The iQOO Neo 9 Pro was released in February this year, while the Poco F6 debuted just last month. Both phones fall under the Rs 35,000 price segment, and the emphasis is on performance, especially gaming. But which one truly excels when directly compared? And what about other factors such as camera and battery?
In this article, we’ve thoroughly evaluated both devices across key categories, including display quality, performance metrics, battery longevity, and more. Let’s explore which phone is the perfect fit for your needs.
Additionally, the Poco F6 offers more RAM with its 256GB variant. For the iQOO Neo 9 Pro, opting for the 12GB RAM version will cost nearly Rs 40,000. Meanwhile, the Poco F6’s model with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is priced at Rs 33,999. Therefore, if extra RAM and storage are your priorities, the Poco F6 is the more affordable choice.
iQOO Neo 9 Pro vs Poco F6: Design, Display
| iQOO Neo 9 Pro | Poco F6 |
| 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED | 6.67-inch AMOLED |
| 1260 x 2800 pixels | 1220 x 2712 pixels |
| 144Hz refresh rate | 120Hz refresh rate |
| 3000 nits of peak brightness | 2400 nits of peak brightness |
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro is slightly larger than the Poco F6, but there isn’t much difference in width. Both phones feel equally comfortable in hand. However, due to its vegan leather finish, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro offers a stronger grip.
Both phones feature two large camera rings on the back. The Poco F6 includes a third ring that houses a flashlight, while the iQOO Neo 9 Pro has a smaller boxy flashlight.
Design-wise, the Neo 9 Pro’s dual-tone finish looks stunning, especially if you want a smartphone with a mid-range price that offers two colours. However, the white colour on the phone’s left side may attract turmeric stains or general dirt. A transparent case should help protect it from these issues.
In contrast, the Poco F6 comes with a plastic back panel. We reviewed the Titanium colour, which does not attract smudges and isn’t glossy, reducing the risk of accidental slips.
Regarding the display, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro offers a 144Hz refresh rate, while the Poco F6 offers a 120Hz refresh rate. The scrolling animation on the iQOO Neo 9 Pro feels noticeably faster, though both devices provide an excellent scrolling experience.
Display
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The iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s display is bright indoors and outdoors, even under glaring sunlight. Multimedia consumption is superb, with accurate colours, deep blacks, and HDR10+ certification.
On the other hand, watching content on the Poco F6 is also enjoyable, with its neutral colour palette. The colours aren’t overly vivid, which can be preferable for some users. Like the Neo 9 Pro, the Poco F6 supports HDR10 certification and Widevine L1 on Netflix. While its display brightness is good indoors and outdoors, it’s not as bright as the Neo 9 Pro in direct sunlight.
Hence, if you’re prioritising a superior display and a stylish back panel in your smartphone purchase, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro has the edge. The Poco F6 also impresses with its stunning back panel, particularly if you love the titanium colour. However, when it comes to the display, the Poco F6’s colours, while neutral, don’t match the consistency and accuracy of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro.
iQOO Neo 9 Pro vs Poco F6: Performance
| iQOO Neo 9 Pro | Poco F6 |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| Adreno 740 | Adreno 735 |
| 12GB RAM | 12GB RAM |
| 256GB Storage | 512GB Storage |
| Antutu v10 Benchmark: 1634256 | Antutu v10 Benchmark: 1404605 |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core Test: 2048 | Geekbench 6 Single-Core Test: 1859 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core Test: 5740 | Geekbench 6 Multi-Core Test: 4669 |
As shown in the table above, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, the same processor used in flagship models like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and iQOO 11 from 2023. The Poco F6, on the other hand, debuts with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC.
iQOO Neo 9 Pro
1,634,256
POCO F6
1,404,605
AnTuTu Overall benchmark score analysis
In the Antutu v10 benchmark, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro outperformed the Poco F6. Similarly, in Geekbench 6, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro leads in single-core and multi-core tests.
iQOO Neo 9 Pro
2,048
POCO F6
1,930
Geekbench single-core benchmark score analysis
While these benchmark scores provide insight into the phones’ chipset performance, let’s evaluate their performance in real-world scenarios. We tested both phones by playing BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile with the AC and fan turned off. Refer to the table below to compare their performance.
Geekbench multi-core benchmark score analysis
| BGMI | iQOO Neo 9 Pro | Poco F6 |
|---|---|---|
| Settings | Ultra HDR graphics + Ultra frame rates | Ultra HDR graphics + Ultra frame rates |
| FPS | Maximum: 40fps | Maximum: 39fps |
| Result | This phone consistently performed at 40fps without any major drops during the gameplay. | The phone didn’t reach 40fps during the gameplay. However, major lags were noticed during parachuting. |
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro remained calm during the gameplay. In contrast, the Poco F6 experienced some heating, particularly near the camera module, but it wasn’t excessive and didn’t interfere with the gaming experience. That wraps up our BGMI testing. Next, let’s examine the performance of these phones in Call of Duty: Mobile, which is detailed in the table below.
