vivo iQOO 9 vs Xiaomi Redmi K50 Pro: Which Flagship Delivers More Power?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and potentially better thermal management, the Xiaomi Redmi K50 Pro edges out the iQOO 9. The Dimensity 9000’s architecture, coupled with comparable charging speeds, offers a more balanced experience, especially during extended gaming sessions.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo iQOO 9 (China) | Xiaomi Redmi K50 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | CDMA2000 1x | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, January 05 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, January 12 | Available. Released 2022, March 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back |
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 76.7 x 8.4 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) | 163.1 x 76.2 x 8.5 mm (6.42 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 201 g (7.09 oz) |
| - | IP53, dust and splash resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 1500 nits (peak) | OLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Mali-G710 MC10 |
| OS | Android 12, OriginOS Ocean | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 20 MP, (wide) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) | 108 MP, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 20 MP, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30/120fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 19 min 10W reverse wireless | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 19 min |
| Type | 4700 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White (BMW M branding), Orange, Black | Black, Gray, Blue, Green |
| Models | V2171A | 22021211RC, 22011211C |
| Price | About 560 EUR | About 410 EUR |
vivo iQOO 9 (China)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers peak performance.
- 120W wired charging for incredibly fast top-ups.
- Potential for strong software optimization from vivo.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is prone to thermal throttling.
- May require aggressive cooling solutions for sustained performance.
Xiaomi Redmi K50 Pro
- MediaTek Dimensity 9000 offers excellent sustained performance.
- Superior thermal efficiency compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
- 120W wired charging matches the iQOO 9's speed.
- May not achieve the absolute peak performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in short bursts.
- Software optimization may not be as aggressive as vivo.
Display Comparison
While both phones are expected to feature high-refresh-rate AMOLED displays (specs not provided), the core difference lies beneath the surface. The chipset’s display engine impacts panel responsiveness and power efficiency. Without specific display specs, it’s difficult to declare a winner, but the Dimensity 9000’s integrated display engine is known for its efficiency. The iQOO 9’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 will rely more heavily on software optimization for similar results.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs are absent, making a direct comparison challenging. However, both brands typically prioritize strong camera performance in their flagship models. The iQOO 9 and Redmi K50 Pro are likely to feature similar main sensor resolutions and optical image stabilization (OIS). The image processing style will be the key differentiator – vivo often leans towards vibrant, saturated colors, while Xiaomi tends towards a more natural look. Without sensor size or aperture data, it’s impossible to definitively declare a camera winner.
Performance
The heart of the matter: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the iQOO 9 versus the Dimensity 9000 in the Redmi K50 Pro. Both are 4nm chips, but their architectures differ. The Redmi K50 Pro’s Dimensity 9000 boasts a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed (3.05 GHz vs 3.00 GHz) on its Cortex-X2 core, and more significantly, higher clock speeds on its Cortex-A710 cores (2.85 GHz vs 2.50 GHz). This translates to potentially faster multi-core performance. Crucially, the Dimensity 9000 is widely regarded as having superior thermal efficiency, mitigating throttling under sustained load – a common issue with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Both utilize LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring ample memory bandwidth.
Battery Life
Both the iQOO 9 and Redmi K50 Pro feature 120W wired charging, achieving a full charge in a claimed 19 minutes. This rapid charging is a significant benefit for both devices, minimizing downtime. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Dimensity 9000’s superior power efficiency could translate to slightly longer real-world battery life for the Redmi K50 Pro, even with a similar capacity battery. Both also offer 10W reverse wireless charging, a convenient feature for topping up accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO 9 (China) if you specifically need the Qualcomm ecosystem and are comfortable potentially managing thermal throttling with aggressive cooling. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K50 Pro if you prioritize sustained performance, a potentially more efficient chipset, and a slightly more refined overall experience, particularly for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.