Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus Review: A Game-Changer Among Mid-Range Gaming Smartphones
The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus, launched in September 2024, sets a new benchmark for mid-range gaming phones. Known for its performance-focused design, iQOO’s Z Turbo series continues to impress with innovative features and efficiency. In this review, we explore the key specs, standout features, pros, cons, and pricing of the Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus in Bangladesh.
Key Features of iQOO Z9 Turbo+
Design and Build Quality
The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo+ is a visually appealing device with a glass front, a plastic back, and a frame. While the choice of materials may not scream "premium," its IP64 rating offers a layer of dust and water resistance that surpasses the Vivo iQOO Z9’s IP54 rating. The 8mm thickness and 196g weight make it slightly heavier than the Honor X9c (189g) but give it a sturdy, well-balanced feel.
Compared to the realme 13 Pro+, which features a more premium glass back with Gorilla Glass 7i protection, the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ falls short in terms of durability. However, its overall design and functional build will appeal to users who prioritise practicality over luxury.
Display Quality
The iQOO Z9 Turbo+ boasts a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 1B colours, 1260 by 2800 pixels resolutions, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a staggering 4500 nits peak brightness. The ancestor iQOO Z9 Tubo shares almost the same features. However, this is a substantial upgrade over the iQOO Z9’s 6.67-inch AMOLED panel, which maxes out at 1800 nits and offers a lower refresh rate of 120Hz.
Z9 Turbo+ outperforms the Honor X9c (4000 nits peak and 120Hz refresh rate) and the realme 13 Pro+ (2000 nits peak and 120Hz refresh rate) in brightness and fluidity.
These features make it ideal for users who prioritize display quality, especially for media consumption, outdoor viewing, and fluid scrolling.
Camera Performance
On the camera front, the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ is equipped with a 50 MP primary sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and advanced features like OIS for stabilized shots. The main sensor captures sharp and vibrant images, with excellent low-light performance, courtesy of the large f/1.8 aperture.
While the 8 MP (f/2.2) ultrawide lens is serviceable, it does not offer the versatility of the realme 13 Pro+, which includes a 50 MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
When compared to the iQOO Z9, it lacks the ultrawide lens. On the other hand, the Z9 Turbo’s camera and video features are the same as the Z9 Turbo+.
However, the Z9 Turbo+ lags behind the Honor X9c, which features a 108 MP primary sensor, delivering higher-resolution images with more detail.
Like the competitor Honor X9c, and ancestor Z9 and Z9 Turbo, the latest Z9 Turbo Plus has a 16MP (f/2.5) selfie sensor with a maximum resolution of 1080 by 30fps. However, the realme 13 Pro+ outwins all these rivals with its impressive 32MP front sensor sporting 4k video recording capacity.
Processor Performance
The iQOO Z9 Turbo+ is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, paired with the Immortalis-G720 GPU. This combination offers cutting-edge performance, making it one of the fastest processors in its class. It outshines the ancestors iQOO Z9 (Dimensity 7200) and Z9 Turbo (Snapdragon 8s Gen 3), which are better suited for casual multitasking but struggles with intensive tasks.
When stacked against the Honor X9c (Snapdragon 6 Gen 1) and Realme 13 Pro+ (Snapdragon 7s Gen 2), the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ emerges as a clear winner in raw processing power. Whether it is multitasking, video editing, or running demanding apps, this device delivers exceptional speed and efficiency.
Gaming Performance
Gaming on the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ is a delight, thanks to the high refresh rate display and the Immortalis G720 GPU. Popular titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact run smoothly at max settings, with no noticeable frame drops. The improved heat management system ensures the device stays cool even during extended gaming sessions.
While the Vivo iQOO Z9 offers decent gaming performance, the Turbo+ clearly excels due to its superior chipset and display. Compared to the Realme 13 Pro+, the gaming experience is on par, though the latter’s slightly lighter build might appeal to mobile gamers seeking comfort over extended play.
Battery Life
With its 6400 mAh battery, the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ delivers stellar endurance, easily lasting a day and a half on moderate usage. The inclusion of 80W wired charging allows for a 50% charge in under 20 minutes, which is a significant advantage over the ancestor iQOO Z9’s 44W charging.
The Honor X9c’s 6600 mAh battery offers similar endurance but charges slightly slower at 66W. On the other hand, the realme 13 Pro+ has a smaller 5200 mAh battery but compensates with fast 80W charging.
Overall, the iQOO Z9 Turbo+ strikes an excellent balance between capacity and charging speed. What’s more? It offers 7.5-watt reverse wired charging which keeps it ahead of rivals like realme 13 Pro+.
Software and User Interface
The device runs Android 14 with OriginOS 4, delivering a clean and customizable user experience. The interface is intuitive, with minimal bloatware, and supports features like split-screen multitasking and gesture navigation. Compared to the iQOO Z9’s Funtouch OS, OriginOS feels more polished and user-friendly.
While the realme 13 Pro+ and Honor X9c also feature Android 14, their proprietary skins (realme UI 5.0 and Magic OS 8, respectively) offer a more stylized experience. However, OriginOS stands out for its focus on performance optimization and minimalistic design.
Storage Options
Like the sibling iQOO Z9 Turbo, the latest Turbo+ version offers a range of configurations, including 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM. This provides ample space for apps, media, and large files with fast data transfer speeds. It is a noticeable upgrade from the ancestor iQOO Z9, offering a maximum of 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage with a UFS 2.2 mechanism.
Neither the Honor X9c nor the realme 13 Pro+ support expandable storage, so the Turbo+ is in line with its competitors in this regard. However, the inclusion of UFS 4.0 gives it a performance edge over both.
Pros and Cons of iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus
Pros
- MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor
- 6.78-inch AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate, and 4500 nits brightness
- 6400 mAh battery
- 80W fast charging with 7.5W Reverse Charging
- UFS 4.0 with up to 512GB storage
- IP64-rated dust and water resistance.
Cons
- The plastic build feels less premium
- No telephoto lens
- Fixed storage with no microSD support
- No 3.5mm jack
- 196g weight might feel bulky for some users
- No Wireless charging option.
Price of iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus in Bangladesh
The unofficial Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus is priced at around BDT 43,000 to BDT 46,000.
Verdict
The Vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo+ excels with its powerful processor, vibrant display, long-lasting battery, and fast charging. Its impressive performance and gaming-centric features have pushed the boundaries of mid-range smartphones. However, its plastic build and lack of expandable storage are drawbacks. It is perfect for gamers and power users but not ideal for those seeking premium build quality or advanced photography features. Choose wisely based on your needs!