iQOO 7 vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value and blazing-fast charging, the iQOO 7 emerges as the winner. Its 120W charging (in China, 66W internationally) significantly outperforms the OnePlus 9 Pro's 65W wired and 50W wireless options. While the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a more polished camera system, the iQOO 7 delivers comparable performance at a lower cost.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo iQOO 7 | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - India | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, January 11 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, January 15 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.2 x 75.8 x 8.7 mm (6.39 x 2.98 x 0.34 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 209.5 g (7.41 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels (~394 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.62 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, Funtouch 11.1 (International), OriginOS 1.0 (China) | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min (China) 66W wired (International) | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue, White, Legend | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | V2049A, I2009 | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 480 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
vivo iQOO 7
- Incredibly fast charging (120W/66W)
- Excellent performance with Snapdragon 888
- Competitive price point
- Camera system likely less advanced than OnePlus 9 Pro
- International version has slower charging (66W)
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Versatile and high-quality camera system
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Refined software experience
- Slower charging speeds compared to iQOO 7
- Higher price tag
Display Comparison
Both the iQOO 7 and OnePlus 9 Pro utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, meaning display differences become crucial. The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, suggesting a more visible screen outdoors. While the iQOO 7’s display specs aren’t provided, iQOO typically focuses on high refresh rates, and the OnePlus 9 Pro’s LTPO technology allows for dynamic refresh rate scaling (1-120Hz) for improved efficiency. This is a key advantage for the OnePlus 9 Pro, potentially extending battery life during less demanding tasks.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro distinguishes itself with a more comprehensive camera system, though specific details are limited to 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Hasselblad partnership and larger sensor sizes (not specified here, but known from other reviews) likely translate to superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The iQOO 7, while capable, likely focuses on delivering solid, reliable images rather than pushing the boundaries of mobile photography. The absence of detailed camera specs for the iQOO 7 suggests it doesn’t aim to compete directly with the OnePlus 9 Pro in this area.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) with the same CPU configuration – an octa-core setup featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core, three Cortex-A78 performance cores, and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. This means raw processing power will be nearly identical. However, the iQOO 7’s focus on performance suggests potentially more aggressive thermal management settings, potentially leading to sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. The OnePlus 9 Pro, while equally powerful, may prioritize thermal stability over peak performance.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 9 Pro has an endurance rating of 86 hours, indicating respectable battery life. However, the iQOO 7’s charging capabilities are the standout feature. The Chinese variant supports 120W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 15 minutes, while the international version offers 66W charging. In contrast, the OnePlus 9 Pro takes 29 minutes for a full 65W wired charge and 43 minutes for 50W wireless charging. This charging speed difference is substantial and caters to users who prioritize minimizing downtime. The OnePlus 9 Pro also offers 5W reverse wireless charging, a feature absent from the iQOO 7’s provided specs.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO 7 if you are a power user who frequently games, streams video, or simply hates waiting for your phone to charge. Its 120W charging is a game-changer, and the Snapdragon 888 provides ample performance. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize a versatile camera system with advanced features, wireless charging convenience, and a more established software ecosystem, and are willing to pay a premium for those benefits.