IQOO Z5 5G Review with Pros and Cons – Easy To Recommend?

We have a new player in town. The IQOO has just introduced a new member under the IQOO Z series, the newly launched IQOO Z5 5G has almost everything you ever wanted except one thing.

Before we Start the IQOO Z5 5G review, let me share with you the India price, and then we will talk about its Pros and Cons because as I said, this is not the perfect smartphone.

IQOO Z5 5G Price in India

IQOO Z5 5G Price in India starts from Rs 23,990 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage variant and another variant is priced at Rs 26,990 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage.

It will go for sale on 3rd October 2021 via Amazon and it’s available in Mystic Space and Artic Dawn color options.

IQOO Z5 5G Review

IQOO Z5 5G has a lot to offer from a powerful Snapdragon 778G processor to massive 44W fast charging but it doesn’t have AMOLED, IQOO is offering an LCD 120Hz display at Rs 23,990 price tag. Even after that, IQOO Z5 5G is worth the 24k price tag and its value-for-money device.

Still, if you’re that person who wanted to buy a smartphone with an AMOLED display then you have to spend more money and wait for Xiaomi 11 Lite NE which is launching in India on 29th September.

Overall, IQOO Z5 5G is worth the 24k price tag. There won’t be any problem while playing games or watching movies, the phone will give the best possible performance.

Related – Top best Smartphones Under Rs 30,000 in India

Also, keep in mind, that the device only has two 5G bands. So, this can’t be called a 5G smartphone.

IQOO Z5 5G Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
120Hz Screen refresh rate	Plastic Build
44W fast charging	Only Two 5G Bands
Powerful Snapdragon 778G SoC	No SD-Card Slot
Brighter display	No NFC Support
3.5mm Audio Jack	LCD
Stereo Speaker	Ads in the UI
Well-Priced	Software needs optimization
	Above Average Cameras
	No OIS Support

These are the Pros and Cons of IQOO Z5 5G, now let’s deep dive into the device and find out, what the new IQOO has to offer as compared to IQOO Z3 5G?

IQOO Z5 5G Display Quality

Whether you can call this weaker part or something else but if IQOO had gone with AMOLED then the price would have been above 25k.

The IQOO Z5 5G has a 6.67-inches 120Hz LCD with a pick brightness of 650 nits. So whether you want to use the phone outdoors or indoors, the display will be visible enough to do almost anything, whether it’s gaming or taking calls.

The device also has Widevine L1 support which means, there won’t be any problem while watching movies or TV shows at FHD+ resolution on OTT apps.

As I have said, the device has an LCD panel but this is a good quality display, it doesn’t feel cheap. Still, it can’t be compared with AMOLED.

Related: Top 10 Best Smartphones under Rs 20,000

So again, if you want the best display then you have to spend an extra 3k to 4k. You can look at RealMe GT Master edition, Motorola Edge 20 5G, OnePlus Nord 2 or wait for Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite NE.

Also, as the phone has an LCD panel, IQOO has shifted the fingerprint sensor to the left side. It has a plastic back, and plastic frame while there is panda glass present on the front side.

All in all, the IQOO Z5 5G has a good quality LCD and you won’t face any kind of problem while using the device in day-to-day life. Also, that 120Hz refresh rate is the cherry on top.

IQOO Z5 5G Cameras

When you get everything best, there will be something where the company will do cost-cutting. This is that part where IQOO has done cost-cutting.

Don’t get me wrong, IQOO has done a great job with the camera but it doesn’t look like a 24k smartphone camera. The used sensors are good but they need optimization and if they do it properly then there won’t be anything to complain about.

The IQOO Z5 5G has 64MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide lens, and 2MP macro while there is a 16MP selfie shooter. The rear camera can shoot videos up to 4k@60fps while the front can shoot up to 1080p@30fps.

New Launch: IQOO Z6 Pro 5G Review with Pros and Cons

Keep in mind, the phone doesn’t have OIS support, the device relies on EIS which is handled by software and we all know, how well IQOO has optimized the UI.

