The first in vivo iQOO Z3 was released in China in April, and its successor, the iQOO Z5, which we now have with us, was released in September, so we can't expect a big leap forward. However, this does not mean that no updates are required. In fact, quite the opposite.
The new Z5 has a larger 6.67-inch screen (yet an IPS), a more powerful set of Snapdragon 778G chips, faster UFS 3.1 storage, a set of stereo speakers and increases battery capacity to 5,000 mAh. more in line with today’s standards.
In terms of design, there are no major changes, but the updated look is appropriate. The island of the chamber was rebuilt and a notch in the water droplet, which was initially polarizing, was gone. 2021 the hole in the center of the selfie camera is much more meaningful. After all, the iQOO Z Series is mostly for the Z generation (hence the name), so it has to keep up with the trends.
The handset comes in a standard package with a corresponding 44 W charger and USB-A to USB-C cable.
Design and management
It’s hard to compare the Z3 and Z5 this is mainly due to the plastic construction - the frame and back are made of plastic with a matte surface. This time, however, Tungshu, the manufacturer of the windscreen, is sharing the so-called Panda glass.
However, the phone is still quite comfortable to hold, and the back is now a little more curved to the side, which helps with grip. Also, the color of the plastic feels better, at least to the touch.
We liked the Arctic Dawn variant with a matte finish. It’s definitely a slightly better design than the Z3.
As mentioned earlier, the bump in the camera has been updated to take on a more blocked shape and is slightly larger. The transition from notch to hole is a very welcome decision, making the phone look more in line with today's design language.
The buttons on the side have good feedback, and the power button, which acts as a fingerprint reader, is fast and responsive.
Overall, the iQOO Z5 offers a beautiful, lightweight design that is quite affordable. Nothing unusual or special, but it solves some of the minor problems we faced with the previous design. Respect for that.
Hardware Overview
Starting from a screen that has grown from 6.58 inches to 6.67 inches and is protected by Panda glass. It is also HDR10 compliant and can achieve 600 nits of brightness according to in vivo specifications.
We did not have the opportunity to test it with the appropriate equipment, but the readability is good in bright sunlight. Text is easy to see, images and videos are not very good.
Interestingly, we checked the video standard support ourselves and found that the screen even includes the HDR10 + standard and HLG codecs. The Widevine L1 certification is also listed, making 1080p content available on Amazon Prime and Netflix.
Unfortunately, as long as the competition moves toward OLED boards, the Z5 is content with IPS. As a result, low contrast and HDR performance. After all, LCD panels have far fewer dimming zones than OLEDs.
Fast UFS 3.1 storage is also a welcome addition, although we doubt anyone will feel the difference from everyday use. Unfortunately, the new Z5 lacks a card slot, so there is no more memory expansion.
The rear camera setup has been moved from the Z3, which means that the popular budget 64 MP, 1 / 1.97 ", 0.7 µm sensor heads the camera compartment paired with an f / 1.8 aperture. 8 MP f / 2.2 ultra-wide a camera with a 120-degree field of view, and a third device used for macros, with only 2 MP resolution.
The self-portrait camera is reduced at the front. It's the same 16 MP sensor, but the aperture is now smaller at f / 2.5 compared to the older generation, which had an f / 2.0 aperture. We suspect that the new hole design forced the use of a smaller diaphragm in vivo.
The addition of stereo speakers is a big plus, as most similarly priced devices have one. It has become the standard for even mid-range devices.
The battery compartment is mixed this time as it has significantly increased capacity and reduced charging speed in vivo. So now you get a 5,000 mAh battery that charges more than 44 watts instead of a 4,400 mAh battery that consumes 55 watts. However, based on in vivo data, a 50% charge from the apartment should take 26 minutes.
Performance
We performed several synthetic reference tests to see if the Snapdragon 778G chipset and its implementation were working properly. And, of course, see if similarly priced competitors offer more raw horsepower.
Software
The phone runs Funtouch 12 and Android 11, which is a bit disappointing given that we’re well into the Android 12 era. OriginOS also appears to remain exclusive to the Chinese market, at least for the time being.
Otherwise, the system runs smoothly and without hiccups, but we noticed a few minor bugs. Messages clear themselves automatically, for example, accessing the latest apps menu takes some time to complete the gesture for no apparent reason.
Some apps, such as Quora and Chrome, did not exceed 60 Hz. Netflix, YouTube, Google Photos too, but that’s because you really don’t need HRR to watch videos or view your photo gallery.
Camera
Here are some examples taken using the main and ultra-wide camera. They are all captured with AI Scene Recognition mode and HDR set to Auto.
Verdict
While the upgrade to the iQOO Z5 is noticeable compared to its predecessor, the increased prices make it a less desirable option, especially given that it charges slower and skips the microSD card slot this time. More importantly, however, the in vivo decision to still use the LCD panel, even at 120 Hz, will undoubtedly distract some potential buyers.
And while the iQOO Z3 was a smart solution with a 5G connection at the time, things have changed in the last couple of months, and competitors have also boarded the 5G train. This means that 5G can no longer be the only selling point of the phone.
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