OnePlus Nord CE 4 vs iQOO Z9 : The Indian smartphone market is heating up in the mid-price category all the way from ₹25,000 downwards. One of the hottest topics of discussion in this segment now is the OnePlus Nord CE 4 and the iQOO Z9, which are extremely attractive cell phones with decent specifications, a fancy design, and just average performance. But which one should you buy now? Here is an extensive comparison that best assists you in choosing.
Pricing and Variants
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 starts at ₹24,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, while the iQOO Z9 is available at ₹19,999 for the same specifications and can even drop lower than ₹20,000. Generally, various bank offers along with some discount availabilities unleash the iQOO Z9 to further lower prices of around ₹17,999. Hence, for all those who consider the price first, it really makes sense that iQOO Z9 should be considered.
Performance Comparison
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 is powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, which may not be said to be of extraordinary performance but does keep gaming skills up to modest expectations. In contrast, the iQOO Z9 offers Dimensity 7200. The benchmarks are scored by this processor willingly putting the Snapdragon in the back seat. So both devices are butter smooth in basic day-to-day use; however, under heavy gaming or multitasking, it seems the iQOO Z9 has the upper hand.
Battery & Charging Speed
Battery life is another point in favor of the Nord CE 4 in this aspect. It has a huge 5500mAh capacity battery that can be charged at a maximum of 100W SUPERVOOC, which fills the battery in around 35 minutes. The iQOO Z9, on the other hand, generally charges a little over an hour due to the 5000mAh battery and 44W charging. Therefore, rapid charging, accompanied by great battery life, is something that makes users lean towards Nord CE 4.
Display and Visual Experience
Both smartphones come with AMOLED displays meant to provide smooth animation and accurate colors at 120Hz. OnePlus Nord CE 4 comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with peak brightness at 1100 nits; meanwhile, iQOO Z9 has a smaller 6.67-inch AMOLED display with incredibly high peak brightness at 1800 nits. So, under some conditions of direct sunlight, Z9 is just way more visible; otherwise, both displays should be just fine for normal use, such as media consumption.
Camera Performance
Both phones are equipped with a primary setup that is 50MP and a selfie setup of 16MP, with minor differences: the OnePlus Nord CE 4 adds Optical Image Stabilization. This proves to be quite useful while shooting in low light and stabilizing video. The iQOO Z9, on the other hand, misses on OIS and features a much lesser capable 2MP secondary sensor. In any case, the Nord CE 4’s camera performance would surely outperform the iQOO in less challenging light conditions.
Software and User Experience
OxygenOS 14 is highly regarded for timely updates and an uncluttered Near-stock Android experience, unlike Funtouch OS-powered iQOO Z9, which has a medley of features but suffers from extreme bloatware and still adware that comes with the territory of the platform. Thus, an overtly light user experience of the Nord CE4 would be more appealing to users than the heavily cluttered one.
There are tons of people who would rather go for whatever their own needs could desire between the OnePlus Nord CE 4 and iQOO Z9. Even now, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 remains an ultrafast charger with long battery sustenance and clean software and a more steadfast camera experience at a slightly higher cost. In a welcome surprise under ₹20,000, the slaying iQOO Z9 is now super bright and quite fast in its gameplay at this price.
Within their price range, both would hold charm. The OnePlus Nord CE 4 is one of the fine-made compromises for someone looking for an all-round smartphone with some premium feel, insignificantly across ₹25,000. The iQOO Z9, however, is carving out its niche for performance-oriented users in the low-budget segment, who could not really care about the price. Depending on whether you favor price, performance, battery, camera, or software, one of them is most apt for your requirement.