Vivo
vivo iQOO Z9 Review: A Budget-friendly Phone with Decent Features
vivo’s sub-brand iQOO has hit the market with its latest model iQOO Z9. It was released on 12th March 2014 in India. For its reputation as a value-for-money smartphone provider, iQOO has made a lot of traction in the market. Is the newest model up to that par? Let’s find out the features, pros, cons and price of vivo iQOO Z9.
Key Specs of vivo iQOO Z9
Design
The iQOO Z9 boasts a 163.17 mm by 75.81 mm by 7.83 mm solid build, featuring IP54 dust, and water resistance. It weighs 188g. Its matte back panel and frame resist fingerprints, providing a comfortable, non-slippery grip. However, the flat sides may occasionally feel sharp against your palms.
The device comes in Brushed Green and Graphene Blue colours, with a distinctive feather-like pattern on the back. The rear camera module, housing two cameras and dual flash, sits on the top left, while the power button and volume rocker are on the right. At the bottom, you'll find the USB-C charging port, speaker, and SIM/SD card tray.
Read more: vivo iQOO 12 Review: Flagship Killer or a Flagship Itself?
The front display offers slim bezels, except for a thicker chin. It features an in-display fingerprint sensor, though not the fastest in its price range. While the plastic build feels sturdy, competitors with vegan leather backs provide a more premium alternative.
Display
The iQOO Z9 swaps the compact design of its predecessor for a more traditional 6.67-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution featuring 2400 by 1080 pixels and 120 Hz refresh rate support. However, it disappointingly lacks 120 Hz scrolling in most apps, limiting the smooth experience of the UI.
Despite this hiccup, the display impresses with sharpness at 394 PPI, HDR support, and vibrant colours. HDR content on platforms like YouTube and Netflix looks crisp and vibrant, thanks to the deep blacks and enhanced contrast of the AMOLED panel.
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The display also shines bright, reaching up to 1,800 nits of peak local brightness. Plus, the addition of dual stereo speakers elevates the audio experience, offering full sound with good bass and vocals, a significant improvement over its predecessor's single-speaker setup.
Cameras
The iQOO Z9 impresses with its camera performance, featuring a 50-megapixel (f/1.79) Sony IMX882 primary sensor with OIS. It has a 2 MP (f/2.4) Bokeh camera too.
While lacking an ultrawide shooter, the primary camera excels in capturing stunning photos in both daylight and low-light conditions. Daytime shots exhibit crisp details, natural colours, and a solid dynamic range comparable to higher-priced phones. The 2x zoom images maintain quality, and close-up shots boast a natural bokeh effect.
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Portrait shots deliver close-to-natural skin tones, though edge detection could be improved. The option to capture full 50-megapixel shots retains dynamic range and enhances details. Low-light photography shines with minimal noise and polished results, despite some shadow detail loss.
The 16-megapixel (f/2.0) selfie camera performs decently in daylight but struggles in low light.
Additionally, the phone's rear sensor supports maximum of 4K @30fps video recording with stabilisation, adding versatility to its camera capabilities. While the front camera can capture 1080p videos at 30fps.
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vivo iQOO 12 Review: Flagship Killer or a Flagship Itself?
iQOO smartphones are known for their reliable performance at a marginal price. Their lineup is often dubbed as gaming on a budget. But the marginal price and the flagship killer tag come with certain corner cuts. But that all changed with their new release. iQOO launched the iQOO 12 on 14th November 2023. The device brings improvements in almost every sector compared to its predecessor. Now the question arises, is the vivo iQOO 12 a flagship killer or a proper flagship itself? Let’s find out.
Key Specs of the vivo iQOO 12
Design and Build Quality
It seems like iQOO has been inspired by OnePlus’s Never Settle philosophy when it comes to design. Gone are the rectangular camera housing which has been replaced with a rather square-ish round look. iQOO calls it the porthole design.
The build quality feels more sturdy thanks to the aluminum frame and glass back composition. The dimension of the iQOO 12 comes in at 163.22 mm by 75.88 mm by 8.10 mm (Alpha and Legend) or 8.35 mm (Desert Red). The weight of the device also differs as Alpha and Legend comes in at 203.7 g and the Desert Red comes in at 198.5 g. iQOO has partnered with BMW for the Legend variant. It adds a distinct dash of the M series colorways in a white AG Fluorite back.
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Ports and buttons are in their usual space as before. The 12 with its updated looks and build quality seems to be on par with most flagships today. The Chinese variant even has IP64 water and dust resistance. However, it couldn’t be confirmed whether it’s the same for the global variant as well.
