vivo iQOO Z5 vs iQOO 9 SE: A Detailed Showdown

The vivo iQOO series consistently delivers impressive value, but choosing between models can be tricky. Today, we're pitting the iQOO Z5 against the iQOO 9 SE to determine which phone offers the best overall experience. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iQOO 9 SE emerges as the clear winner thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 888 chipset, brighter display, and quicker charging. While the Z5 offers a more budget-friendly option, the 9 SE's performance and features justify its higher price for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo iQOO Z5	vivo iQOO 9 SE

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China	1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	77, 78 SA/NSA - India	-

Launch
Announced	2021, September 23	2022, February 23
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 28	Available. Released 2022, March 02

Body
Build	Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, plastic back	-
Dimensions	164.7 x 76.7 x 8.5 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)	163.2 x 76.4 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 3.01 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	193 g (6.81 oz)	199 g (7.02 oz)
	-	Splash and dust resistant

Display
Protection	Panda Glass	Panda Glass
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.62 inches, 105.8 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, 650 nits (typ)	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 642L	Adreno 660
OS	Android 11, Funtouch 12 (International), OriginOS for iQOO 1.0 (China)	Android 12, Funtouch 12

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Dual	-	48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm
Triple	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)	-
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with dual speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	No
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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	44W wired, 50% in 26 min	66W wired, 50% in 14 min, 100% in 39 min
Type	5000 mAh	4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Arctic Dawn, Mystic Space, Cyber Grid, Aurora	Space Fusion, Sunset Sierra
Models	V2148A	-
Price	About 250 EUR	About 400 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 87h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.1 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 727771 (v8), 846231 (v9) GeekBench: 3442 (v5.1) GFXBench: 64fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO Z5

Excellent value for money
Smooth everyday performance
Good battery life
44W fast charging

Less powerful chipset than iQOO 9 SE
Dimmer display
Slower charging speed

vivo iQOO 9 SE

Flagship-level performance (Snapdragon 888)
Bright and vibrant display
Faster 66W charging
Excellent battery life

Higher price
May lack some of the latest features compared to newer flagships

Display Comparison

The iQOO 9 SE boasts a significant advantage with its 863 nits max brightness, offering far better visibility in direct sunlight. Its contrast ratio is also excellent. The Z5's display is adequate but lacks the punch and clarity of the 9 SE. Both likely use AMOLED panels, but the 9 SE's implementation is superior.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the iQOO 9 SE likely has a slight edge due to the more powerful image signal processor (ISP) associated with the Snapdragon 888. Expect better low-light performance and more detailed photos from the 9 SE. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) would be needed for a more precise comparison.

Performance

Here, the iQOO 9 SE dominates. The Snapdragon 888 is a flagship-level chipset, providing substantially faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking compared to the Snapdragon 778G in the Z5. Gaming performance will be noticeably better on the 9 SE.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 87 hours. However, the iQOO 9 SE's 66W charging is considerably faster than the Z5's 44W, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The vivo iQOO Z5 is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize a smooth everyday experience and decent battery life. The iQOO 9 SE is perfect for gamers, power users, and anyone who demands top-tier performance, a vibrant display, and faster charging speeds.