging
Equipped with a 5160 mAh cell and 120W wired charging, the Neo 9 Pro strikes a strong balance:
- Battery Endurance: Over a full day of heavy use—multiple gaming sessions, continuous video streaming, social media, and messaging—it comfortably surpasses 6 hours of screen-on time without mid-day top-ups.
- Charging Speed: The included 120W adapter brings the phone from 0 to 50 percent in under 12 minutes, and to a full charge in about 25 minutes.
This rapid recharge makes occasional “battery anxiety” almost non-existent, as short power breaks keep you going.
Pricing and Availability
The Neo 9 Pro arrives in three configurations:
- 8GB + 128GB: ~Rs. 30,000
- 8GB + 256GB: ~Rs. 33,000
- 12GB + 256GB: ~Rs. 35,000
Launch offers sweeten the deal with up to Rs. 2,000 instant bank discounts and up to Rs. 4,000 additional savings via exchange programs, further lowering the effective cost.
Conclusion
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro rewrites the value proposition for 8 Gen 2 smartphones in India. It merges flagship-grade processing, a buttery-smooth 144Hz AMOLED display, class-leading charging speeds, and a robust dual-camera system—all undercutting most competitors by several thousands of rupees. If you crave Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 power, exceptional battery tech, and versatile photography without the flagship price tag, the Neo 9 Pro is the standout choice in its segment. With its blend of performance, design, and real-world features, it’s a rare mid-range phone that delivers on almost every front.
