IQOO 9T review

Introduction and specifications

This year’s iQOO 9 range is large. In addition to the vanilla 9 iQOO and 9 Pro, we have the 9 SE, a vanilla option only for China and now a 9T. The latter appears to be the second update in a semi-annual update scheme and is expected to be a direct successor to the iQOO 9. However, the iQOO 9T has a lot more in common with the Pro model.

Instead of relying on a chipset from last year like its predecessor, the 9T boasts Qualcomm’s latest and best, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which is also a marginal upgrade over the 9 Pro. Additionally, the 9T borrows the competent 50MP main camera with OIS from the Pro version while maintaining mostly the same secondary camera setup as the vanilla. One notable upgrade is the telephoto aperture as the 9T has it extraordinarily large at f / 2.0.

Additionally, the 9T is powered by the same 4,700mAh battery as the 9 Pro and offers 120W fast charging. No wireless or reverse wireless charging capabilities, though.

The specifications of the vivo iQOO 9T at a glance:

• Body: 165.0×77.0x8.0 mm, 206 g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back; Resistant to dust and dripping water.
• Screen: 6.78 “AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10 +, 1500 nits (peak), 1080x2400px resolution, 20: 9 aspect ratio, 388ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 and 3×2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 and 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730.
• Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
• Operating system / software: Android 12, Funtouch 12.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f / 1.9, 1 / 1.57 “, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS; Telephoto lens: 12 MP, f / 2.0, 47mm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 13 MP, f / 2.2, 16mm, 120˚, AF.
• Front camera: 16 MP, f / 2.5, (wide angle).
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K @ 30 / 60fps, 1080p @ 30 / 60fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p @ 30fps, gyro-EIS.
• Battery: 4700 mAh; Fast charging 120W, 50% in 8 min, 100% in 19 min (advertised).
• Various: Fingerprint reader (under display, ultrasound); NFC; FM Radio; Infrared port; stereo speakers.

Compared to the iQOO 9, the 9T also offers a modest upgrade in the display department. A larger 6.78-inch 120Hz OLED panel is now within reach and promises higher peak brightness, protected by Gorilla Glass 5, instead of Panda Glass. Interestingly, the 9 Pro offers the same 6.78-inch diagonal but with a higher resolution.

Despite all the similarities, all iQOO 9 phones have different designs, so it’s pretty easy to tell them apart. An interesting approach, given that most brands choose a recognizable design language for all phones in the same range.

When asked for INR 50,000, the iQOO 9T looks like a pretty solid deal, although the 9 Pro’s recent price cuts might make some users think before buying. Both devices are too close in terms of pricing and feature sets, and luckily, we’ve reviewed the 9 Pro and the vanilla 9, so it’s going to be an interesting comparison. Follow us on the next few pages to see which of the iQOO 9 is worth your hard-earned cash.

Unpack the iQOO 9T

No matter what paint job you get, the iQOO 9T comes in a BMW M Motorsport-branded box, which itself is pretty packed with content. At least compared to other retail boxes.

In addition to the 120W charger and USB-C to USB-C cable, there’s also a clear silicone case and a 3.5mm to USB-C audio dongle. A rare find these days, so kudos to iQOO.