iQOO 12 Roars into India as the Inaugural Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Marvel

iQOO introduced the iQOO 12, a groundbreaking smartphone that unleashes the power of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, marking a significant milestone as the first of its kind to hit the Indian market. The cutting-edge device offers a choice between two variants, boasting impressive configurations: 12/16 GB RAM coupled with 256/512 GB internal storage.

The immersive visual feast offered by the iQOO 12’s 6.78-inch 144Hz refresh rate 1.5K resolution AMOLED screen, featuring LTPO technology for dynamic power management, seems stunning. With Wet Touch technology ensuring functionality even when wet and an official IP64 rating for water and dust resistance, this device seamlessly blends style with resilience.

Crafted with an aluminium frame and glass back, the iQOO 12 exudes sophistication. While lacking wireless charging, its 120W fast charging capability ensures you’re always powered up. The triple-camera setup, featuring a 50 MP primary shooter, 50 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 64 MP periscope telephoto lens, promises photography excellence.

The 16 MP selfie camera adds finesse with 1080p 30fps video recording.
Under the hood, the iQOO 12 runs on a robust 5,000 mAh battery and ships with Android 14, overlaid with FunTouchOS 14 for a seamless user experience. With the promise of three major Android OS upgrades and four years of security updates, the iQOO 12 is not just a phone; it’s a future-proof investment in innovation.

The aesthetic allure comes in two distinct flavours – Legend, a pristine white adorned with BMW M Sports branding, and Alpha, a sleek black variant. The smartphone is priced at ₹52,999 for the 12 GB RAM/256 GB storage base model and ₹57,999 for the 16 GB RAM/512 GB powerhouse, the iQOO 12 is set to redefine your smartphone experience. Priority pass holders can seize the opportunity from December 13, while the general public gains access starting December 14.

An exclusive offer awaits HDFC and ICICI Bank cardholders, who enjoy an instant ₹3,000 discount, bringing the effective cost down to an enticing ₹49,999. Furthermore, iQOO and Vivo smartphone users can enjoy an additional ₹5,000 benefit when exchanging their existing devices, making the iQOO 12 even more appealing than its predecessor, the iQOO 11.

iQOO Z6 Lite to be world’s first Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 device

It was only a few days back when Qualcomm introduced the world to its latest midrange processors which aim at bringing more power to the budget segment smartphone market. The company had announced its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and 4 Gen 1 processors recently, and now, it is revealed that iQOO Z6 Lite will be the first phone housing the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. While the device is set to launch on September 14th, here is everything we know about the upcoming iQOO Z6 Lite:

iQOO Z6 Lite specs & features

iQOO recently revealed the full design and a few key specifications of the Z6 Lite ahead of its launch. The midrange device will feature a water drop-style notch display having a fast 120Hz refresh rate. While the exact specifications of the camera setup are unknown, the device will feature a rectangular camera bump having a dual setup, as per the images released by the company. It is rumoured that the device could feature a 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor.
The iQOO Z6 Lite is all set to rock the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor. It has an octa-core CPU having a maximum clock frequency of 2 GHz and 5G capabilities. iQOO recently revealed that it achieved a score of 388,486 points in AnTuTu’s benchmark tests. The gaming and camera specifications of the device are expected to be revealed by the company in the coming days leading up to the launch.

Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 Mobile Platform

This will be the first 6nm 4-series processor launched by the company which claims the new gen midrange chip offers 15 per cent improved CPU performance. Users will be able to capture photos up to 108MP which makes it the best in the 4-series. The chipset also features AI capabilities which enable users to get support with the always-on voice assistants and communicate clearly with echo/background noise reduction.

iQOO Z6 Pro 5G will launch in India on 27th April

Vivo’s sub-brand iQOO is set to launch the iQOO Z6 Pro 5G in India on the 27th April. The company confirmed the date of launch through a tweet. iQOO Z6 Pro 5G will be India’s fastest 5G smartphone, the company said. Here are further details of the smartphone.