Performance
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| Call of Duty: Mobile | iQOO Neo 9 Pro | Poco F6 |
|---|---|---|
| Settings | Very High graphics + High frame rates | Very High graphics + High frame rates |
| FPS | Maximum: 60fps | Maximum: 60fps |
| Result | The gaming session was excellent on this phone, with no drops. The phone was slightly heating up, but not too much. | The gameplay was quite smooth on this phone. Unfortunately, after a while, the back panel became uncomfortable to hold. |
Both smartphones handle everyday tasks effortlessly. Functions like calling, messaging, scrolling through Instagram, and casual web browsing are seamlessly managed on either device. If you’re seeking a smartphone with flagship-level gaming performance, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is an excellent choice. While the Poco F6 also provides a solid performance, its chipset may still require further optimisation to reach its full potential.
iQOO Neo 9 Pro vs Poco F6: Cameras
| iQOO Neo 9 Pro | Poco F6 |
| 50-megapixel Primary Camera with OIS (f/1.9) | 50-megapixel Primary Camera with OIS (f/1.6) |
| 8-megapixel Ultra-Wide Camera (f/2.2) | 8-megapixel Ultra-Wide Camera |
| 16-megapixel Selfie Camera (f/2.5) | 20-megapixel Selfie Camera (f/2.2) |
Both phones have similar primary and ultra-wide lenses on the back. For selfies, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro has a 16-megapixel front camera, whereas the Poco F6 features a higher-resolution 20-megapixel front camera.
Camera Module
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The iQOO Neo 9 Pro performs well in daylight, capturing detailed photos despite occasional noise at the edges. In low-light conditions, the image quality is good but lacks the sharpness of daylight shots. The ultra-wide mode produces mediocre results, with details that are just passable. The selfie camera on the iQOO Neo 9 Pro takes clear, well-detailed selfies.
On the other hand, the Poco F6 stands out with vibrant photos that exhibit excellent dynamic range and precise image processing. Its portrait mode is particularly nice, with accurate edge detection. The ultra-wide lens captures good photos, but the disparity in quality between it and the main camera is noticeable. Selfies are impressive under good lighting but fall short in low-light situations.
Poco F6 Camera Samples
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Therefore, the Poco F6 delivers superior daylight photography to the iQOO Neo 9 Pro, offering bright and consistently accurate colours.
iQOO Neo 9 Pro vs Poco F6: Software
| iQOO Neo 9 Pro | Poco F6 |
| Funtouch OS 14, based on Android 14 | Hyper OS, based on Android 14 |
| Three years of OS updates | Three years of OS updates |
| Four years of security updates | Four years of security updates |
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro runs on Funtouch OS 14, based on Android 14, while the Poco F6 ships with Hyper OS, also based on Android 14. Both brands have committed to providing three years of OS updates and an additional year of security updates.
Funtouch OS 14 boasts numerous features, including App Hiding for securing specific apps, dynamic effects, and charging animations. Unfortunately, the phone has pre-installed iQOO apps like iQOO(dot)com, iQOO Cloud, and V-AppStore, which cannot be deleted or disabled. Additionally, there are bloatware apps such as Snapchat, PhonePe, and Spotify, though fortunately, these can be uninstalled. Despite these drawbacks, the overall user experience is largely positive.
Software
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Hyper OS offers extensive lock screen customisation options and smooth app transitions. Unfortunately, it also comes with a significant amount of bloatware, some of which sends spam notifications. While the customisation options are impressive, the UI experience lacks the expected cleanliness.
Considering all these factors, in terms of software, both devices come with a slew of deletable bloatware apps. As for user experience, each has its strengths and weaknesses.
iQOO Neo 9 Pro vs Poco F6: Battery and Charging
| iQOO Neo 9 Pro | Poco F6 |
| 5160mAh Battery | 5000mAh Battery |
| 120W Fast Charging | 90W Fast Charging |
| Charging Time: 31 minutes | Charging Time: 45 minutes |
| PCMark Battery Test: 14 hours, 33 minutes | PCMark Battery Test: 12 hours 39 minutes |
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro boasts a 5160mAh battery, whereas the Poco F6 falls slightly behind with a 160mAh lower capacity. The Neo 9 Pro includes a 120W fast charger in the box, fully charging from empty in just 31 minutes. With light to moderate usage, this phone easily lasts a full day. With resource-heavy tasks such as gaming and continuous multimedia use, expect it to last eight to nine hours.
On the other hand, the Poco F6 also ships with a 120W fast charger, but it supports only 90W charging speed. Charging from 0 to 100 per cent takes 45 minutes, slightly longer than the Neo 9 Pro. The Poco F6 also holds up well throughout the day with moderate usage.
As the table above indicates, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro outlasted the Poco F6 by 1 hour and 59 minutes in the PCMark Battery Test.
Overall, both phones impress with their battery performance and solid overall functionality. However, if rapid charging is a priority, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro leads.
iQOO Neo 9 Pro vs Poco F6: Verdict
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro excels with its 144Hz refresh rate display, reliable performance across various tasks, and a battery that comfortably lasts a full day. However, it does have its shortcomings, particularly in software and camera quality. Despite these flaws, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is a superb gaming phone, meeting most expectations.
On the other hand, the Poco F6 also delivers solid performance and boasts a good-quality display. However, its chipset could benefit from further optimisation. Additionally, like the iQOO Neo 9 Pro, the Poco F6 too comes preloaded with numerous bloatware apps that can be bothersome. Still considering all these aspects, the Poco F6 is a commendable option at a starting price of Rs 29,999, though it does come with a few compromises.