The Display
The display on the iQOO 12 is a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED 8T panel with 1B colors, 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1400 nits of HBM, and 3000 nits of peak brightness. The resolution of the panel comes in at 1260 by 2800 pixels at a 20:9 aspect ratio. It brings the pixel count to about 452 ppi.
One of the impressive things about the iQOO 12 is the ultra-slim symmetric bezel on all sides. It takes the screen real estate to 89.6% screen-to-body ratio.
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The display also has a 2160 Hz PWM dimming mode for ease of usage in ultra-low light conditions. iQOO also incorporated an intelligent anti-fatigue brightness strategy and low blue light emission to relieve the stress on the eyes.
The overall experience with the host of features has been excellent. The display is fast, accurate, has great colors, and is simply a pleasure for content consumption.
The Camera
The camera on the iQOO 12 got a massive improvement over last year’s 11. There’s a new triple camera setup with the main sensor being a 50 MP f/1.7 23 mm wide angle lens with PDAF and OIS. There’s also a 64 MP f/2.6 70 mm periscope telephoto lens and a 50 MP f/2.0 119 degrees ultrawide lens. There’s also a 16 MP f/2.5 selfie shooter on the front.
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The flagship-grade sensors also provide impressive results. Pictures taken during the day had great contrast and sharpness to them with decent dynamic range. You might notice a slightly warm tone in a typical vivo fashion. Pictures taken at night were on par with daylight images thanks to the night mode. The front camera also took decent selfies. However it lacked details and sharpness compared to the main sensor.
The videography on the iQOO 12 is rated to be 8K at 30fps, 4K at 24/30/60fps, and 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps. Both the EIS and OIS do a great job of stabilizing and providing good-quality videos. The selfie shooter can capture only 1080p videos at 30fps.
vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro Review: The Gaming-focused Flagship Phone of 2024
iQOO is here with its highly anticipated Neo series for 2024. The Neo lineup has stirred up quite the hype over the years for its unbeatable price-to-performance deals. The Neo9 Pro was launched globally on 22nd February. The global Neo9 Pro’s features are quite similar to the iQOO Neo9 released in China, while the Neo9 Pro’s Chinese version differs from its global version in the processor and camera section. Let’s find out more on this flagship phone.
Key Specs of the vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro
Design and Build Quality: A Mix of Sophistication and Refinement
The actual Neo9 Pro has been exclusively released for China for the time being. iQOO may not opt to release this model globally as it shares almost the same DNA with the parent company’s Vivo X100.
From the outside, you’re looking at the same dimension as that of the Neo9. There’s a vegan leather version which iQOO calls their Fiery Red model. There are also options for either blue or black glass back finishes.
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Dimension-wise, the iQOO Neo9 Pro comes in at 163.53 mm by 75.68 mm by 7.99 mm or 8.34 mm (Fiery Red). The aggregate weight of the device comes in at 190 g (Fiery Red) of 190 g as standard.
iQOO has incorporated several innovative design choices with the Neo9 Pro. The plastic frame has a four-sided micro-arc design for a seamless transition with the body. The front bezel on the side has been reduced to just 1.54 mm for a near-borderless view. There is also the Fluorite AG glass on the back of the blue and black model to deter fingerprints and smudges.
Ports, buttons, microphones, and dual SIM slots are in their usual spot like the Neo9. There’s no water resistance rating on the Neo9 Pro which might be its only gripe design-wise.
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The Display: Feature-Packed AMOLED Display
The display on the iQOO Neo9 Pro is stacked with features. On paper, users will get a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 1B colors, 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1400 nits of HBM. The near-symmetrical panel comes in a 20:9 aspect ratio good enough for a 93.43% screen-to-body ratio.
The resolution has been cranked up to 1260 by 2800 pixels featuring of 452 ppi density. Additional display techs like XDR 2.0 and ZREAL have also been incorporated into the panel. The result is a whopping 8000000:1 contrast ratio in normal usage.
iQOO claims that the touch latency has been reduced by 36% compared to the previous models. The 2160 Hz PWM dimming mode increases the brightness perception by 14.3% making it easier on eyes in ultra-low light environments.
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The Camera
The camera is where the difference between the global 9 Pro and Chinese 9 Pro becomes apparent.
The main rear camera is a 50 MP shooter sporting a Sony VCS IMX 920 sensor. Spec includes f/1.88 aperture, 1/1.49 inch sensor size with PDAF and OIS.