Body and Display

IQOO Z6 Pro, a 5G phone, is predicted to sport an OLED display with a refresh rate of 90Hz. The new smartphone will provide a peak brightness of 1,300 nits and feature 32923mm Flagship VC liquid cooling tech.

Processor

It is predicted to be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor, which is also used in iQOO Z5.

Battery

IQOO Z6 Pro 5G is expected to be supported by 66W fast charging that can fully charge your phone in 40 minutes. The phone will come with a Type-C charging port.

Camera

For the cameras, the phone could include a triple rear camera setup with a 64MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide lens, and an 8MP macro lens. 

Price and Availability

iQOO Z6 Pro 5G is expected to fall under the 25k budget segment in India. Further suggesting will target gamers looking for a mid-range budget and better performance. After the launch on the 27th April, customers can purchase the smartphone from the official website of iQOO and Amazon.

The company has also confirmed that the iQOO Z6 Pro 5G has managed an overall AnTuTu score that surpasses 550K, the highest in the phone’s target segment.

iQOO 9 gets a new colour-changing “Phoenix Orange” variant in India

iQOO’s latest launch, the iQOO 9 series is one of the most awaited flagship series’ in recent times, which includes 3-smartphones – iQOO 9 Pro, iQOO 9 and iQOO SE. We recently reviewed the iQOO 9 – BMW Motorsport Edition, it was one of the most stunning smartphones we reviewed recently, of course after the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

When iQOO launched iQOO 9 in India, it was available in two colours – Legend and Alpha. Yesterday, the company launched a third colour variant of the smartphone in India, dubbed Phoenix Orange. The newly introduced Phoenix colour comes with colour-changing technology, making it stand apart from the previously launched colours.

In India, we’ve already seen smartphones with colour-changing technology with the likes of the Realme 9 Pro, Realme 9 Pro+, Vivo V23 5G, and Vivo V23 Pro. The iQOO 9 Phoenix coloured variant marks the fifth smartphone in India that arrives with colour-changing technology. The new variant changes to orange colour when exposed to sunlight or other artificial UV light sources.

As per the iQOO, “The new vibrant colour of iQOO 9 is produced by a geometric craft on Frosty AG Glass. It changes colour when exposed to sunlight and other sources of artificial UV rays and transforms into different colours. The UV Rays of Sunshine changes the internal structure of glass molecules resulting in changing the existing colour to Phoenix (Orange) colour variant.”

Apart from the new colour, everything else remains the same between the new and previously launched iQOO 9 smartphones, including the price tag. The smartphone has a 6.56″ punch-hole AMOLED display, and it is powered by a Snapdragon 888+ chipset. The base model of iQOO 9 with 8GB RAM + 128GB(5G) storage is available at ₹42,990, while the 12GB+256GB(5G) variant will cost you ₹46,990.

Review – iQOO 9 – BMW Motorsport Edition

iQOO is a newbie in the world of smartphones, but in just 3-years, the company managed to grab millions of eyes and thousands of customers. Their latest launch, the iQOO 9 series is one of the most awaited flagship series’ in recent times which includes 3-smartphones – iQOO 9 Pro, iQOO 9 and iQOO SE. The one we received for the review was an iQOO 9 – BMW Motorsport Edition, and this is the first iQOO phone I ever used as a primary device. Let me tell you one crucial forte upfront, the iQOO 9 series’ launched in China, and the one launched in India is altogether a separate series of phones in many aspects. 

First Impressions

Let’s begin with the packing – the company has made sure to come up with an innovative packing to grab your attention. The box contains a device, a 120W charger, a few other necessary things and yes, a 3.5-mm adapter. The smartphone looks stunning at first sight, and you couldn’t stop yourself from saying, “Wow!”

