Recently, the Blue Factory officially announced the release date of the iQOO Z9 series, which is set to debut at the end of this month. As the release date approaches, some information about the iQOO Z9 series has been exposed. According to the leaked information, the iQOO Z9 series will include three models: iQOO Z9x, iQOO Z9, and iQOO Z9 Turbo. They will be equipped with the Snapdragon 6 Gen1, Snapdragon 7 Gen3, and Snapdragon 8s Gen3 processors, respectively. Compared to the previous generation products, the processor of the iQOO Z9x seems to remain the same.

With the imminent release of the iQOO Z9x, the price of the previous generation product, the iQOO Z8x, has hit a new low. It is currently available on third-party platforms for only 808 yuan. Although the price of this phone is less than a thousand yuan, it boasts the same Snapdragon 6 Gen1 processor as the iQOO Z9x. The starting price of the iQOO Z9x is expected to be at least 1199 yuan, considerably more expensive than the current iQOO Z8x. Therefore, considering the minimal difference in performance, the iQOO Z8x, priced at 808 yuan, offers better value for money.

The iQOO Z8x features a 6.64-inch LCD screen with support for a 120Hz high refresh rate. With a peak brightness of up to 650 nits and full-brightness DC dimming, it meets a relatively high standard among LCD screens. According to the leaks, the iQOO Z9x will come with a 6.74-inch LCD screen. In the current trend where major screen manufacturers are marginalizing LCDs, there is limited room for improvement in LCD screen quality, mostly clearing previous production line inventory. Therefore, the screen quality of the iQOO Z9x compared to the iQOO Z8x is not expected to have a significant difference, with the only advantage lying in its size.

In terms of imaging, the iQOO Z8x features a 50-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel secondary camera. According to leaks, the iQOO Z9x will also feature a 50-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel secondary camera setup. Without a change in the processor platform, it’s unlikely that there will be any improvement in algorithms, so both devices are expected to have nearly identical camera performance. Both the iQOO Z8x and the iQOO Z9x feature an 8-megapixel front camera, maintaining consistency in this aspect as well.

In terms of battery life and charging, the iQOO Z8x boasts a 6000mAh large-capacity battery and supports 44W fast charging, allowing it to be fully charged in just over an hour. The iQOO Z9x also comes with a 6000mAh large-capacity battery, but with an upgraded charging power of 80W, enabling it to be fully charged in approximately 45 minutes. However, as a phone with a 6000mAh large-capacity battery, a single charge is sufficient for a day’s use, so the perceived improvement in fast charging power might not be significant unless in urgent situations.

In conclusion, it’s evident that the iQOO Z9x offers minimal upgrades, essentially being a squeezed-toothpaste type of upgrade. This aligns with the current market situation, considering that the flagship product of the iQOO Z9 series is the iQOO Z9 Turbo. Therefore, for those with a limited budget or those who prefer LCD screen phones, the iQOO Z8x holds more advantages. In comparison with competitors, it’s unbeatable in the 800 yuan price segment. So, would you prefer to buy the iQOO Z8x at 808 yuan or wait for the iQOO Z9x?