The vivo iQOO Z1 and Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro Zoom represent a fascinating point in smartphone history – the tail end of the 2020 flagship cycle, offering high-end specs at increasingly competitive prices. Both devices aimed to deliver a premium experience without the premium price tag, but they took different approaches, primarily in their chipset choices. This comparison dissects those differences and helps you determine which phone best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw processing power and future-proofing, the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro Zoom, with its Snapdragon 865, is the better choice. While the iQOO Z1’s Dimensity 1000+ is no slouch, the Snapdragon 865 offers a more mature platform and wider software optimization, despite slightly slower charging.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 25, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, May 19. Released 2020, June 01 | 2020, March 24. Released 2020, April 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 163.3 x 75.4 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 104.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 | Super AMOLED, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MC9 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, iQOO UI 1.0 | Android 10, MIUI 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
13 MP, 13mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Triple | 48 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) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML, Adobe Flash | - |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 44W wired, 50% in 23 min, 100% in 59 min | 33W wired, PD, QC4, 100% in 63 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4700 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Galaxy Silver, Space blue | Grey, Purple, White, Blue |
| Models | V1986A | - |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 500 EUR |
vivo iQOO Z1
- Faster 44W charging significantly reduces downtime.
- Dimensity 1000+ offers good performance for the price.
- Potentially more efficient chipset for everyday tasks.
- Snapdragon 865 offers superior sustained performance.
- Likely less software support and optimization compared to the Redmi.
Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro Zoom
- Snapdragon 865 provides a more powerful and mature platform.
- Better gaming performance due to superior GPU.
- Likely better camera system with larger sensor and OIS.
- Slower 33W charging compared to the iQOO Z1.
- May be slightly more expensive than the iQOO Z1.
Display Comparison
Neither device’s display specifications are provided, but given their market positioning, both likely featured high refresh rate LCD panels. The Redmi K30 Pro Zoom, being the slightly more premium offering, may have had a marginally better panel in terms of color accuracy and peak brightness. However, without specific nit ratings or panel technology details (LTPO, HDR support), it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. Bezels were likely comparable, reflecting the design trends of 2020.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is challenging. However, given the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom’s positioning, it likely featured a larger main sensor and potentially optical image stabilization (OIS), offering better low-light performance and image quality. The iQOO Z1 likely focused on computational photography to compensate for potentially smaller sensors. The presence or absence of features like 4K 60fps video recording would also be a key differentiator, but this information is unavailable. We can assume both phones included a standard array of lenses, but the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom likely had a more sophisticated camera system overall.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro Zoom’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) boasts a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed (2.84 GHz vs 2.6 GHz on the iQOO Z1’s Dimensity 1000+), and a more complex CPU core configuration (1x Cortex-A77 prime core vs 4x Cortex-A77 on the iQOO). This translates to a performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks and sustained workloads. While the Dimensity 1000+ is a capable chip, the Snapdragon 865 benefits from Qualcomm’s established software ecosystem and optimizations. The Redmi K30 Pro Zoom likely also had an edge in GPU performance, crucial for gaming. Both utilize 7nm process nodes, but the ‘+’ in the Snapdragon 865’s 7nm+ suggests a refined process for improved efficiency.
Battery Life
The iQOO Z1’s 44W wired charging is significantly faster than the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom’s 33W charging. The iQOO Z1 claims 50% charge in 23 minutes and 100% in 59 minutes, while the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom takes 63 minutes for a full charge. This difference is substantial for users who value quick top-ups. However, battery capacity isn’t specified for either device. If the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom had a larger battery, the slower charging might be less noticeable in real-world usage. The Redmi K30 Pro Zoom’s support for PD and QC4 standards offers broader compatibility with chargers.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO Z1 if you prioritize faster charging speeds and a potentially more efficient chipset for everyday tasks. It’s ideal for users who frequently top up their phones and don’t necessarily need the absolute peak performance for demanding games. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro Zoom if you’re a gamer, a power user, or someone who wants a phone that will likely receive more consistent software updates and maintain its performance over a longer lifespan, even at the cost of slightly slower charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Dimensity 1000+ in the iQOO Z1 struggle with prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 1000+ is a capable chipset, the Snapdragon 865 in the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom generally exhibits better thermal management and sustained performance during extended gaming. The iQOO Z1 might experience some throttling after a while, potentially leading to frame drops in demanding titles.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom noticeably slower in daily use?
The 33W charging on the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom is slower than the iQOO Z1’s 44W, but the impact depends on your charging habits. If you typically charge overnight, the difference is minimal. However, if you frequently need quick top-ups throughout the day, the iQOO Z1’s faster charging will be more convenient.
❓ Which phone is more likely to receive software updates and security patches?
Xiaomi generally has a better track record for providing software updates and security patches compared to vivo. The Redmi K30 Pro Zoom is therefore likely to receive updates for a longer period, enhancing its long-term usability and security.
