On April 9th, vivo teased the upcoming release of the iQOO Z9 Turbo on Weibo, emphasizing its appearance and positioning.
(Image Source: Weibo @iQOO)
From the image, it’s evident that the design of the iQOO Z9 Turbo inherits the classic look of the iQOO digital series, featuring a left-aligned oval-shaped camera Deco, right-angle borders, and a flat-screen design. In short, its appearance can be seen as a continuation of the iQOO 12 series design legacy.
(Image Source: Weibo @iQOO)
According to official information from vivo, the phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor. Currently, only the Xiaomi CIVI 4 Pro is using this processor, and the Redmi Turbo 3, released at the same time as the iQOO Z9 Turbo, also features the same chipset. In terms of performance and power efficiency, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 demonstrates flagship-level standards, although it falls slightly short of its sibling – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Compared to the previous flagship chip, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the new generation has significantly improved performance.
Furthermore, the phone features a 1.5K screen resolution and supports a 144Hz high refresh rate, specially optimized for gaming. As per the official teasers, the screen is evidently geared towards esports. The 144Hz refresh rate is relatively rare in products of similar levels.
Not long ago, vivo introduced the X Fold 3 series emphasizing a slim design and large battery. With only a 5.2mm thickness when unfolded, it incorporates a massive 5700mAh battery. Now, vivo applies this technology to flat-screen phones, equipping the iQOO Z9 Turbo with a 6000mAh battery while maintaining a thickness of only 7.98mm. This configuration is unique in this year’s market. Coupled with the excellent energy efficiency of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, the iQOO Z9 Turbo is expected to set new standards for flat-screen phone battery life.
(Image Source: Weibo @iQOO)
While major phone manufacturers are focused on camera innovations, the trend of slimming down devices has temporarily reversed due to the need to accommodate larger camera modules, resulting in an overall increase in thickness over the past two years, with some devices nearing 10mm.
vivo was the first to integrate a larger battery in its foldable phones compared to traditional flat-screen phones, and now the iQOO series has achieved a balance between slimness and long battery life. It is foreseeable that the top flagship smartphones in the second half of this year will follow this trend. Could flagship phones finally achieve a balance of being slim and powerful?
Undoubtedly, this year’s mid-range smartphone market is captivating, with various manufacturers pursuing different product strategies. realme has launched the realme 12 Pro+ with a periscope telephoto camera as its selling point; OnePlus ACE 3V emphasizes flagship-level appearance and feel; Redmi Turbo 3 sticks to its performance-centric principle, while the iQOO Z9 Turbo is set to outshine its competitors in mid-range smartphones in terms of battery life.