Design & Display

The phone looks premium, and the one thing that makes you go weak at the knees is its design, particularly the camera module and the rear side that features BMW’s tri-colour stripes. A single look at the iQOO 9, and you would say, oh, finally, somebody’s working on the design and appearance. The smartphone has a 6.56″ punch-hole AMOLED display in the front and is coated with matt gorilla glass at the back, not prone to fingerprints. The iQOO 9 Pro and iQOO 9 have almost similar-looking BMW stripes on the back, but if you look closer, the iQOO 9 Pro has a slightly different shade of white, making it more attractive. The power button brings an absolute charm to the phone as it has a blue-coloured tone. The phone is not massive and can fit into average-sized hands. About the display, it has a pixel density of 398ppi, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and it supports HDR in the Netflix app, which is like a cherry on the top moment.

Chipset & Performance

iQOO has been known to manufacture powerful smartphones such as iQOO Z3, iQOO Z5, iQOO 7, and 7 Legend, but the iQOO 9 series is on another level when it comes to performance. The smartphone runs on a Snapdragon 888+ chip and directly competes with the OnePlus 9 RT. The unit we had for a review was loaded with 12GB RAM and up to 256GB storage.

Camera

The iQOO 9 sports a triple camera set-up – a 48 MP primary camera with f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS and 13 MP telephoto camera with f/2.5, 50mm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom. While the third one is a 13 MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ and 16 MP selfie camera, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1″, 1.0µm with support for 1080p@30fps. 

Gaming & Battery

The smartphone scores 851,613* on AnTuTu but still offers average gaming performance. One can’t play Marvel Future Revolution fluently on this smartphone due to the frame drop issue, but one can have a little fun on low graphics. In the case of Asphalt 9, it runs well and doesn’t cause any trouble. iQOO has claimed the charger will take only 18 minutes and a few other necessary items. Maybe that’s one of the reasons BMW teamed up with the iQOO.

Verdict

Being the first flagship smartphone from iQOO, we were expecting a lot, but iQOO 9 disappoints us with many elements. The smartphone is priced at ₹42,990 and packs a lot of features, especially when you’re taking a look at the other smartphones from BBK electronics. At first, iQOO seems like a decent and premium smartphone, but you’ll encounter a few troubles on the way. At this price range, other smartphones are available that offer very classy features.

IQOO Z5 Tale of Hits And Misses!

I have been using the IQOO Z5 for two weeks, and never during this time period have I thought of switching it for some other smartphone. Since I am starting my review with this pitch, you must be aware of what’s coming ahead. But wait, it’s not all black and white with this one. IQZOO Z5 is going to be a roller coaster ride!

The 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM variants of this smartphone cost Rs 23,999, whereas the 12GB and 256GB variants will cost you Rs 26,990. There are also a few deals running on the smartphone that can save you a thousand bucks or two. 

When I first looked at the smartphone, I thought it had a glass finish at the back, but to my surprise, the IQOO Z5 has a matte finish with a bit of texture. The smartphone has got a premium feel to it with that gradient design and squarish camera. What I liked about Z5 is that it has an excellent weight distribution since it doesn’t feel too heavy in hand, irrespective of the fact that it weighs about 195 grams. 

IQOO Z5 comes in two colors; Mystic Space and Arctic Dawn. On the right-hand side of the smartphone, we have a volume rocker and a power on/off button. It has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that works flawlessly. On the top, we have a headphone jack and a secondary microphone for noise cancellation. At the bottom, we have stereo speakers, which go missing on a lot of premium smartphones. 

IQOO Z5 has a 6.67-inch screen and has an IPS LCD instead of an AMOLED display, which instantly snatches away the appeal at some levels. The smartphone has a 120 Hz refresh rate and runs on Android 11, primarily on FunTouch OS version 12. It is powered by the Snapdragon 778G processor. Also, instead of the LPDDR4 RAM, which is most commonly used in smartphones of this range, Z5 uses the expensive and much more power-efficient LPDDR5 RAM, which is why one cannot complain about the performance of this smartphone. 

IQOO Z5 uses liquid cooling technology, further reducing the chances of overheating while playing heavy games. I was switching between Call of Duty and Injustice, both highly graphical, constantly between hours, and did not face any performance or overheating issues. 

