The first high-end Android smartphone to reach India in 2023 is the iQoo 11 5G. The phone replaces the iQoo 9T, which was released last year. The iQoo 11 5G, touted as the fastest Android phone in the world, is powered by Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The phone also includes high-end components such a 2K AMOLED display, a 50-megapixel primary camera, and 120W fast charging.
Although the new phone now has certain “pro” features, as they say, upgrades are not free. The price of the iQoo 11 5G is significantly higher than the previous version. Should you purchase the iQoo 11 5G now or wait for the release of other flagship phones? Here is our thorough analysis to aid with your decision.
Price of iQoo 11 5G in India
Two variations of the iQoo 11 5G have been released. The base model comes with 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage and 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The cost is Rs. 59,999. The model we are reviewing has 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM for a price of Rs. 64,999. Cardholders of HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are qualified for a Rs. 5,000 discount as part of the launch offers.
Display and design of the iQoo 11 5G
There are two colour options and finishes for the iQoo 11 5G. The manufacturer sent us the Legend model, which has a traditional white back panel with a racing stripe pattern modelled after BMW Motorsport. This specific variation combines silicone leather and fibreglass. The phone has a very energising sensation in the hand and is pretty attractive to look at. For those who prefer the traditional black colour, the Alpha colour option, which features a glass back, is a safer choice. Both variants include metal chassis for increased durability and a more upscale appearance.
The phone cannot be used with one hand because it is rather tall. It is approximately 8.72mm thick. On the right side of the phone, you can easily access the power and volume controls. Although the phone weighs roughly 205g, it does not feel particularly hefty. Of course, you will notice the hefty weight if you are switching from a lighter phone.
Features
The iQoo 11 5G’s front features a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with 2K resolution. The viewing experience is excellent since the screen offers vibrant colours and deep blacks. The set of extra features that improve the multimedia experience are the icing on the cake. These include compatibility for WideVine L1 and HDR10 material in apps like Netflix, as well as peak brightness of up to 1800 nits (for use outdoors, in direct sunlight).
According to the content on the screen, the iQoo 11 5G’s display intelligently alternates between 1Hz and 144Hz. Since most of the apps I tried operated at 120Hz in my experience, it appears like iQoo has some optimizations for running apps at 144Hz in the works. I preferred utilising Smart Switch, which dynamically adjusts the refresh rate based on the system power consumption and real usage circumstances, over the other two refresh rate settings. Strangely, there were a few UI stutters on a small number of apps, including Twitter and Instagram. The iQoo 11 5G features relatively narrow bezels surrounding its AMOLED display. As an alternative, you can choose Standard (60Hz) or High for the refresh rate (up to 144Hz).
Specifications and software for iQoo 11 5G
As previously reported, the iQoo 11 5G is the first smartphone in India to use the latest top Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. Additionally, there is a Vivo V2 chip that is specifically designed for gaming, displaying, and cameras. The phone has a larger 5,000mAh battery than the Infinix Zero 20‘s 4,500mAh battery. Inside the box comes the 120W rapid charger.
A rapid and responsive in-display fingerprint scanner and AI face recognition are both supported. Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, USB Type-C, GPS, and other wireless technologies are included. It is regrettable that the iQoo 11 5G lacks wireless charging capability and an IP rating.
The iQoo 11 5G runs the most recent version of Android 13 right out of the box. On top of it is a layer of Funtouch OS 13 from Vivo. The custom skin offers a variety of customization choices, including the ability to alter backgrounds, app icon size and shape, and animations. Additionally, Funtouch OS 13 supports Android 13’s system UI colour palette functionality and modifies the system’s overall colour based on the user-selected wallpaper or theme.
Users of Funtouch OS can also create guest profiles so that other people can use the same phone without having access to their apps or data. Consider it to be similar to a Netflix or Amazon Prime Video user profile, where each user keeps a record of their own viewing habits and other preferences. Those who frequently lend their phones to others for use will find this privacy option useful.
Performance and battery life of the iQoo 11 5G
The iQoo 11 5G’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC is a powerful chip. While using the gadget for normal work or playing games, I did not feel any lag at all. Even with the visuals set to “Very High” and the frame rate at “Max,” Call of Duty: Mobile performed admirably. Even after a few matches, which lasted for around 20 minutes each, the phone did not become as warm as I had anticipated. I also played Asphalt 9 Legends, and that game was excellent as well, with no lag or stuttering.
The iQoo 11 5G has a feature called frame rate interpolation, which supposedly adds more frames to a game even if it doesn’t truly support it. Users can also decide between Battery Saver, Balanced, and Monster power modes under the “Ultra Game” option. While Monster mode unlocks the SoC’s full performance at the expense of battery life, Balanced mode provides a balance of good performance and power efficiency.
To determine if the iQoo 11 5G could meet the manufacturer’s reported score of 13,23,820 points on AnTuTu, I conducted a few benchmarks. Our review unit’s AnTuTu score of 12,63,366 was lower than the stated number. Having said that, it ranks among the best results we have so far tallied. The Asus ROG Phone 6 (Review), powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, loses to the iQoo 11 5G by a respectable margin. In the single-core and multi-core tests on Geekbench, the iQoo 11 5G also received scores of 884 and 3099.
Verdict
The iQoo 11 5G becomes the standard for Android flagship phones in 2023. Despite the fact that aesthetic preferences are purely personal, I quite enjoyed the faux-leather back of the Legend edition. However, I hope iQoo tries out additional colour combinations because having only two colours is somewhat restrictive. The phone also fulfils other requirements by providing a fantastic display, reliable performance, and a long battery life. The 11 5G loses some points for lacking wireless charging and an IP certification.
The primary camera is functional and has several cool functions, such video in night mode. However, a better ultra-wide camera was something that the phone that costs Rs. 64,999 ought to have. In fact, we believe the iQoo 9 Pro (Review) would be a better choice for you and has a better camera arrangement at a lesser cost. The iQoo 9 Pro is still a terrific deal if you’re not into numbers because it has wireless charging and a superior Ultrasonic fingerprint reader.