Now, for those who don’t know IQOO Z3 5G had the worst UI implantation on any smartphone which can be seen on IQOO Z5 5G too but it’s slightly better. We will talk about UI in the performance section, now back to the cameras…

Talking about the rear camera, IQOO has added all the features like night-mode, fillers, and many more. Night mode is a bit improved compared to last-gen but still, there is some work to do.

The 64MP sensor also does great in good lighting conditions but when it comes to night, the image turned out a bit sharp. Also, don’t use, an ultra-wide lens at night because you won’t get the details and the image won’t be usable.

By the way, at daylight, IQOO Z5 5G performs very well. The images come out with details, there is no issue with dynamic range too.

Related: Best Smartphones under Rs 25,000

Now, keep in mind, that IQOO is a sub-brand of Vivo, and some, similarities can be seen in the camera department.

Yes, the image does come out a bit saturated which is fine because this is what we are seeing in most mid-budget smartphones. In short, don’t expect natural color from IQOO Z5 5G.

Coming to the 16MP selfie shooter, this is a well-implemented sensor but still, it needs to be o[optimized. As usual, the selfies come out a bit white as we have seen in most of the budget Vivo phones.

Again, the phone doesn’t have OIS, so the video footage won’t be stable, the EIS can give a bit of stable footage but don’t expect much.

Overall, IQOO Z5 5G takes a good quality image and it’s better than last-gen but if IQOO optimizes the camera then this could be the best smartphone under 25k.

I will let you know if IQOO updates the camera or not?

IQOO Z5 5G Performance

The IQOO Z5 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC and it’s running on Fun touch OS 12-based Android 11.

I have also tested the Motorola Edge 20 5G (review) which also has the same SoC but there is one difference, Edge 20 has stock UI while IQOO Z5 5G has Fun Touch OS.

Snapdragon 778G is battery efficient processor which means, IQOO Z5 5G will give better battery life.

IQOO didn’t mention how many 5G bands IQOO Z5 5G has but as per the recent report, the device has only two 5G bands and that’s the reason, why IQOO didn’t mention anything about 5G in the launch event.

This means IQOO Z5 5G can’t be called a true 5G smartphone, 2 5G bands don’t ensure that the phone will be able to take advantage of 5G whenever 5G launches in India.

Also, if you want a powerful smartphone then yes, IQOO Z5 5G is a good option to look for. The Snapdragon 778G is powerful enough to handle almost everything whether it’s gaming to anything else.

By the way, IQOO has given LPDDR 5 Ram and UFS 3.1 storage which means, everything will feel shoot event after years of use.

Back to the Fun Touch OS, the UI does have ads that can be disabled but not 100%. You will see, some ads in the stock apps and there will be Hot Apps and Hot Games.

Also, IQOO hasn’t optimized the UI 100% for the IQOO Z5 5G. Two or three OTA updates can fix all the problems but whether IQOO will fix it or not? no one knows.

If you ask me, I don’t like custom UI, as of now, I’m using Motorola Edge 20 5G and I’m loving it because Motorola has done a fabulous job with UI.

Now, if you have used MIUI or even color OS then there is nothing to think much about, you won’t face any problem with Fun Touch OS too.

IQOO Z5 5G Audio Quality

IQOO is all about gaming and that’s the reason why IQOO has added Stereo Speakers and it performs very well. There is nothing to complain about the audio quality, you will be more than happy with the audio.

Now, talking about calling, the IQOO Z5 5G has two microphones, one at the Top and the Bottom. It also has carrier aggregation support.

As of now, I didn’t face any problems with calling or even using Bluetooth earphones.

IQOO Z5 5G Battery Life

IQOO Z5 5G comes with a 5,000 mAh battery with 44W fast charging support. It will take 26 minutes to charge from 0% to 50%.

Whether you’re a heavy user or a normal user, the battery will last for a day but if you don’t play games much then expect the battery to last for 1.5 days or more.

The Snapdragon 778G SoC loves the battery and will give the best possible result.

Still, if the battery runs out in a day then you can always use the 44W charger which is provided with the box.

IQOO Z5 5G Verdict

Don’t buy IQOO Z5 5G because of the 5G because it only has two 5G bands, also if you want an AMOLED display or even better cameras then you can skip the IQOO Z5 5G.

