iQOO 9 vs OnePlus 10 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance, Charging, and Value

The vivo iQOO 9 and OnePlus 10 Pro represent compelling options in the flagship Android space, but cater to slightly different priorities. The iQOO 9 aggressively prioritizes charging speed and offers a strong performance profile at a potentially lower price point, while the OnePlus 10 Pro aims for a more refined, all-around experience with its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and Hasselblad-tuned camera system. This comparison will dissect the key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing blazing-fast charging and a strong price-to-performance ratio, the iQOO 9 is the clear winner. However, the OnePlus 10 Pro’s more advanced chipset and potentially superior camera processing make it a better choice for those willing to pay a premium for a more polished experience.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 9 OnePlus 10 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2022, February 232022, January 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 02Available. Released 2022, January 13
Body
BuildGlass front (Panda Glass), aluminum frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.1 x 75.1 x 8.6 or 8.7 mm163 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight200 g / 202 g (7.05 oz)201 g (7.09 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantIP68 dust/water resistant - T-Mobile only (not for use underwater, liquid damage is not covered under warranty)
Display
ProtectionPanda GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)LTPO2 Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
 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 (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Funtouch 12Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 (International), ColorOS (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB 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, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Triple-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, 150˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm
Video4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-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 (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB 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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 6 min, 100% in 18 min80W wired, PD, 100% in 32 min (International) 65W wired, PD, 58% in 15 min (North America) 50W wireless Reverse wireless
Type4350 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsLegend, Alpha, Phoenix OrangeVolcanic Black, Emerald Forest, Panda White (Extreme Edition)
Models-NE2210, NE2211, NE2213, NE2215, NE2217
PriceAbout 510 EUR$ 264.39 / C$ 349.99 / £ 360.00 / € 399.99
SAR-1.16 W/kg (head)     0.70 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 105h Endurance rating 107h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.5 LUFS (Very good) -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 745168 (v8), 852898 (v9) GeekBench: 3503 (v5.1) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 886248 (v9) GeekBench: 3447 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO 9

  • Incredibly fast 120W charging
  • Strong performance with Snapdragon 888+
  • Potentially more affordable price point

  • Older Snapdragon chipset
  • Lacks wireless charging

OnePlus 10 Pro

  • Newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Potentially superior camera image processing

  • Slower wired charging (especially in North America)
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

Both the iQOO 9 and OnePlus 10 Pro feature displays with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. However, the OnePlus 10 Pro edges out the iQOO 9 in peak brightness, reaching 780 nits compared to the iQOO 9’s 749 nits. While the difference isn’t massive, it translates to slightly better visibility in direct sunlight. Neither manufacturer specifies refresh rate or PWM dimming rates, but both are expected to offer high refresh rates for smooth scrolling and gaming. The OnePlus 10 Pro’s larger display size (not specified in data, but known from market data) may appeal to users who consume a lot of media.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Given OnePlus’s partnership with Hasselblad, the 10 Pro likely benefits from more sophisticated image processing algorithms, focusing on color accuracy and dynamic range. The iQOO 9, while capable, likely relies more on Qualcomm’s ISP. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the OnePlus 10 Pro’s brand positioning suggests a greater emphasis on camera quality. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is expected on both, but not confirmed by the provided data.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The iQOO 9 utilizes the Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm), while the OnePlus 10 Pro boasts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm). The 4nm process of the Gen 1 offers improved power efficiency and thermal performance compared to the 5nm 888+. While the iQOO 9’s Cortex-X1 core clocks slightly higher at 2.99 GHz versus the OnePlus 10 Pro’s 3.00 GHz Cortex-X2, the architectural improvements in the Gen 1, particularly the newer Cortex-A710 cores, provide a noticeable performance uplift in sustained workloads. Both phones feature octa-core CPUs, but the OnePlus 10 Pro’s newer architecture will likely result in better multitasking and gaming performance over extended periods.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve similar endurance ratings – 105 hours for the iQOO 9 and 107 hours for the OnePlus 10 Pro – suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite the iQOO 9’s potentially smaller battery capacity (not specified). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The iQOO 9’s 120W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 50% charge in just 6 minutes and a full charge in 18 minutes. The OnePlus 10 Pro’s 80W wired charging (International) takes 32 minutes for a full charge, while the North American version is even slower at 65W. The OnePlus 10 Pro also adds 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the iQOO 9.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 9 if you absolutely need the fastest charging available – 120W fully charges the phone in just 18 minutes – and value raw performance for gaming and demanding tasks. Buy the OnePlus 10 Pro if you prioritize a more refined software experience, potentially better camera image processing, and the benefits of the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform, including improved efficiency and wireless charging capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the OnePlus 10 Pro suffer from overheating issues?
Early reports indicated some thermal throttling with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but OnePlus has implemented optimizations in software updates to mitigate this. The 4nm process is inherently more efficient than the 5nm in the iQOO 9’s Snapdragon 888+, suggesting better sustained performance under heavy load, but real-world results will vary based on usage and ambient temperature.
❓ How does the 120W charging of the iQOO 9 affect battery health over the long term?
While extremely fast charging can theoretically accelerate battery degradation, vivo employs charging algorithms designed to minimize this effect. The iQOO 9’s charging system dynamically adjusts voltage and current to protect the battery. However, long-term battery health will inevitably be impacted by any charging method, and users should consider optimizing charging habits (avoiding 100% charges frequently) to maximize battery lifespan.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between the International and North American OnePlus 10 Pro models significant?
Yes, the difference is substantial. The International model supports 80W charging, achieving a full charge in 32 minutes, while the North American version is limited to 65W, taking considerably longer. This is due to differing power standards and regulations in North America.