Notebookcheck Logo

The iQOO 9 and 9 Pro debut with the new Samsung ISOCELL GN5 as a main camera and more

The iQOO 9 and 9 Pro. (Source: iQOO)
The iQOO 9 and 9 Pro. (Source: iQOO)
The 9 and 9 Pro are iQOO's latest flagship smartphones. They add the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the latest E5 AMOLED display tech and a world-first outing of the 50MP ISOCELL GN5 sensor to their line's hallmark 120W charging and BMW-themed finish. Then again, this generation has left the brand's historical reputation for flagship-killing prices behind.

iQOO has responded to its fellow smartphone brand Realme's newest series of flagships with the launch of its own top-end 9 series today (January 5, 2022). Unlike that GT2 line, however, both the vanilla 9 and 9 Pro have been graced with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, as well as the latest E5 AMOLED technology.

Then again, this panel type takes the form of a flat FHD+ screen in the 9, whereas a 2K resolution and the latest LTPO 2.0 rate-switching technology is exclusive to the curved-display 9 Pro. Then again, the 2 phones share a 6.78-inch screen size, a max brightness of 1500 nits, a 1000Hz "instant" touch-sampling rate, 16,000-zone local dimming and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Similarly, the iQOO 9 is not cut out of its series' ISOCELL GN5 main camera, a sensor currently only found in it and its Pro sibling. The OEM asserts that the new 50MP 1/1.57-inch CMOS is rated for "full-pixel pro focus", OIS and an ultra-low reflection treatment.

It is accompanied by a Sony IMX663 portrait lens and a fairly conventional 13MP ultra-wide angle lens in the 9. The 9 Pro, on the other hand, rocks the 150° "fish-eye" ultra-wide sensor necessary to rival the GT2 Pro at this new game, alongside a 16MP telephoto portrait lens with OIS.

The 9 and 9 Pro share a 4,700mAh battery, compatible with the series' smallest and lightest (at just 135g) 120W GaN charger yet, although the Pro is the only one to offer 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging on top of that.

Its new brick comes in the box, as with the 8 and 8 Pro before that; however, iQOO may be able to make up for any sustainability points lost as the accessory supports the new PPS and PD 3.0 standards. Therefore, it may become an all-in-one power solution for many laptops or other devices for at least some buyers when it ships.

On that note, the new flagships can be ordered from now in their initial market of China. Their prices might be a surprise for long-time iQOO fans, however: the vanilla 9 starts at 3,699 yuan (~US$628), whereas the 9 Pro goes for no less than 4,999 yuan (~$788).

Then again, iQOO has at least chosen to eschew the standard entry-level 128GB internal storage option for 256GB of UFS 3.1 memory instead in the phones' 8GB (LPDDR5) RAM base models. Therefore, the brand's flagships may not be the value leaders any more, but there is a lot for the money here - the option of signature BMW Legendary and Track styles included.

The iQOO 9 series' looks and specs in full. (Source: iQOO via Weibo)
The iQOO 9 series' looks and specs in full. (Source: iQOO via Weibo)
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 01 > The iQOO 9 and 9 Pro debut with the new Samsung ISOCELL GN5 as a main camera and more
Deirdre O'Donnell, 2022-01- 5 (Update: 2022-01- 5)