The Chinese Neo9 Pro’s secondary rear sensor is another 50 MP f/2.0 shooter, 119-degree ultrawide sensor. On the other hand, the global version comes with an 8 MP (f/2.2) 119-degree ultrawide sensor.
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For both the Chinese and Global Neo9 pro, the front camera features a single 16 MP f/2.5 lens. It can shoot 1080 pixels of footage at 30 fps.
The custom Sony sensor can nicely capture natural and warm-looking images. The usual photorealism of the IMX 920 was missing here as pictures had a distinct color pop in them. The dynamic range was a bit sub-par. The ultrawide sensor was able to match the performance of the main sensor during daylight.
Pictures taken at night or in low light fared much better thanks to the large sensor size. The night mode was an added plus in low-light photography.
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Videography on the Chinese Neo9 Pro supports up to 8K, 4K, and 1080P. While the global version can capture a maximum of 4K videos. Video quality has been impressive thanks to the gyro-EIS and OIS.
Processor and Performance: Sheer Gaming Capabilities
Beyond the camera, the Chinese 9 Pro is using the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9300 based on the 4 Nm architecture unlike yesteryear’s 8 Gen 2 found on the global 9 Pro. The octa-core processor is coupled with Immortalis-G720 MC12 GPU. iQOO is claiming 40% increased performance with 33% less power consumption compared to the last generation.
The storage combination goes up to 16 GB RAM and 1TB internal storage. iQOO has upgraded to LPDDR5X and UFS 4.0 for the RAM and ROM respectively.
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In addition to the Dimensity 9300 chip, iQOO has also included the Q1 gaming chip developed in-house. iQOO claims that the Q1 can replicate PC-level super-resolution for open world and other graphics-intensive games. In the test, PUBG, COD, Genshin Impact, and Asphalt 9 were running smoothly at 60 Hz. What’s even more impressive is the lack of heating even after hours of gaming. The usual day-to-day browsing and surfing is fast and smooth thanks to the blazing 144 Hz display.
iQOO introduced their 6K Skylight vapor chamber liquid cooling technology which takes up around half of the internal footprint of the device. It accounts for precise heat dissipation resulting in a 26% increase in overall heat transfer.
Software: OriginOS 4 over Android 14
While the global variant comes with Funtouch OS, the Chinese Neo9 Pro sticks with the OriginOS. And given that it is released in China only. It’s a pretty heavy skin over Android 14. Needless to say, it would take some time to get used to its interface and navigation.
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Battery and Charge Time
The Neo9 Pro comes with 5160 mAh battery capacity. The 120W ultra-fast flash charge can take the device from 0 to 40% in 9 minutes. The full charge takes about 1 hour and 24 minutes. iQOO claims that the Neo9 Pro has been tested for up to 1600 full charge cycles after which the battery can retain up to 80% of its original capacity.
iQOO Neo7 SE Review: Competent Mid-range Gaming Phone
vivo’s subsidiary company iQOO has had a reputation for producing value-for-money phones since 2019. In this wave, iQOO launched another gaming-centric device Neo7 SE. Recently, the phone had its global launch which brought it in the spotlight. Let’s have a look at where it can be the right gaming phone for you.
Key Specs of Vivo iQOO Neo7 SE
Design and Build Quality
There’s an obvious caveat of having a plastic build all around on a budget-friendly to lower mid-range phone. The Neo7 SE is also no different. The plastic frame and back have a mix of matte and glossy frosted finish which gives it a glass-like look.
The Neo7 SE comes in at around 164.8 mm by 76.9 mm by 8.6 mm with 193 g weight. It’s a relatively lightweight build with a considerably large footprint. The camera housing on the back is reminiscent of the Neo7 with the iconic squared cut. The front features a near-uniform punch-hole display with a slight bottom chin.
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Ports and buttons are identical to the Neo6 SE. Users will be missing out on the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the extendable card storage on the Neo7 SE.
Overall the design and the build quality are okay for its price. It matches the expectation for a sub 35K BDT smartphone.
The Display
The display on the Neo7 SE is a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 12 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1300 nits of peak brightness. The panel has 1080 by 2400 pixels with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 388 PPI. The slight bottom chin accounts for an 87.6% screen-to-body ratio.
The Neo6 SE also had a similar spec albeit with a higher pixel density thanks to the smaller screen size. Competitions in this price point like the Redmi K60E bring higher resolution with nearly the same features.
