iQOO launched the iQOO Z7 in India earlier this week, followed by another Z7 with different specifications in China. His Z7 in China has not yet been launched, but the Z7 in India is already available for purchase. Starting at INR18,999 ($230/€215), it comes in his two color options of Norwegian Blue and Pacific Nights. We’ve spent some time with it, and here are our impressions.
Let’s check the retail box of iQOO Z7 first. Its design is similar to the more premium iQOO Number Series packaging, but with a smaller footprint. Includes SIM eject tool, protective case, USB-C cable, 44W power adapter and regular paperwork.
The iQOO Z7 is built around a 6.38-inch FullHD+ AMOLED screen with a screen refresh rate of 90 Hz and peak brightness of 1,300 nits. The display is protected by Schott Xensation Glass, with a fingerprint scanner underneath, which we found to be fast and accurate in a short amount of time. The amount of time spent on the phone.
We appreciate iQOO for providing an in-display fingerprint reader on the Z7, but we prefer a 16MP selfie camera instead of using a side-mounted scanner despite other brands having AMOLED panels. I don’t like the waterdrop notch. Instead of punch holes like the Chinese version. This feels outdated in 2023.
On the plus side, iQOO Z7’s display supports HDR10+ and the phone comes with Widevine L1 certification, which enables 1080p video streaming for OTT apps. When it comes to screen refresh rate, there are three options under the iQOO Z7. setting > display and brightness > screen refresh rate Menu – 60Hz, 90Hz and Smart Switch.
The first one keeps the screen refresh rate fixed at 60 Hz all the time, and the 90 Hz mode boosts the refresh rate to 90 Hz on supported apps. Smart switch mode also increases the refresh rate to 90Hz, but does not return to 60Hz when the screen is not being interacted with. this mode. I hope this is a bug and will be fixed soon.
Some apps, including Google Photos, stay at 90Hz in 90Hz mode, but switch to 60Hz in smart switch mode regardless of whether you’re interacting with the screen. Therefore, we recommend sticking to 90Hz mode for the smoothest scrolling experience possible.
Turning the iQOO Z7 reveals a rectangular two-level camera island that covers just over 50% of the width of the panel. The top plate has a glossy finish and houses his 64MP primary camera with OIS and a 2MP depth sensor. The second has a matte finish and features an LED flash.
The Z7’s camera island causes it to wobble on flat surfaces, which the included case doesn’t fix.
The iQOO Z7’s back panel is made of plastic, but I found very few fingerprint smudges on it during use. The Norwegian Blue version has a glitter pattern on the back cover, which is really cool with multiple colors reflecting from different angles. However, flat design is not for everyone. We also have a back with curved edges for a better handling and ergonomic experience.
The iQOO Z7’s overall build is decent, with the volume rocker and power key being clicky enough.
Ports and controls
Speaking of hardware, India’s iQOO Z7 is powered by Dimensity 920 SoC with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, expandable up to 1TB via microSD card. This phone is ready to run Android 13-based Funtouch OS with the February 2023 Android Security Patch. However, a software update requiring a download of approximately 320MB pushed it up to March 2023 levels. iQOO has promised 3 years of security updates for him and 2 years of Android version upgrades for him, and the Z7 will finally receive Android 15.
Like most other iQOO smartphones, the Z7 also comes pre-installed with third-party apps. Luckily most of them can be uninstalled if you don’t need them.
Powering the entire package is a 4,500 mAh battery that charges up to 45W via the USB-C port. It is advertised to go from 1% to 50% in 25 minutes and 100% in 64 minutes. The rest of the iQOO Z7’s highlights include motion controls, an IP54 rating, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Wi-Fi 6.
The iQOO Z7 is priced at INR18,999 ($230/€215) for the 6GB/128GB model and INR19,999 ($240/€225) for the 8GB/128GB version. You can purchase from iQOO India official website and Amazon.in. This Z7 remains India-only, with a Snapdragon 782G-powered variant currently available in China set to debut in Malaysia soon. Click here for a detailed spec comparison of iQOO Z7 models in China and India.
