iQoo Z5: An Incremental Upgrade in Design and Power, but Lacks Competitive Edge for Value Seekers

At first glance, the iQoo Z5 doesn’t appear to be a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the iQoo Z3. Unlike competing smartphones in the Rs. 25,000 range, it lacks an AMOLED display, and its camera capabilities are quite similar to the Z3. Additionally, it has a slightly higher price tag, with the base model priced at Rs. 23,990. Is the new iQoo Z5 a worthy investment, or can you find more advantageous options elsewhere? Let’s explore.

iQoo Z5 pricing in India

This device comes in two configurations: the base model features 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, available for Rs. 23,990, while a higher configuration features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, retailing for Rs. 26,990.

Design of the iQoo Z5

The design of the iQoo Z5 marks an improvement over the Z3. The back panel’s soft finish has been replaced with a frosted texture that effectively resists smudges and feels secure in hand. The camera module has also expanded into a rectangle with rounded edges, protruding minimally from the rear. Constructed from plastic, the phone feels robust, and its color options—Mystic Space and Arctic Dawn—are notably more refined. I tested the Mystic Space variant, which shifts from dark blue to black depending on the angle of view.

The iQoo Z5 features a plastic back panel and frame

 

With a thickness of 8.5mm and a weight of 197g, this device does not feel excessively bulky. It sports a 6.67-inch full-HD+ LCD display with a hole-punch cutout for the front camera. Although the bezels on the top, left, and right are satisfactory, the bottom bezel is notably thick. You’ll also find a 3.5mm headphone jack located on the top edge of the phone.

Specifications and software of iQoo Z5

The Z3 brought the Snapdragon 768G processor to India, while the Z5 upgrades to the newer Snapdragon 778G SoC. Fabricated on a 6nm process, this processor operates at a maximum clock speed of 2.4Ghz, which is lower compared to the 768G. However, it features an integrated Adreno 642L GPU clocked at 750MHz, outperforming the Adreno 620 GPU of the previous model.

You have the option of 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It supports 5G connectivity (limited to n77/n78 bands), dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.2, and typical satellite navigation systems. The device includes a dual-SIM tray, but lacks a microSD card slot for additional storage. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, compatible with the supplied 44W charger.

The iQoo Z5 operates on Funtouch OS 12 based on Android 11

 

The iQoo Z5 runs on Funtouch OS 12, which is built on Android 11. Similar to the high-end Vivo X70 Pro+, it features widget support, which you can read more about here. While the animated widgets work as anticipated, their integration with both native and third-party applications isn’t comprehensive. Nonetheless, they add an enjoyable element to the interface. The remainder of the software resembles FunTouch 11 and operates smoothly, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate.

Performance and battery endurance of iQoo Z5

The LCD display performs decently for its price point, although I did notice a slight yellow tint at the bottom of the screen. Sunlight visibility is remarkable, alongside good viewing angles. The 6.67-inch 20:9 aspect ratio display may require some stretching to access certain content. Vivo claims HDR 10 compatibility, but I found it lacking in most streaming apps, including Netflix and Amazon Prime. Despite this, the Z5 still serves well for video streaming, bolstered by its loud and clear stereo speakers.

The display can be prone to smudges that are tough to clean

 

One downside is that the display attracts smudges quite easily. Though there is a factory-applied screen protector, removing it left a sticky residue that hindered smooth finger movements while gaming. After a gaming session, the glass was covered in smudges that were difficult to remove.

The Snapdragon 778G performed admirably in our benchmark assessments. The scores were comparable to similar devices, achieving 5,66,151 points in AnTuTu and 760 and 2,802 points in Geekbench’s single and multi-core evaluations respectively.

The power and volume controls are positioned on the right

 

Gaming performance was impressive. I tested Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9, both of which ran seamlessly. The Snapdragon 778G managed Call of Duty: Mobile effortlessly at the default Very High graphics and High frame rate settings with negligible heat issues. Asphalt 9: Legends also performed smoothly at its default settings.