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But as for the performance, the Neo7 SE holds its ground. The sharp brightness provides great contrast both indoors and outdoors. The viewing angles were great and the high refresh rate worked smoothly in day-to-day use. For the price, it’s hard to beat what Neo7 SE brings to the table.
iQOO Neo 9 Review: A Flagship Grade Mid-Range Smartphone
iQOO saved up a big surprise till the very end of 2023. The Vivo subsidiary launched the much-hyped iQOO Neo 9 on 27th December in China. The smartphone is scheduled for a mid-February launch globally. For the time being, the smartphone has garnered a lot of attention and buzz among the users. So what’s the hype all about? Let’s find out.
Key Specifications of the vivo iQOO Neo 9
Design and Build Quality
The iQOO Neo series is known for its drastic design jumps in each iteration. The Neo 9 is also no different. There’s virtually no similarity between the Neo 8 and Neo 9 except for the fact that both of them have a plastic build.
The Neo 9 has a flat front and back with two large separate housings for the two camera sensors. The dimension of the smartphone comes in at 163.5 by 75.7 by 8 mm or 8.3 mm. The 8.3 mm version has a faux leather finish in bright red and contrasting white. It's probably the best looking one among a choice between black and blue. The faux leather variant weighs at 196 g whereas the standard model comes in at 190 g.
The ports and buttons are carried on from the Neo 8 with the SIM slot taking its place beside the Type C port. There’s also an IR blaster along with the secondary noise cancellation mic at the top. Other than that, the minimal front bezel and even weight distribution make for a premium mid-range smartphone.
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The Display
The display on the Neo 9 is a 6.78 inches LTPO AMOLED panel with standard features like 1B colors, 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1400 nits of HBM. What’s interesting here is the inclusion of an LTPO panel. Even many high-end smartphones these days don’t come with this feature. Needless to say, it’ll definitely help conserve a lot of battery on the 1260 by 2800 pixels and 453 ppi density.
The display also has the new PWM dimming feature. It essentially dims out the blacks entirely by varying the electric pulse on the individual LEDs. The result is striking low brightness in dark environments and true black contrast.
The bezel on the center punch-hole display is very minimal with the lower chin protruding ever so slightly. The slim trim helps to keep the screen-to-body ratio at 89.7%. The bottom line, it's an amazing display that seriously punches above its price.
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The Camera
There’s a dual-lens camera on the Neo 9 with the main camera being a 50 MP f/1.9 wide angle and 1/1.49" aperture sensor. The secondary shooter is 8 MP, f/2.2 with a 119-degree field of view. Both the main and the secondary camera uses IMX sensors from Sony for improved camera performance.
iQOO Neo 8 Review: Is this affordable premium smartphone worth buying?
For the last several years, iQOO has enriched the smartphone market with its affordable premium smartphones. Being a subsidiary of BBK Electronics, iQOO is slowly taking over the mantle of flagship killer status. The company recently launched the iQOO Neo 8 on 23rd May 2023. This mid-range smartphone brings specs that would rival the recent flagship smartphones. Let’s dig into it more.
Key Specifications of the iQOO Neo 8
Design and Build Quality
iQOO devices have a unique design statement with their characteristic rectangular camera housing and contrasting finish on the back (leather variant). The Neo 8 is no different as well. Users will be getting a plastic frame, glass back and front. The build feels durable and sturdy even with the plastic frame.
The dimensions of the Neo 8 come in at 164.7 mm by 77 mm by 8.5 mm with 192 g weight. The front of the device has a noticeable chin at the bottom. But that is about it when it comes to drawbacks. Ports and buttons are similar to that of the Neo 7 which means there aren’t any 3.5 mm headphone jack on the Neo 8.
Read more: iQoo 12 Pro Review: Flagship phone for gamers
The Display
The display on the Neo 8 is easily its strongest suit. The 6.78 inch AMOLED display has 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, and 1300 nits of peak brightness. The QHD+ resolution display has 1260 by 2800 pixels with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 453 ppi density. There is a slight chin at the bottom and around the side of the display. It accounts for about 87.5% screen-to-body ratio.
The specifications on paper are strongly reflected in real life. The panel looks stunning with great contrast and color balance. The HBM allows for easy readability under direct sunlight. It's not the brightest per se, but it's the best at its price point.
The Camera
There is a dual camera setup on the iQOO Neo 8. The main camera is a 50 MP f/1.9 wide-angle shooter with PDAF and OIS. The secondary sensor is a 2 MP one with an f/2.4 depth sensor. It's essentially a single shooter phone considering the depth sensor doesn’t do anything other than assisting in the portrait shots.
