The iQOO Neo6 is the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 smartphone on the market, starting for under US$450

iQOO has already launched flagship smartphones with Qualcomm's top-end SoC for 2022 - so one might well wonder why the Vivo brand has bothered launching the Neo6 today (April 13, 2022) with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform. However, as it turns out, it drops the top-end 9 series' up-to-date 50MP main rear camera for a distinctly last-gen arrangment.

Accordingly, the Neo6 rocks a 64MP primary camera next to a 12MP ultra-wide snapper and a 2MP depth-sensor in its wide glass rear-panel window. Similarly, while its 6.62-inch display is FHD+, AMOLED and has a 120Hz refresh rate, it is an E4 panel rather than the newer E5 material found in the 9 and 9 Pro.

Accordingly, iQOO now touts its latest Neo-series flagship as its cost-effective performance powerhouse. To that end, it runs Android 12 out of the box (albeit with the heavy OriginOS skin), has a veritably disproportionate 1200Hz touch-sampling rate and also, of course, features an upgrade to 80W charging.

The Neo6's base model has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, now priced at 2,799 yuan. Alternatively, it can be had (in its black, bright blue or orange colorways) as an 8/256GB SKU for 2,999 yuan (~$471), or a 12/256GB top-end option for 3,199 yuan (~$502), from April 20, 2022 from sites such as JD.com, Tmall or Vivo's own web-store in China.

More widespread availability was not mentioned during its launch, although it is possible that it might hit different shores one day in the form of a rebrand.