Being a gamer-oriented device, it features ‘4D game vibration’, which can be toggled in the Ultra Game Mode menu or the sidebar during gameplay. However, this feature didn’t perform as intended, providing jarring vibrations that were often delayed or irrelevant, which I found distracting.

Three rear cameras are included in the iQoo Z5

 

The iQoo Z3 had a solid battery performance with its 4,400mAh capacity, and the iQoo Z5 has made significant improvements with a 5,000mAh battery that easily lasts a day and a half during typical use. In our HD video loop battery test, it lasted an impressive 21 hours and 57 minutes. The included 44W charger is a bit slower but still charges the completely drained battery to full in an hour and ten minutes, which is satisfactory. Overall, iQoo’s decision to prioritize battery longevity over rapid charging seems like a beneficial trade-off.

Camera capabilities of iQoo Z5

This smartphone features three rear cameras: a 64-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. For selfies, there’s a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. The camera app has a user-friendly interface typical of Vivo, with essential controls easily accessible including a toggle for the macro mode. Additionally, the camera modes can be customized. Video recording offers a maximum of 4K at 30fps for the rear cameras, while the front camera is restricted to 1080p at 30fps.

Daylight camera samples from the iQoo Z5. Top: main camera, bottom: ultra-wide-angle camera (tap to view full size)

 

Daytime images displayed somewhat vibrant colors but had light purple fringing in brighter areas. While they initially appeared acceptable, closer inspection revealed a lack of fine details. Selfies were decent with a good dynamic range, though edge detection in Portrait mode could use improvement.

Close-up camera samples from the iQoo Z3. Top: Macro camera, bottom: main camera (tap to view full size)

 

Ultra-wide-angle photographs were satisfactory but exhibited blurred details around the frame’s edges. The macro lens with its fixed 4cm focal length was tricky to employ, often resulting in overly sharpened outputs. I preferred close-up images taken with the main camera instead.

Selfie portrait camera samples from the iQoo Z5. Top: Daylight, bottom: Low-light (tap to view full size)

 

Similar to the Z3 model, the Z5’s low-light camera performance was subpar. Low-light images lacked clarity and showed grainy textures. The Night mode didn’t provide a solution, only heightening contrast without improving details. Low-light selfies also lacked detail and often appeared soft, with average edge detection.

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Low-light camera samples from the iQoo Z5. Top: Auto, bottom: Night mode (tap to view full size)

 

Videos captured in daylight presented a steady frame rate and decent stabilization; however, the Z3 struggled with bright scenes, leading to overexposure. Interestingly, I noticed a slight shimmering effect during movement, even in bright light. In dim conditions, the details were lacking, and while stabilization was adequate, the frame rate tended to be uneven. The shimmer effect persisted in low-light recordings, and 4K footage taken while moving appeared quite shaky.

Conclusion

Though the iQoo Z3, priced below Rs. 20,000, offered commendable value for money, the same can’t be claimed for the Z5 with its starting price of Rs. 23,990 in India. While the iQoo Z5 brings certain upgrades over the iQoo Z3 (Review)—such as stereo speakers, a larger battery, and an updated processor—these enhancements do not sufficiently compete with other popular models in the Rs. 25,000 bracket.

iQoo intends to discontinue the Z3 officially, but it remains available online for as low as Rs. 17,990 (6GB RAM + 128GB storage) for the time being. In comparison to the Z5, the Z3 doesn’t offer a substantial performance leap nor does it provide adequate value. Competing brands boast better smartphones at similar price points.

In terms of specifications, the device features the capable Snapdragon 778G SoC, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Competing options like the Realme GT Master Edition (Review) come with similar specifications but offer advantages such as a superior Super AMOLED display, enhanced camera capabilities, and 65W rapid charging—all for Rs. 25,999. For gaming enthusiasts, the Poco F3 GT (Review) could be more appealing with its dedicated triggers, RGB lighting, and larger battery, despite its slightly higher starting price of Rs. 26,999.

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