iQOO 8 vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Charging

The vivo iQOO 8 and OnePlus 9 Pro represent two approaches to the flagship Android experience. The iQOO 8 aggressively prioritizes charging speed and raw performance, while the OnePlus 9 Pro aims for a more balanced package with a refined camera system and longer-term battery endurance. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing blazing-fast charging and peak performance, the iQOO 8 is the clear winner. Its 120W charging dwarfs the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W, and while both share the Snapdragon 888, the iQOO’s focus on cooling suggests better sustained performance. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a more polished software experience and a potentially more versatile camera.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 8 OnePlus 9 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 281, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 5, 8, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN
Launch
Announced2021, August 172021, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 24Available. Released 2021, March 30
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions159 x 75.1 x 8.6 mm (6.26 x 2.96 x 0.34 in)163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight200 g (7.05 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, OriginOS 1.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-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)
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless
Type4350 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsWhite, Orange, BlackMorning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black
ModelsV2136ALE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127
PriceAbout 500 EUR€ 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 86h
Camera- Photo / Video
Loudspeaker- -24.1 LUFS (Very good)

vivo iQOO 8

  • Industry-leading 120W wired charging
  • Potentially better sustained performance due to cooling
  • Aggressive focus on raw power

  • Missing details on camera specifications
  • No wireless or reverse wireless charging

OnePlus 9 Pro

  • Balanced feature set with strong camera and display
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Refined software experience

  • Slower charging speed compared to iQOO 8
  • Snapdragon 888 can be prone to throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

Both the iQOO 8 and OnePlus 9 Pro utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, meaning core performance will be very similar. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight. While panel technology details for the iQOO 8 are missing, OnePlus’s display is likely LTPO, enabling variable refresh rates for improved efficiency. Bezels are expected to be comparable, but color accuracy will depend on calibration profiles, a detail not provided in the source data.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the source data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both. The OnePlus 9 Pro, benefiting from Hasselblad’s color science, is likely to offer a more refined and consistent image processing style. Sensor size and lens apertures are crucial details missing from the iQOO 8’s specifications. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system is known for its versatility, including strong video recording capabilities. Without specific details on the iQOO 8’s camera hardware, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison beyond acknowledging both are flagship-level systems.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) with an identical CPU configuration – a Cortex-X1 prime core, three A78 performance cores, and four A55 efficiency cores. This means CPU-bound tasks will perform similarly. The key differentiator lies in thermal management. While not explicitly stated, iQOO’s branding often emphasizes gaming performance, suggesting a more robust cooling solution to mitigate the Snapdragon 888’s known throttling tendencies. RAM speed (likely LPDDR5) is also expected to be comparable, but the iQOO 8’s focus on performance could translate to more aggressive memory management.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 9 Pro has an endurance rating of 86 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the iQOO 8’s defining feature is its 120W wired charging, capable of fully charging the battery significantly faster than the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W (29 minutes). The OnePlus 9 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging (43 minutes) and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent from the iQOO 8’s specifications. While the iQOO 8’s battery capacity is unknown, the faster charging speed effectively mitigates concerns about a potentially smaller battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 8 if you need the absolute fastest charging available, frequently game on your phone, and prioritize raw processing power. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prefer a more refined software experience, value a well-rounded camera system with strong video capabilities, and appreciate the convenience of wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much faster is the iQOO 8's 120W charging in real-world use compared to the OnePlus 9 Pro's 65W?
While the OnePlus 9 Pro reaches 100% in 29 minutes, the iQOO 8's 120W charging can potentially add several hours of usage with just a 5-10 minute charge. This is a significant advantage for users who frequently need a quick power boost.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in either phone overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate heat under sustained load. While both phones share the same chipset, the iQOO 8's potential for a more robust cooling system may mitigate throttling better than the OnePlus 9 Pro, leading to more consistent frame rates during long gaming sessions.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the iQOO 8 a significant drawback?
For users who rely on wireless charging convenience, the iQOO 8's omission is a notable downside. However, the incredibly fast wired charging largely compensates for this, as topping up the battery is significantly quicker.