Z5 is backed up with a 5000 mAh battery, and with the Snapdragon 778 chipset, the device becomes quite power-efficient. You also get a 44W fast charger along with a smartphone that can charge the device fully in about an hour. 

Now coming to the most crucial part, the camera functionality, that more or less makes the smartphone lead either from the front or from the back in this hyper-competitive market. The smartphone packs a triple camera setup, with the latest 64MP Samsung GW3 Sensor, 8MP wide-angle, and a 2MP Macro Camera. In the normal lighting conditions, I clicked some pretty good pictures. 

The primary and the ultra-wide cameras captured colors and skin tones quite well, if not perfectly. On the front, there’s a 16MP punch-hole camera that captures selfies well under normal lighting conditions. Interestingly, the Z5 smartphone offers a camera feature where you can operate both front and rear cameras simultaneously. There are also various modes in which you can click photographs or record videos. In artificial lighting, the device captured some pretty good pictures with natural skin tones. 

Honestly, it’s not the best out there but works quite well for the price. If you are all about ‘Made in India’ stuff, you can grab the deal with no regrets. 

IQOO 3 – Review | Awesome Smartphone

IQOO is a new brand in India and the company has already launched its IQOO 3 smartphone which also comes in a 5G variant. But is the performance worth the money? We find out.

Build and Design

The IQOO 3 is a premium offering from the brand and it is evident as soon as you pick the device up. Smooth finished front and back held together by a metal frame. It comes in three different colours  Volcano Orange, Tornado Black, and Quantum Silver.

The one we tested is the Tornado Black colour option which has a pattern to it on the back when you try viewing it from an angle. On the right, you have the volume rocker and the power button which comes in orange and bears a texture on it while the left side gets a button which can directly summon the Google assistant.

Not only this, but two pressure-sensitive shoulder buttons are also present on the right side which you can use for gaming. The bottom features the speaker grille and USB-C type charging port along with the microphone and the top has the headphone jack and a microphone.

Coming to the display, it is a 6.44-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with support for HDR10+ and 2.5D curved glass. There is no notch on the display and the front-facing camera peeps through a hole which is punched on the display.

The display is bright and IQOO 3 claims an average brightness of 800 nits and up to 1200 nits when the brightness is at the maximum setting. The only downer is the 60Hz refresh rate of the display which could have been better.  The phone is slightly thicker and heavier when compared to other flagship models but it boasts a good overall design and build quality that we look for when buying a phone. 

Performance of IQOO 3

Now coming to the hardware, it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Octa-core processor paired with 12GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage in the 5G variant of the phone. The processor is clocked at 2.84 GHz and an Adreno 650 GPU which handles intensive graphics. Moreover, the UFS 3.1 storage provides with fast loading times for applications and games.

The IQOO 3 also comes with an Ultra Game Mode which offers a game space which allows users to block calls and notifications and allowing higher resource allocation when gaming.

For cooling, the IQOO 3 features a Carbon Fibre VC Liquid Cooling system to keep the temperatures in check. With all that hardware, the phone draws power from a 4440 mAH battery. To keep things fast, the IQOO 3 is supplied with a 55 W charger out of the box which charges the phone from zero to hundred percent in under 40 minutes. 

In the camera department, the IQOO 3 gets an AI quad-camera setup with a 48-megapixel main sensor, 13-megapixel super-wide-angle, 13-megapixel telephoto and a 2-megapixel depth camera.

The front gets a 16-megapixel selfie snapper. Image quality from the cameras is quite commendable with punchy colours, sharpness and details. However, low-light performance could have been better. Images from the front camera also exhibit a great level of detail.

Verdict

Performance of the device is pretty amazing with fast loading time, no lags, hang or stutters even during heavy multitasking or long gaming sessions. While we still cannot comment on the 5G speeds, internet connectivity and speeds have never been a problem. The IQOO 3 comes with a great display, great hardware and promised good battery life. Price – Rs, 44,990/-

Specifications:

  • 6.44-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Display
  • Snapdragon 865 Processor
  • 8/128GB, 12/256 GB 5G variant
  • 4440 mAh Battery
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