Both the vivo iQOO Neo 855 and the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro represent a sweet spot in the smartphone market – powerful performance from the Snapdragon 855 at a relatively affordable price. Released around the same time, they cater to users seeking flagship-level capabilities without the flagship price tag. This comparison dissects their differences, focusing on charging, battery endurance, and how those impact the user experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing faster charging and potentially slightly better sustained performance, the iQOO Neo 855 emerges as the winner. Its 33W charging significantly reduces downtime compared to the Mi 9T Pro’s 27W, and while battery life is similar, the faster top-up is a key advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, October. Released 2019, October | 2019, August 21. Released 2019, August 21 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.5 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) | 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198.5 g (7.02 oz) | 191 g (6.74 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~404 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.38 inches, 99.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR10 | Super AMOLED, HDR |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | 64GB 6GB RAM (UFS 2.1), all others (UFS 3.0) | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 32-bit/192kHz audio
| 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 27W wired, QC4 |
| Type | 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Purple, Aurora White, Black | Carbon black, Red flame, Glacier blue |
| Models | V1936A, V1936T | M1903F11G |
| Price | About 260 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.03 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.30 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 103h |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 368846 (v7), 437823 (v8)
GeekBench: 10684 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 36fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo iQOO Neo 855
- Faster 33W charging for quicker top-ups
- Potentially better thermal management for sustained gaming
- iQOO brand focus on gaming performance
- Battery capacity not specified
- Camera details are unknown
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
- Excellent 103-hour endurance rating
- Quick Charge 4 compatibility for wider charger support
- Likely more color-accurate display
- Slower 27W charging
- Potential for more thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
Both devices share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting both utilize AMOLED panels, offering excellent blacks and vibrant colors. However, specific details like peak brightness, color gamut coverage, and PWM dimming frequency are missing. Given Xiaomi’s history, the Mi 9T Pro likely features a slightly more color-accurate display, while the iQOO Neo 855 may prioritize higher peak brightness for outdoor visibility. The lack of LTPO technology on either device means refresh rates are likely fixed, impacting power consumption during dynamic content.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specifications are absent, making a direct comparison challenging. However, both phones likely feature a multi-camera setup with a primary sensor, ultrawide, and depth sensor. The image processing style will likely differ – Xiaomi typically leans towards more saturated and vibrant images, while vivo often aims for a more natural look. Without knowing sensor sizes and apertures, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the primary sensor would be a significant advantage for video recording and reducing blur in low-light photos, but this is unknown for both devices.
Performance
At the heart of both phones lies the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) chipset, featuring an identical CPU configuration: an octa-core setup with 1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, and 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 cores. This ensures comparable raw processing power for tasks like gaming and video editing. However, thermal management is where differences may emerge. The iQOO brand often focuses on gaming performance, suggesting potentially more aggressive cooling solutions within the Neo 855, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. RAM configurations are not specified, but both likely offer options up to 8GB or 12GB, impacting multitasking capabilities.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating excellent battery life under typical usage. The iQOO Neo 855’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 33W wired charging significantly outpaces the Mi 9T Pro’s 27W wired charging with QC4 support. This translates to a faster 0-100% charge time for the iQOO Neo 855. While the Mi 9T Pro’s QC4 compatibility offers broader charger support, the iQOO Neo 855’s higher wattage provides a quicker top-up, crucial for users who frequently need to recharge.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO Neo 855 if you need rapid charging and prioritize minimizing downtime, especially if you're a heavy user or gamer. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro if you prefer a phone with a proven 103-hour endurance rating and appreciate Quick Charge 4 compatibility for broader charger support, and are less concerned about the absolute fastest charging speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 855 in either phone struggle with demanding games released in 2024?
While the Snapdragon 855 was a flagship chip, newer games may require reduced graphics settings for smooth gameplay. Both phones should handle most titles at medium settings, but expect some frame drops in the most demanding games. Thermal throttling could also become a factor during extended gaming sessions.
❓ Does the Mi 9T Pro’s Quick Charge 4 compatibility mean I can use any USB-C charger with it?
Quick Charge 4 is backward compatible with older Quick Charge versions and USB Power Delivery (USB-PD). However, to achieve the full 27W charging speed, you’ll need a charger that specifically supports Quick Charge 4. Using a standard USB-C charger will still charge the phone, but at a slower rate.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs a major concern when choosing between these phones?
Yes, it is. Camera performance is highly dependent on sensor size, aperture, and image processing. Without this information, it’s difficult to assess which phone will deliver better photos and videos, especially in low-light conditions. Relying on online sample photos and reviews is crucial.
❓ How important is the faster charging speed of the iQOO Neo 855 in real-world usage?
The 33W charging on the iQOO Neo 855 can significantly reduce downtime, especially for heavy users. A full charge in under an hour is a substantial advantage over the Mi 9T Pro’s slower charging speed, allowing you to quickly get back to using your phone.