The competition in the high-end smartphone market was thought to be intense, but to everyone’s surprise, the mid-to-low range cost-effective smartphone market has proven to be equally, if not more, cutthroat.
Especially noteworthy are three powerful models equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 sub-flagship processor, namely the Redmi K70, iQOO Neo9, and OnePlus Ace3.
All three models boast considerable strength and impressive specifications. However, consumers might find it challenging to make a choice among them.
Faced with these considerations, I’ve compared key parameters and selling points of these three models. Let’s see who comes out on top in the end.
Starting with the design, both the Redmi K70 and OnePlus Ace3 feature a metal mid-frame, while the iQOO Neo9 opts for a plastic mid-frame design.
However, OnePlus Ace3 sports a curved screen design, a determining factor for some users, while the other two models have straight screens.
The designs on the back of the devices differ significantly and ultimately boil down to personal aesthetic preferences. Rest assured, all three models are quite appealing in terms of design aesthetics.
Next comes the display quality. Redmi K70 is equipped with a ChinaStar 2K screen, offering excellent display effects and brightness. It also supports a display effect of 3840Hz + 4000 nits luminescence.
On the other hand, iQOO Neo9 features a 6.78-inch 1.5K 8T 144Hz straight screen, global activation brightness at 1400 nits and has secured SGS Low Blue Light and SGS Low Flicker certifications.
The OnePlus Ace3 debuts with a 1.5K BOE Screen and supports the proprietary “Bright Eye” technology, alongside features like DC dimming and 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. Its peak brightness of 4500 nits even ranks top in the industry.
The competition is indeed fierce between two 1.5K screens and a 2K screen, coupled with the adoption of curved and straight screen designs, and the elimination of plastic brackets.
In terms of core configurations, all three models are equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 processor, with no feature cuts. The memory configurations for the three models all bring LPDDR5X and USF4.0, additionally offering a 12GB+256GB memory combination for the consumers.
However, to better enhance gaming performance, iQOO Neo9 introduces a proprietary eSports chip Q1 to enhance daily user experiences.
Redmi K70 possesses an optimization engine, while OnePlus Ace3 is equipped with a newly upgraded TianGong Cooling System Pro, boasting a 9140 square millimeter TianGong Cooling VC.
Then comes photographic capabilities. Redmi K70 uses a 50MP Light Chaser 800 sensor for its primary camera, which supports OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). It certainly offers a more than decent photography experience.
iQOO Neo9 uses a 50MP IMX920 Sony main camera sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, coupled with OIS, making it effortless to handle motion close-up captures.
The primary camera sensor on OnePlus Ace3 is Sony IMX890, packing 50MP ultra-high pixels, a 1/1.56-inch large bottom, f/1.88 aperture, and supports OIS.
Additionally, OnePlus Ace3 inherits the same Super Light Shadow image engine algorithm and Super Light Shadow ProXDR display from OnePlus 12, making it a formidable player in terms of photography.
Finally, we move to battery life. Redmi K70 has embedded a large 5000mAh battery, supplemented by a 120W fast charger, letting you charge your device fully in just 21 minutes.
iQOO Neo9 comes with a 5160mAh battery capacity, supporting 120W flash charging, allowing it to recharge fully in a few minutes during everyday use.
OnePlus Ace3 boasts a battery capacity of 5500mAh and is equipped with a SUPERVOOC S full-link power management chip and 100W wired fast charging.
Given these specifications, all three models seem to be highly competitive, suggesting the relentless competition in the mid-range smartphone market.
Of course, while these models’ configuration parameters show some differentiation, there is a notable gap in their pricing.
So, here’s the question: who do you think wins this round? Feel free to share your thoughts in the discussion below.