iQOO Z9 Lite: What’s coming in the new budget 5G phone?

The Chinese brand just confirmed the Indian launch date for the iQOO Z9 Lite via an Amazon listing. The microsite revealed the 15th July 2024 launch date but also confirmed more details regarding its specifications. We know that this device offers 5G networking thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC. This processor is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It is unknown whether other storage configuration will also be available in India. Although, it may offer storage expansion via a microSD card slot.

Reports have hinted that the iQOO Z9 Lite is basically a rebranded Vivo T3 Lite. This is apparent when we look at the designs of the two mid-range devices. These look practically identical with the textured rear panel and the camera module, which houses the two image sensors. But while the Vivo T3 Lite comes in a Vibrant Green and Majestic Black, the iQOO Z9 Lite is rumored to launch in brown and blue color options. An official tweet that was shared earlier today (2nd July 2024) showcased the smartphone in the Blue option.

iQOO hasn’t revealed finer details like its camera or display specifications so far. If the rebranded Vivo T3 Lite rumor is true, then the iQOO Z9 Lite could also sport a 6.56-inch LCD panel that offers HD+ resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, a 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 840 nits of peak brightness. For photography, you get a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor on the rear. Meanwhile, the front houses an 8-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calls.

iQOO Z9 Lite is a brand-new device, which will likely run on the Android 14 OS based Funtouch OS 14 custom skin out of the box. A large 5,000mAh battery pack may power this phone, which supports 15W wired fast charging. Other notable features include an IP64 rating for water and dust resistance, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.4, USB Type-C port, and a side mounted fingerprint scanner.

The Vivo T3 Lite came in two storage options, namely 4GB + 128GB and 6GB + 128GB variants. It has a starting price tag of 10,499 INR, while the higher end option was announced for 11,499 INR. So we can expect a similar price range that is likely under 12,000 INR.