Now, if you want a powerful processor, massive 44W fast charging. 120Hz refresh rate, batter battery life, 3.5mm audio jack, Stereo Speaker, and if you don’t want to spend more than 24k then you will be more than happy with IQOO Z5 5G.

Will I pay 24k to buy IQOO Z5 5G?

Let’s say, I want to buy a new smartphone and my budget is Rs 25,000 then I would go for the RealMe 9 Pro Plus 5G (review). I want great cameras, good design, well-optimized software and I can work with a decent processor.

By the way, I don’t play mobile games, even if I play, it won’t be more than 15 minutes.

That was the Review of IQOO Z5 5G, let me know if you have any questions in the comment box.

IQOO Z5 5G FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: Does IQOO Z5 5G has a 3.5mm Audio jack?

A: Yes.

Q: Does  IQOO Z5 5G has AMOLED display?

A: No, IQOO Z5 5G has a 6.67-inches 120Hz LCD Display.

Q: What is the pick brightness of IQOO Z5 5G

A: It has 650nits of pick brightness.

Q: Does  IQOO Z5 5G has NFC Support?

A: No.

Q: How many OS updates will IQOO Z5 5G will get?

A: IQOO didn’t say anything about OS updates but it should get at least Android 13.

Q: What is the screen refresh rate of IQOO Z5 5G?

A: It has a 120Hz refresh rate.

Q: What is the touch sampling rate on IQOO Z5 5G?

A: It has a 240touch sampling rate.

Q: Does  IQOO Z5 5G has stereo speakers?

A: Yes.

Q: Does IQOO Z5 5G Wdevine L1 support??

A: Yes.

Q: Does IQOO Z5 5G has a camera2api enabled?

A: Yes.

Q: Does IQOO Z5 5G has 5G Support?

A: Yes.

Q: How many 5G bands do IQOO Z5 5G has?

A: IQOO Z5 5G only has two 5G bands.

Q: Does IQOO Z5 5G has fast charging support?

A: Yes, it has 44W wired fast charging support.

Q: Does IQOO Z5 5G has carrier aggregation support?

A: Yes.

IQOO Z5 5G Full Specifications

IQOO Z5 5G comes with a 6.67-inches 120Hz LCD, it’s powered by Snapdragon 778G SoC and running on Fun touch OS 12-based on Android 11. The device also has 64MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide lens, and 2MP macro while it has a 16MP selfie shooter.

For power, IQOO has added a 5,000 mAh battery with 44W fast charging support

Launch Date	27 September 2021
First Sale	3 October 2021, at noon via Amazon
Display Size	6.67 inches FHD+ LCD Pick Brightness of 650 nits HDR 10 Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels resolution
Dimensions	164.7 x 76.7 x 8.5 mm
Display Protection	Panda Glass
Touch Sampling Rate	240 touch sampling rate
Screen Refresh Rate	120Hz Refresh Rate
Build	Glass front (Panda Glass) Plastic frame Plastic back
OS	Funtouch OS 12 – Based on Android 11
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Adreno 642L
CPU	Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 670)
Storage	4GB Ram + 64GB Storage 4GB Ram + 128GB Storage – UFS 3.1 Storage – LPDDR 5 Ram
Card Slot	No SD Card Slot
Rear Cameras	64 MP Primary Sensor (Samsung GW3 Sensor) 8 MP Depth 2 MP Macro
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Front Camera	16MP Selfie Shooter
Video	1080p@30fps
3.5mm Jack	Yes
Stereo Speakers	Yes
NFC	No
Bluetooth Version	5.2
5G Support	Yes
IR Blaster	No
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Fingerprint Sensor	Side-Mounted
Battery	5000 mAh (non-removable)
Charging Speed	44W wired fast Charging
Charging Time	0% to 50% in 26 Minutes
Colors	Mystic Space and Artic Dawn.
Model Number	–
Weight	193 Gram
SAR Value	–
Price	8GB Ram + 128GB storage: Rs 23,990 8GB Ram + 256GB storage: Rs 26,990
In the box	IQOO Z5 5G Adapter 44W, USB Type C Cable, SIM Card Tool, Screen Protect Film, Important Info Booklet Quick Guide
Available at	Amazon