iQOO has consistently proven its mettle in the performance department while going against the giants of the smartphone world. It’s a true definition of an underdog. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro continues on that front while dressed as a candy. It proves the point of being sweet on the outside and spicy on the inside. It comes well-equipped with a flagship processor and more. But, for Rs 35,999, how good of a deal is it for someone looking for a hardcore gaming device and a daily companion in one? Let’s find out in the iQOO Neo 9 Pro gaming review.
Specifications and benchmarks
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, also found in flagships from 2023. As time passes, we see this processor has trickled down to mid-rangers, and as is tradition, iQOO jumps out instantly.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM | Up to 12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | Up to 256GB UFS 4.0 |
| Battery | 5,160mAh |
| Software version | FunTouch OS 14 Based on Android 14 |
| Connectivity details | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 |
At this price, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro competes against the OnePlus 12R, iQOO Neo 7 Pro, OnePlus Nord 3, and the Poco F5 — all of which have a good handle on performance. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro uses the latest storage and RAM technologies and is available in two variants.
| Benchmarks | Result |
| PCMark 10 | 14613 |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | 3530 – Best loop score |
| Sling Shot Extreme (Open GL) | Maxed Out |
| Car Chase | 85fps |
| Manhattan | 120fps |
| T-Rex | 120fps |
| Storage Test (AnTuTu) | 131276 |
These scores are reflective of my daily usage. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro works well with daily usage, multitasking, and endless doom scrolling on social media apps. While synthetic benchmarks are a good way of understanding the positioning of a smartphone, real-world usage — especially with intensive games such as Genshin Impact and BGMI can help paint a bigger picture.
BGMI Graphics and Performance
I put the iQOO Neo 9 Pro through our extreme gaming test, which entails a two-hour-long non-stop gameplay with the AC and fan turned off. It helps determine the thermal situation of the phone under loads.
In BGMI, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro can reach Ultra HDR graphics quality and Ultra framerates. Let’s look at how it performed across different settings.
| BGMI Graphics | FPS |
| Ultra HDR + Ultra | 40fps, without much fuss |
| HDR + Extreme | 60fps, without any trouble |
| Smooth + Extreme | 60fps, smooth sailing |
| Smooth + 90fps | 90fps, no major issues |
Despite switching to the 90fps mode, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro maxed out at 60fps during our gaming test. But after a software update, the phone hit 90fps without any noticeable frame drop.
Call of Duty: Mobile Graphics and Performance
After about an hour and a half of continuous gameplay, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s battery dropped to 64 per cent from 100 per cent. In Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM), the phone hits Very High graphics quality and Max frame rates.
| Call of Duty: Mobile Graphics | FPS |
| Very High + Max | 60fps, without any drops |
| Medium + Ultra | 90fps, with minor drops to 83fps, but nothing that hinders the performance |
During this period, the back of the phone reached about 37 degrees Celsius, with the room temperature at 23 degrees. The spike in temperature was not concerning at all, as we did not see any throttling.
Genshin Impact Graphics and Performance
Genshin Impact’s graphics settings only allow a maximum of 30fps with the provided presets. To achieve 60fps, you have to choose custom settings.
| Genshin Impact Graphics | FPS |
| Highest | 30fps, without any noticeable drops |
| Custom (Forced 60fps) | 60fps, without any trouble |
The game ran perfectly well without any performance drops. Despite playing an intensive game such as Genshin Impact, the phone dropped down to 34 degrees Celsius. This is the liquid cooling vapour chamber playing its part. After two hours, the battery dropped to 57 per cent.
Verdict
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a tried and tested chipset amongst performance-focused smartphones. This chipset and reasonable control over thermals make the iQOO Neo 9 Pro a safe bet for gamers. The slightly bigger battery should also help with longer gaming hours, which is always true when your squad is online.
As for close competition, the OnePlus 12R is a phone to look out for. The iQOO Neo 7 Pro, OnePlus Nord 3, and POCO F5 are other options if the Neo 9 Pro exceeds your budget. Speaking of budget, the POCO X6 Pro at Rs 26,999 is another phone that impressed us with its performance.
While the iQOO Neo 9 Pro surely earns brownie points for its performance, stay tuned to MySmartPrice to discover how well its cameras, display, and battery hold up in daily usage.
