iQOO Z9x 5G: The mid-range smartphone segment in India has been heating up in India of late and iQOO refuses to be left out of the party.
It’s clear, with the iQOO Z9x launch, the company is looking to charm buyers who don’t want to spend much on their smartphones but want decent performance, a brisk design and a good battery backup–and wouldn’t mind not to shell out much cash.
But let’s not judge this flashy-covered book just yet. So does the Z9x rise to the occassion or is it another number in the crowd? Let’s break it down.
Design 1 Aesthetic: Utility, Not Affectation
Of course, the Z9x does not scream luxury, but it doesn’t look cheap, either.
With a matte-finished polycarbonate back, thin durable design and subtle gradient colors — like Storm Grey and Tornado Green — it has a cool, understated look. It’s soft and can be easily held, so it is very practical for daily use.
The camera module is equally chunky but it has that iQOO minimal style to it — quite minimal yet tells you it’s a premium phone.
It’s not trying too hard, and sometimes that’s the thing that works best in some areas of this segment.
Display: Smooth and Bright
At the front, the iQOO Z9x is equipped with a 6.72-inch Full HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
That high refresh rate alone makes scrolling through feeds, switching between apps and light gaming feel snappy and fluid.
Yeah, it’s not an AMOLED panel, so you don’t get the kinds of deep blacks or super punchy colours that you do with other devices.
But you do get a bright, sharp screen that’s perfectly usable even in daylight. And at this price, that is more than fair.
Performance: Punching above its price class
The Z9x is however powered by the relatively nascent Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset in the sub-mid-range category.
It’s also fairly smooth to actually use, despite having only 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage in the base model paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The performance is consistently reliable whether you’re multitasking apps, watching YouTube or playing games such as BGMI or Free Fire.
No significant hiccups, no irritating lag. The phone also supports extended RAM, so there’s a little extra buffer for multi-tasking.
Battery Life: The Real MVP
Now let’s talk about the real win here — that gargantuan 6,000mAh battery. Yes, you read that right.
It’s a true powerhouse. With moderate use, you should easily be able to squeeze out two full days, or a day and a half if you’re a heavy user.
And when it’s time to power back up, you’ve got 44W fast charging bringing you back to 100 percent in a little over one hour. It’s not the fastest one out there, but it’s quick and consistent.
Camera: Not Flashy, but Workmanlike
There is also a 50MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor on the back.
Daylight photos look sharp and are relatively detailed. How you decorate the colours is towards the natural side, something most will actually appreciate more than over-processed shots.
Low-light is per average, as expected, though night mode helps a little.
Serviceable 8MP front camera The front 8MP camera isn’t anything to write home about but it’s fine for video calls and occasional selfies.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Unbeatable battery life with a huge 6,000mAh battery
User Interface feels fluid with 120Hz refresh rate
Reliable performance of Snapdragon 6 Gen 1
Light weight and ergonomically designed
water,dust resistance IP64(seldom seen in this market)
Value for what’s on offer is excellent
Cons
LCD screen instead of AMOLED
No ultra-wide or macro lens
Mediocre low-light camera performance
Funtouch OS is a little too, well, iOS-like Slight bloatware spam in Funtouch OS
Charging could be faster
iQOO Z9x 5G: Final word: A Long-life Lifecorder
The iQOO Z9x 5G may not win every spec battle, but it does something more important — it gets the basics right.
It’s designed for people who want a reliable daily driver: a phone that won’t let them down in the middle of the day, or while they’re browsing the web.
The phone has a long battery life, unpausable performance, and the right amount of flair, enough to consider it as one of the best budget 5G phones available in India right now.