iQoo Z9 Lite Review: A Budget 5G Phone That Blends Style with Performance. iQoo Z9 Lite Price and Availability: An Affordable 5G Choice. The iQoo Z9 Lite enters the Indian market with a starting price of Rs 10,499 for the base 4GB RAM + 128GB storage model.
Design and Build Quality
The iQoo Z9 Lite makes a strong impression with its stylish design, providing an attractive option in the budget 5G segment. Available in Mocha Brown and Aqua Flow, the phone stands out with its elegant appearance that rivals more expensive models. The Mocha Brown variant has a sleek, shimmering finish and a refined camera unit with metal-accented lenses. Despite its modern look, the phone features a waterdrop notch instead of the latest punch-hole design and a 3.5mm audio jack, which are common in budget devices. The iQoo Z9 Lite also includes an IP64 rating for resistance against dust and splashes, adding a layer of durability to its sleek design.
Performance and Features
The iQoo Z9 Lite delivers solid performance with its MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, which offers capabilities comparable to the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 found in higher-end models. The phone includes a large 5,000mAh battery, ensuring extended usage time, though it charges at a slower rate with a 15W charger. The 6.56-inch HD+ LCD display, while bright and sufficient for most uses, falls short of the Full HD standard and lacks the AMOLED quality seen in higher-priced alternatives.
The camera setup on the iQoo Z9 Lite includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel selfie camera, and a secondary 2-megapixel sensor. While the camera performs admirably for its price range, capturing detailed images and decent low-light shots, the selfie camera is less impressive with slightly washed-out colors.
iQoo Z9 Lite Review : Daily Use and Software
As a daily driver, the iQoo Z9 Lite proves capable with a responsive performance and smooth multitasking, even handling casual gaming well. The phone runs on Android 14 with FunTouch OS, which, despite some users finding it cluttered, provides useful features and pre-installed apps like Snapchat and Amazon. Notably, it includes two years of Android updates and three years of security patches.
Battery and Charging
The phone excels in battery life, comfortably lasting a day and a half with regular use, including gaming. However, charging is slower than expected; the 15W FlashCharge takes nearly three hours to fully charge the battery from zero. This isn’t a major drawback for infrequent charging, but faster charging would have been a welcome addition.
Final Verdict
Starting at Rs 10,499, the iQoo Z9 Lite is a competitive option in the budget 5G market. While it falls short in display resolution and charging speed, its strong performance, stylish design, and durable build make it a compelling choice. For those seeking a 5G smartphone that balances aesthetics and functionality within a budget, the iQoo Z9 Lite stands out as a top contender.