The pictures from the main camera came out sharp and detailed. iQOO has significantly improved its post-processing capacity. Pictures taken during the daylight came out well exposed with good details. The colors had a slight warm tone to them which made the images pop. However, it wasn’t overpowering in any way and the pictures came out looking natural. The dynamic range was also well-preserved in most shots.
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The low-light performance was also on par with the daylight ones. The exposure and color balance were on point even under strong artificial lights. The night mode became significantly better to accommodate extreme low-light shots.
The videography on the iQOO Neo 8 is rated at 8K, 4K, and 1080P at 30fps, 30/60 fps, and 30/60 fps respectively. The gyro-EIS and OIS greatly improve video stabilization.
There’s also a generic 16 MP (f/2.5) front-facing camera that can take decent selfies. The selfie sensor can capture video at 1080P at 30fps.
Processor and Performance
The processor on the iQOO Neo 8 is Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 based on the 4 Nm architecture. This is the same flagship processor from 2 years ago seen on the then-premium smartphones. It's great to see that iQOO is recycling the same flagship-grade processor at a mid-range price point.
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The octa-core processor has a 1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510 chip design with Adreno 730 GPU. Considering the performance capability of the 8+ Gen 1, it doesn’t feel like a mid-range smartphone. Games like PUBG, Genshin Impact, and Asphalt 9 ran on the highest graphics settings without any hiccups. The device also did a great job of dissipating the heat. We didn’t notice any thermal throttling during the test.
However, the performance is slightly spoiled by the OS experience. The global variant comes with Funtouch 13 and the Chinese variant comes with OriginOS 3. Either way, the bloatware feels heavy from a stock Android perspective. The 144 Hz refresh rate is a saving grace in an otherwise bloatware-filled OS.
Battery and Charge Time
iQOO Neo 8 comes with 120W proprietary FlashCharge which can be used to charge up the 5000 mAh battery. The brick can charge up the device from 0 to 50% in about 9 minutes. On average, expect an entire day’s usage out of the device with a full charge.
Pros and Cons of the iQOO Neo 8
Pros:
- Excellent display - Ultra-fast charging support - Powerful processor - Stylish design - Good camera system.
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Cons:
- No water resistance rating - Lack of wireless and reverse charging facility.
Price of iQOO Neo 8
iQOO Neo 8 is currently available in 12/256 GB, 12/512 GB, and 16/512 GB variants. The prices of the variants are 2,499, 2,799, and 3,099 CNY respectively. The price roughly translates to 38,817, 43,477 and 48,137 BDT respectively. However, the actual price would differ since it is not officially available in Bangladesh yet.
Verdict
The iQOO Neo 8 takes the design and material values from the Neo 7 and brushes up rough edges. The Neo 8 brings incremental updates to the display, processor, and camera. The Neo 7 was already a great value option considering its price. The Neo 8 takes the bar even higher.
It’s downside would be the OS support which still has a long way to go. Besides, the provision of wireless and reverse charging facilities could make it a better deal.
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So who is the iQOO Neo 8 for? It’s best suited for people wanting a flagship experience at a mid-range price.
iQoo 12 Pro Review: Flagship phone for gamers
iQOO, a sub-brand of Vivo, is known for its high-performance gaming phones. The iQOO 12 Pro was launched in China on November 14, 2023. This device is a shift from the brand’s traditional gaming-centric lineup. The 12 Pro appeared as a high-capacity phone with enhanced gaming capabilities. This shift suggests a broader appeal beyond the gaming community, making it a more versatile option for a wider audience. Let’s take a look at what it offers.
Key Features & Specs of iQoo 12 Pro
Design
The iQoo 12 boasts a sturdy design with dimensions measuring 164.6 mm by 75.4 mm by 8.6 mm (or 8.8 mm). Weighing in at 205 g or 210 g (7.23 oz), it accommodates dual Nano-SIM cards with dual stand-by capability.
Its exterior exhibits flat metallic sides with curved corners, and the glossy rear panel. Although slightly slippery, it is offset by the included TPU cover, enhancing grip and preventing fingerprint smudges.
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The camera module, a rounded square on the left side, is encircled by a metallic ring with a ridged edge. The display boasts slim bezels and a central hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera.
Notably, the phone showcases the BMW Motorsport logo subtly at the rear bottom and attains an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance, a first for the series, ensuring resilience against the elements.
Display
The iQOO 12 Pro features a LTPO AMOLED display, boasting 1 billion colors and an impressive 144Hz refresh rate, complemented by HDR10+ support and a peak brightness of 3000 nits.
The 6.78-inch screen with a resolution of 1440 by 3200 pixels and a 20:9 ratio provides a sharp pixel density of approximately 518 ppi.
