iQOO Z1 vs Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Power

The iQOO Z1 and Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take different approaches to achieving this goal, primarily through their chipset choices and charging implementations. This comparison dissects those differences to determine which device offers the best value for your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the vivo iQOO Z1 emerges as the stronger contender. Its Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ chipset provides a noticeable edge in CPU and GPU performance, while its 44W charging is quicker overall. However, the nova 7 Pro 5G offers reverse wireless charging and a potentially more refined software experience, appealing to a different user profile.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Z1 Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G
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, 8, 18, 19, 25, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMACDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA
Launch
Announced2020, May 19. Released 2020, June 012020, April 23. Released 2020, April 28
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Dimensions164 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)160.4 x 73.7 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight195 g (6.88 oz)178 g (6.28 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 104.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10OLED
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm)Kirin 985 5G (7 nm)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Mali-G77 (8-core)
OSAndroid 10, iQOO UI 1.0Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)
Single8 MP, AF-
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide)
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)-
Video1080p@30fps4K
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
BrowserHTML, Adobe Flash-
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging44W wired, 50% in 23 min, 100% in 59 min40W wired, 75% in 30 min 5W reverse wired
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGalaxy Silver, Space blueBlack, Red, Purple, Green, Blue
ModelsV1986AJER-AN10, JER-AN20
PriceAbout 280 EURAbout 480 EUR

vivo iQOO Z1

  • Superior CPU and GPU performance with Dimensity 1000+
  • Faster 44W wired charging
  • Potentially better thermal management for sustained performance

  • Lacks reverse wireless charging
  • Software experience may be less refined than Huawei

Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G

  • Includes 5W reverse wired charging
  • Potentially more polished software experience
  • Sleek design (based on Huawei's historical design language)

  • Inferior CPU and GPU performance compared to Dimensity 1000+
  • Slower overall charging time

Display Comparison

Neither device's display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, given the market positioning, both likely feature AMOLED panels. The nova 7 Pro, historically, has prioritized display quality in its series, potentially offering slightly better color accuracy and brightness. The iQOO Z1, being geared towards gaming, may prioritize a higher refresh rate (though not specified) for smoother visuals. Bezels are likely comparable, falling within the typical range for mid-range devices.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed sensor information, a precise camera comparison is difficult. However, the market segment suggests both phones will feature multi-camera setups. The iQOO Z1 likely prioritizes overall image quality and processing speed, leveraging the Dimensity 1000+'s ISP capabilities. The Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G, benefiting from Huawei’s long-standing camera expertise, may excel in computational photography and scene recognition. The absence of OIS specifications for either device suggests reliance on software stabilization. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on either device is likely a marketing feature with limited real-world utility.

Performance

The core of the difference lies in the chipsets. The iQOO Z1’s Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7nm) boasts a more modern CPU architecture with its Cortex-A77 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz, compared to the Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm) which utilizes Cortex-A76 cores at 2.58 GHz. This architectural advantage, combined with the higher clock speeds, translates to a performance lead for the iQOO Z1 in CPU-intensive tasks. The Dimensity 1000+ also features a more powerful Mali-G57 MC4 GPU, offering a significant advantage in gaming performance. While both use 7nm fabrication, the Dimensity 1000+ generally demonstrates better sustained performance due to more efficient thermal management. The nova 7 Pro's CPU configuration (1x A76 + 3x A76 + 4x A55) is unusual, potentially indicating a focus on multi-threaded workloads, but it doesn't overcome the architectural advantage of the iQOO Z1.

Battery Life

Both devices offer fast charging, but with different implementations. The iQOO Z1’s 44W wired charging can reach 50% in 23 minutes and 100% in 59 minutes, providing a quicker top-up. The Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G’s 40W wired charging reaches 75% in 30 minutes, suggesting a slower overall 0-100% time. The nova 7 Pro 5G also includes 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the iQOO Z1, allowing it to charge accessories like earbuds or smartwatches. Battery capacity is not specified, but the faster charging of the iQOO Z1 mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Z1 if you need a phone optimized for gaming and demanding applications, and value the fastest possible charging speeds. Its Dimensity 1000+ chipset delivers superior processing power. Buy the Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G if you prioritize a sleek design, reverse wireless charging for accessories, and a potentially more polished user interface, even if it means sacrificing some raw performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 1000+ in the iQOO Z1 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 1000+ is a powerful chip, it's a 7nm process and benefits from relatively efficient thermal management. However, sustained gaming will inevitably generate heat. The iQOO Z1 likely incorporates cooling solutions to mitigate throttling, but performance may still decrease slightly after prolonged use. The Kirin 985, while less powerful, may exhibit less throttling due to its lower power draw.
❓ Is the 5W reverse charging on the Huawei nova 7 Pro 5G useful for everyday accessories?
The 5W reverse charging is primarily useful for topping up smaller accessories like wireless earbuds or smartwatches. It's not designed for quickly charging larger devices like smartphones. While convenient, the charging speed is relatively slow, so it's best suited for emergency top-ups or overnight charging of small accessories.
❓ Which phone is better for playing graphically demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The iQOO Z1 is the clear winner for gaming. The Dimensity 1000+ chipset's superior GPU performance will deliver higher frame rates and smoother gameplay in demanding titles. While the nova 7 Pro 5G can run these games, it will likely require lower graphics settings to maintain a playable frame rate.