vivo iQOO 9 vs iQOO 9T: The Ultimate Showdown

The vivo iQOO series is known for delivering high-performance smartphones at competitive prices, and the iQOO 9 and iQOO 9T are prime examples. Both offer blazing-fast charging and powerful processors, but which one truly comes out on top? This detailed comparison will help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iQOO 9T edges out the iQOO 9 thanks to its newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, brighter display, and slightly improved battery endurance. However, the iQOO 9 remains a compelling option, especially if you can find it at a lower price.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 9 vivo iQOO 9T
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2022, February 232022, August 02
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 02Available. Released 2022, August 02
Body
BuildGlass front (Panda Glass), aluminum frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions159.1 x 75.1 x 8.6 or 8.7 mm165 x 77 x 8 mm (6.50 x 3.03 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight200 g / 202 g (7.05 oz)206 g (7.27 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantDust and dripping water resistant
Display
ProtectionPanda GlassCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)
 Monster Touch support-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Funtouch 12Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 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, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, (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), AF
Video4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
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, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, 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
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 6 min, 100% in 18 min120W wired, 50% in 8 min, 100% in 19 min
Type4350 mAh4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsLegend, Alpha, Phoenix OrangeAlpha, Legend (BMW M branding)
PriceAbout 510 EURAbout 600 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 105h Endurance rating 117h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.5 LUFS (Very good) -28.8 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 745168 (v8), 852898 (v9) GeekBench: 3503 (v5.1) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

vivo iQOO 9

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Excellent performance for the price
  • Smooth 120Hz display
  • Good camera system

  • Display not as bright as the 9T
  • Older chipset compared to the 9T

vivo iQOO 9T

  • Even faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
  • Slightly improved battery life
  • Fast 120W charging

  • Potentially higher price
  • Camera performance likely similar to the iQOO 9

Display Comparison

The iQOO 9T boasts a significantly brighter display at 1033 nits peak brightness compared to the iQOO 9's 749 nits. Both feature excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal), but the increased brightness of the 9T makes it noticeably better for outdoor use and HDR content. Both likely use AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates for smooth visuals.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature similar camera setups, likely including a primary wide-angle lens, an ultrawide lens, and a telephoto lens (specifications are missing, but this is typical for the series). Image quality is expected to be comparable, with both capable of capturing detailed photos and videos. Low-light performance should be decent, but the 9T's more powerful processor might offer slightly better image processing.

Performance

The iQOO 9T's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a substantial upgrade over the iQOO 9's Snapdragon 888+. The 8+ Gen 1 offers improved CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother gameplay and faster app loading times. While both phones handle demanding tasks with ease, the 9T provides a more future-proofed experience.

Battery Life

The iQOO 9T demonstrates a slight advantage in battery endurance, achieving an 117h rating compared to the iQOO 9's 105h. Both phones support 120W wired charging, allowing for incredibly fast charging speeds (50% in around 6-8 minutes and 100% in 18-19 minutes). However, the 9T's slightly larger battery capacity contributes to its longer endurance.

Buying Guide

The vivo iQOO 9 is ideal for gamers and power users seeking excellent performance and incredibly fast charging without breaking the bank. The iQOO 9T is the better choice for those prioritizing the absolute best performance, a brighter screen for outdoor visibility, and a bit more battery life, willing to pay a slight premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the iQOO 9T worth the upgrade?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers a noticeable performance boost over the Snapdragon 888+, resulting in smoother gaming and faster overall performance. It's also more power-efficient.
❓ How fast is the charging on these phones?
Both the iQOO 9 and iQOO 9T support 120W wired charging, allowing you to charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 18-19 minutes. This is incredibly fast charging.