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The upgrade from Samsung's E6 to E7 panel is notable, particularly in the doubled HDR window brightness. Users should be aware that the default resolution is set to 1080p, and adjusting it to UHD in the settings enhances the screen's sharpness.
The fingerprint recognition, although ultrasonic and functional, takes a step back from the larger recognition area of the iQOO 11 Pro, presenting a minor drawback in the overall design.
Cameras
The iQOO 12 Pro incorporates a triple-camera setup featuring a 50 MP (f/1.7) wide lens, a 64 MP (f/2.6) periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50 MP (f/2.0) ultra wide lens.
The camera system showcases capabilities such as dual-LED flash, HDR, and panorama, supporting video recording up to 8K at 30fps and offering versatile options at lower resolutions. Notably, the dynamic range across all three lenses is impressive, avoiding over-sharpening issues. The camera excels in capturing details, especially in macro mode, providing the flexibility to use the ultra-wide or telephoto lens for varied perspectives.
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However, certain limitations persist, such as the telephoto lens usage in low light and unresolved issues like purple-fringing with telephoto lenses highlight some gaps in comparison to leading photography-focused phones.
On the front side, the iQoo 12 Pro bears a 16 MP (f/2.5) selfie shooter. However, the front-facing camera can record only at 1080p 30fps without image stabilization, impacting its suitability for vlogging.
Performance and Hardware
The iQOO 12 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, built on a 4nm process, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with Cortex-X4, Cortex-A720, and Cortex-A520 cores. Accompanied by the Adreno 750 GPU, the device offers robust performance.
The 12 Pro is supported by memory options of 256GB/512GB/1TB storage and 16GB RAM, utilizing UFS 4.0 technology. The absence of a card slot for external storage should be noted.
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The iQOO 12 Pro's performance in resource-intensive games like Genshin Impact demonstrates stability with a trade-off of higher power consumption compared to some counterparts.
Software
Operating on Google's latest Android 14 OS with Vivo's Funtouch OS 14 overlay, the iQOO 12 Pro ensures a user-friendly experience. This device facilitates lock screen customization and enhancements to multitasking, RAM utilization, and motion blur effects during app operations.
The promise of three years of OS and security updates, followed by an additional year of security updates, adds to the device's longevity. However, users may encounter occasional notifications from the pre-installed V-Appstore, which encourages trying out new apps and offers customization options that can be manually managed.
Some pre-installed apps like Netflix, Spotify, Snapchat, Facebook, and PhonePe are present but can be easily uninstalled.
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Battery and Charging
The iQOO 12 Pro is equipped with a sizable 5100mAh non-removable battery. Its notable charging capabilities include a rapid 120W wired charging, boasting a 26-minute fill-up time.
Additionally, the phone supports efficient 50W wireless charging, providing a convenient alternative. For reverse wireless charging, the device offers a 10W capability.
Despite the substantial battery size, the overall endurance is comparable to other phones when engaging in resource-intensive activities like gaming. iQOO maintains a commendable consistency by ensuring their charger includes a USB-C port and supports PD 65W charging, offering a practical and universal charging solution.
Pros and Cons of iQoo 12 Pro
Pros
- Elegant design with BMW Motorsport logo- Large display with a high refresh rate- Versatile triple-camera setup- Powerful processor- Ample storage- Fast charging with wireless, and reverse charging facility- Useful ports.
Read more: Tecno Phantom V Flip 5G: What does it offer?
Cons
- Slippery glossy rear panel- Limited fingerprint recognition area- Low video recording capacity by the front camera- Telephoto lens limitations, purple-fringing issues- Occasional V-App Store notifications- No card slot for external storage- Higher power consumption in resource-intensive games
Price of iQoo 12 Pro
The iQOO 12 Pro is not yet officially available in Bangladesh. In China, the iQOO 12 Pro 16GB+512GB Legend Edition is priced at CNY 5499.00, equivalent to BDT 84626. The conversion rate used is CNY 1 = BDT 15.39. The official price of iQoo 12 Pro in Bangladesh may increase due to diverse issues.
Conclusion
The iQOO 12 Pro offers a complete package with attractive features such as elegant design, vibrant display, standard cameras, performance-driven robust processor, etc. Running on Android 14 with Funtouch OS 14, the device promises extended software updates. Its powerful battery supports rapid wired, wireless, and reverse wireless charging.
Read more: Xiaomi 14 Pro Review: What’s special about it?
