iQOO 9 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance, Camera, and Charging

The vivo iQOO 9 and Google Pixel 6 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the flagship Android space. The iQOO 9 aggressively targets gamers and power users with its Snapdragon 888+ and 120W charging, while the Pixel 6 Pro focuses on Google’s Tensor chip, computational photography, and a refined software experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and incredibly fast charging, the iQOO 9 is the clear winner. However, the Pixel 6 Pro’s superior camera system, unique software features powered by the Tensor chip, and longer software support make it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 9 Google Pixel 6 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG
Launch
Announced2022, February 232021, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 02Available. Released 2021, October 28
Body
BuildGlass front (Panda Glass), aluminum frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.1 x 75.1 x 8.6 or 8.7 mm163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight200 g / 202 g (7.05 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionPanda GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 Monster Touch supportAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 12, Funtouch 12Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 6 min, 100% in 18 min23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
Type4350 mAhLi-Ion 5003 mAh
Misc
ColorsLegend, Alpha, Phoenix OrangeCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
Models-GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 510 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 105h Endurance rating 84h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.5 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 745168 (v8), 852898 (v9) GeekBench: 3503 (v5.1) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO 9

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 888+ processor
  • Potentially longer battery life (105h endurance)

  • Lower peak display brightness
  • Camera likely less sophisticated than Pixel 6 Pro

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Superior camera system with Google’s computational photography
  • Google Tensor chip for AI and machine learning features
  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility

  • Significantly slower charging speeds
  • Shorter battery life (84h endurance)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature displays with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. However, the Pixel 6 Pro boasts a significantly brighter panel at 846 nits measured, compared to the iQOO 9’s 749 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight for the Pixel 6 Pro. While both offer excellent viewing experiences, the Pixel 6 Pro’s higher peak brightness provides a tangible advantage in outdoor scenarios. Neither specification details refresh rate, but both are expected to have high refresh rate panels.

Camera Comparison

The context data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both. However, the Pixel 6 Pro is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging the Tensor chip for features like Real Tone and Magic Eraser. The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is likely to have a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The iQOO 9, while capable, likely focuses on delivering vibrant, social media-ready images. Without specific sensor details, the Pixel 6 Pro is expected to have a more versatile and higher-quality camera system.

Performance

The iQOO 9 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-X1 core clocked at 2.99 GHz. The Pixel 6 Pro utilizes Google’s in-house Tensor chip (5nm) with a slightly different core configuration: 2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1, 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55. While both chips are 5nm, the Snapdragon 888+ is known for its strong sustained performance, particularly in gaming, due to its mature optimization. The Tensor chip excels in AI and machine learning tasks, powering features like Magic Eraser and improved voice recognition. The iQOO 9’s focus is on brute force, while the Pixel 6 Pro prioritizes intelligent processing.

Battery Life

The iQOO 9 has an endurance rating of 105 hours, while the Pixel 6 Pro manages 84 hours. This suggests the iQOO 9 offers better battery life, despite having a potentially smaller battery capacity (not specified). However, the iQOO 9’s true advantage lies in its 120W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 6 minutes and 100% in 18 minutes. The Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired charging (and 23W wireless) is significantly slower, taking 30 minutes to reach 50%. The iQOO 9’s charging speed is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 9 if you need a phone optimized for demanding mobile games, require the fastest possible charging speeds, and prioritize raw processing power. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prefer a best-in-class camera experience, value Google’s AI-powered features, and desire a clean, consistently updated Android experience with long-term software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888+ in the iQOO 9 suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 888+ is a powerful chip, it's known to generate heat under sustained load. The iQOO 9 likely incorporates cooling solutions to mitigate throttling, but prolonged, demanding gaming may still result in some performance reduction. The effectiveness of these cooling solutions isn't specified in the provided data.
❓ How does the Google Tensor chip's AI capabilities translate into real-world benefits for Pixel 6 Pro users beyond camera features?
The Google Tensor chip enhances several aspects of the Pixel 6 Pro experience. This includes faster and more accurate voice typing, improved speech recognition for Google Assistant, and enhanced translation capabilities. It also powers features like Live Translate, allowing for real-time translation of conversations.
❓ Is the 23W charging speed on the Pixel 6 Pro sufficient for daily use, or is it a significant drawback compared to the iQOO 9?
23W charging is relatively slow compared to the iQOO 9’s 120W. While sufficient for overnight charging, it’s a significant drawback for users who need to quickly top up their battery during the day. The iQOO 9’s charging speed is a major convenience factor.