vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+ vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: A Deep Dive into Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Flagships

The vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+ and Xiaomi 14 Pro represent the cutting edge of Android performance, both powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This comparison isn’t about raw power – both phones deliver that in spades – but about how each manufacturer leverages the chipset, and where they diverge in features like charging, and potentially, thermal management and software optimization.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing the fastest possible wired charging and a potentially more aggressive price point, the vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+ emerges as the winner. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s addition of 50W wireless charging and potentially more refined software experience make it a compelling alternative for those valuing convenience and a broader feature set.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+	Xiaomi 14 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2024, July 11	2023, October 26
Status	Available. Released 2024, July 16	Available. Released 2023, November 01

Body
Build	-	Glass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions	163.5 x 75.7 x 8 mm or 8.3 mm	161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	193 g or 198 g (6.81 oz)	223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Shatterproof glass
Resolution	1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)	1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size	6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)	6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM)	LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)	Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 750	Adreno 750
OS	Android 14, upgradable to Android 15, OriginOS 5	Android 14, HyperOS

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF	-
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	-	50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video	8K, 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS	8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC	5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), 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 3.2 Gen 2, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	120W wired, 70% in 17 min, 100% in 28 min Reverse wired	120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
Type	5500 mAh	Li-Po 4880 mAh

Misc
Colors	Blue/White, Black, White	Black, Silver, Titanium, Green
Models	V2403A	23116PN5BC
Price	About 380 EUR	About 650 EUR

vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+

Faster wired charging (28 minutes to 100%)
Potentially more aggressive cooling for sustained performance
Likely more competitive pricing

No wireless charging
Potentially less refined camera system
Software experience may be less polished

Xiaomi 14 Pro

50W wireless charging for added convenience
10W reverse wireless charging
Potentially more refined software experience

Slightly slower wired charging (18 minutes to 100%)
May be more expensive
Thermal management might prioritize efficiency over sustained peak performance

Display Comparison

While both devices are expected to feature high-refresh-rate AMOLED displays, specific details like peak brightness and panel technology (LTPO) are missing. However, given the flagship positioning, both will likely offer excellent color accuracy and viewing angles. The absence of display specs necessitates focusing on other differentiating factors. Expect both to target 120Hz refresh rates for smooth scrolling and gaming.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, both brands are known for incorporating high-resolution sensors. The Xiaomi 14 Pro is likely to feature a more sophisticated camera system, given Xiaomi’s emphasis on camera technology. The iQOO Neo series typically prioritizes performance over camera prowess, so expect a capable but potentially less refined camera experience. Lens apertures and OIS implementation will be crucial factors, but are currently unknown. We can safely assume both will offer a range of shooting modes, but image processing styles will likely differ – Xiaomi tending towards more vibrant, saturated images, while iQOO might aim for a more natural look.

Performance

Both the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ and Xiaomi 14 Pro utilize the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). The CPU configuration is identical – 1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520. This means theoretical CPU performance will be nearly indistinguishable. The key differentiator will be thermal management. iQOO historically focuses on aggressive cooling solutions for sustained performance, while Xiaomi often balances thermal performance with power efficiency. RAM speed (likely LPDDR5x) is also expected to be similar, but the effectiveness of each phone’s cooling system will dictate how consistently they maintain peak performance during extended gaming or demanding tasks.

Battery Life

The charging capabilities are a significant point of divergence. Both phones support 120W wired charging, with the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ claiming 70% in 17 minutes and 100% in 28 minutes, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro reaches 100% in 18 minutes. This suggests a slightly faster charging curve for the iQOO. Crucially, the Xiaomi 14 Pro adds 50W wireless charging (100% in 40 minutes) and 10W reverse wireless charging, features absent in the iQOO Neo9S Pro+. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the inclusion of wireless charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro likely necessitates a slightly larger battery to compensate for the inherent efficiency loss of wireless power transfer.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Neo9S Pro+ if you need the absolute fastest wired charging available, prioritizing minimizing downtime and maximizing gaming sessions. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you prefer the convenience of wireless charging, value a more holistic feature set including wireless capabilities, and are willing to trade a few minutes of wired charging speed for that added flexibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in either phone exhibit thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?

While both phones utilize the same chipset, thermal throttling will depend heavily on the cooling system implementation. iQOO historically prioritizes aggressive cooling, potentially allowing for longer periods of sustained peak performance. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro may employ more sophisticated thermal management algorithms to balance performance and efficiency, potentially resulting in less aggressive throttling but also lower peak performance.

❓ How does the 120W charging on the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ compare to other 120W charging solutions in terms of heat generation?

120W charging inherently generates heat. iQOO typically incorporates advanced charging ICs and heat dissipation technologies to mitigate this. The 28-minute full charge time suggests a well-optimized charging curve that balances speed and thermal safety. However, prolonged use of 120W charging can still contribute to battery degradation over time.

❓ Is the lack of a microSD card slot a concern on either device?

Neither the iQOO Neo9S Pro+ nor the Xiaomi 14 Pro are expected to feature a microSD card slot. This means users are limited to the internal storage option they choose at the time of purchase. Consider your storage needs carefully before making a decision, as expanding storage later will not be possible.

❓ What software experience can I expect from each phone – is one more bloated than the other?

Xiaomi’s MIUI is known for its extensive customization options but also often criticized for pre-installed bloatware. iQOO’s Funtouch OS has improved significantly in recent years, becoming cleaner and more streamlined. However, it may still lack the polish and feature richness of MIUI. Software preference is subjective, but users prioritizing a minimalist experience may prefer the iQOO.