On the whole, iQoo 12 Pro strikes a balance between gaming and photography-centric features, distinguishing itself from traditional "gaming phones."
vivo X100 Pro Review: A New Standard for Camera
vivo recently launched its flagship smartphone for the year, the vivo X100 Pro on 21st November. While the X100 Pro is an incremental update over the X100 Pro, it brings in several groundbreaking tech that posits it to be the best from vivo in 2023’s end. Here’s everything you need to know.
Key Specifications of the vivo X100 Pro
Design and Build Quality
The design of the X100 Pro takes a slightly different approach from the X90 Pro. There is no dual-tone bar at the back and neither is the camera housing positioned asymmetrically. Rather the design elements of the X100 Pro bring uniformity and minimalism all around.
The X100 Pro has a dimension of 164.05 x 75.28 x 8.91 mm for the Startrail Blue and Asteroid Black variant. The leather-finished Sunset Orange comes in at 164.05 x 75.28 x 9.05 mm. The weights of the variants are 225 g and 221 g respectively.
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The frosted glass back finish combined with an aluminum frame, a fresh new camera ring, and the customary curved panel make the X100 pro easily stand out as a premium flagship.
The Display
The display on the X100 Pro is easily one of the best in the flagship category. The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel has a 2800 x 1260 FHD+ resolution. Additionally, the panel supports 1B colors, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and up to 3000 nits of peak brightness thanks to the new VM7 light-emitting material. vivo has pushed the existing HBM to a new high with the X100 Pro which makes the display distinctly clear even under direct sunlight.
The curved display along with the punch-hole camera design makes way for an 89.8% screen-to-body ratio. Now coming to the performance metrics, the display supports 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and 105% NTSC color saturation. In effect, the display on the X100 Pro is easily one of the top contenders for the best display of 2023.
Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K70 Review: Mid-range phone with flagship features
The Camera
The camera system is where the X100 Pro takes a decisive lead from the X90 Pro. The main camera on the X100 pro is a 50 MP f/1.8 aperture lens with a 1-inch sensor. And if that wasn’t enough, there is another 50 MP f/2.5 shooter with a 100 mm periscope and another 50 MP f/2.0 119˚ ultrawide lens. The uniformity in resolution brings out some of the best pictures on mobile devices.
The “Xtreme Imagination” branding on the back is a testament to the Zeiss optics and their impeccable performance. While pictures came out great in daylight, things took a dramatic improvement in low light thanks to the large main sensor. Images had good contrast and exposure and accurate colors which is what Zeiss is famous for. Custom Zeiss features like Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, and 3D LUT imports are also available on the X100 Pro.
There is a 32 MP front camera on the X100 Pro which provides a similarly great result. The videography on the X100 Pro brings 8K, 4K, and 1080P thanks to OIS and gyro-EIS. The 4K resolution also supports cinematic mode with hyper-stabilization.
Read more: Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: Is this the best Android phone of 2023?
vivo X100 Review: The Flagship Killer of 2023
vivo phones are famous for their flagship-level designs and features offered at reasonable price ranges. The Chinese tech giant vivo’s X series represents a top-of-the-line smartphone experience. vivo launched its flagship X100 series on November 21, 2023, in China. Let’s check out what it offers.
Key Specifications of vivo X100
Design and Build Quality
The design of the vivo X100 is somewhat reminiscent of the X90. There is a curved front panel, a slim profile, a frosted finish, and a large camera housing at the back. Except in X100, the camera housing has been moved to the center. The device dimension comes in at 164.05 mm by 75.19 mm by 8.49 mm or 8.74 mm (Sunset Orange variant) with either 202 or 206 g weight.
The standard variant has a brushed finish, which complements the large circular triple camera housing. The surrounding aluminum ring also adds to the design dimensions. Ports and buttons are carried over from the X90, with the power button, volume rocker, and SIM slot all retained in their usual places. The device also has IP68 water and dust resistance.
The Display
The display on the X100 is an LTPO AMOLED panel with 1B colors and a 120Hz refresh rate with 3000 nits of peak brightness. The 6.78-inch display has a 1260 by 2800 pixel resolution with a 453 ppi density. The display also has an 89.9% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to the slim bezel and curved screen. Other features include 8000000:1 contrast and 105% NTSC. The display performance is great.
The Camera
There is a triple camera sensor on the X100, with the main camera being a 50 MP, f/1.6 wide-angle shooter with PDAF, laser AF, and OIS. The secondary sensors are a 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and a 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm ultrawide shooter.
The cameras on the X100 use Zeiss Optics T* lens coating and custom LUT imports. The specialization of the images is their natural renditions with true tone colors. Images taken with the main sensor had sharp details and contrast in them. The same held true for the adjoining sensors as well, with great performance during daylight. Image quality remained more or less the same in artificial lights as well, with a slight sharpness loss.
There’s also a 32 MP (f/2.0) front camera on the X100, which can take some great selfies. The videography on the X100 is rated at 4K and 1080p. It supports Cinematic Mode too.
Processor and Performance
The processor on the X100 is the new MediaTek Dimensity 9300 based on the 4 Nm architecture. The graphic section is enriched with an Immortalis-G720 MC12 GPU.
The performance of the X100 is every bit like a flagship. Casual usage was a breeze considering the processor blazed past every task thrown at it. Dimensity 9300 also brings significant improvements to the gaming aspect, with 3D games running at maximum settings without any frame drops or jitters.
The X100 is running OriginOS 4 for the Chinese region and Funtouch 14 based on Android 14 for the international regions. The UI still has that characteristic bloatware, which might negate the experience a bit. But other than that, the experience has been fast, smooth, and snappy.
Battery and Charge Time
The battery capacity is either 4880 mAh or 5000 mAh. The X100 supports up to 120W Ultra-Fast flash charging. It can go from 1 to 50% in 11 minutes. This device allows reverse wiring, which is a user-friendly feature.
Pros and Cons of vivo X100
Pros:
- Great display - Good camera system - Improved flagship processor - Updated design - Ultra-fast charging
Cons:
- Bloatware in the OS
Price of the vivo X100
The vivo X100 comes in 12/256 GB, 16/256 GB/ 16/512 GB, 16 GB/1 TB, and 16 GB LPDDR5T RAM/ TB options. The prices are 3999, 4299, 4599, 4999, and 5099 RMB, respectively. It roughly translates to 62,019 BDT, 66,671 BDT, 71,324 BDT, 77,527 BDT, and 79,078 BDT, respectively. Here the conversion rate is 1 RMB equivalent to BDT 15.51 approx. However, the official price of the vivo X100 may vary in Bangladesh due to tax and other issues.
Verdict
The vivo X100 can be categorized as a flagship killer given its performance compared to its price. The smartphone inherits many features from the X90 and alleviates certain aspects to make it an even more compelling and complete device. For anyone looking for a flagship experience at a relatively lower price, the vivo X100 can be a good choice.
Read more: Most Hyped Smartphones Releasing in December 2023
vivo V29e 5G Review: Is this mid-range phone rightly priced?
vivo smartphones have always been about strong camera performance. Since its initial days, vivo has expanded the V series to include mid-range as well as flagship-grade smartphones that offer exclusive camera perks. Recently, the brand launched the V29e 5G in Bangladesh on 29th October 2023 on a pre-order basis. The V29e brings 5G capability to the latest entry-level mid-range V series smartphone. Let’s find out what changed from last year’s V27e and what exciting new features the V29e has to offer.
Key Specifications of vivo V29e 5G
Design and Build Quality
There was a time when every new release from vivo would mean a complete design overhaul. However, the brand has been subtly moving towards uniformity considering the last two iterations of the V series have seen only incremental updates. The V29e has also seen slight design changes compared to the V27e.
The device comes in at 162.35 mm by 74.85 mm by 7.69 mm with 190 g weight. The weight is kept low thanks to the plastic front and the glass back. The V29e comes in three color variants, Forest Black, Rose Gold, and Ice Creek Blue. However, only the Forest Black and Rose Gold variants are available in Bangladesh.
Read more: vivo iQOO Z7 Pro: Is it an efficient gaming phone?
The choice of ports and buttons are the same with the power button, volume rocker, speaker, and Type C charger in their usual place. However, unlike the V27e, the shared sim slot cannot be used as a micro SDXC slot anymore. The device is also IP54 dust and splash-resistant.
The Display
The display on the vivo V29e is a 6.67-inch almost-symmetrical AMOLED panel. The large display has a new exciting addition this time. The 120 Hz refresh rate is coupled with 1150 nits of peak brightness making it perfectly legible under direct sunlight. The 2400 × 1080 pixel render asserts a 394 ppi density. The E4 light emitter ensures deep blacks and sharp contrast even when the display is dimmed. Users will be getting a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and a 107% NTSC color saturation.
Out of the box, the display shows a cooler tone. But it can easily be calibrated from the settings. The 88.3% screen-to-body ratio makes for an impressive screen real estate which doesn’t fare pretty well for its price point.
Read more: OPPO A58 Review: Is this budget-friendly phone good for photos?