CMF Phone 1vsiQOO Z9
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
CMF Phone 1 wins
Verdict
CMF Phone 1 wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
CMF Phone 1 is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 199, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Too close to call between iQOO Z9 and CMF Phone 1.
- CMF Phone 1 takes Display — led by peak brightness (2,000 nits).
- CMF Phone 1 takes Camera — led by video score (83 pts).
- iQOO Z9 takes Battery — led by charging speed (44 W).
- CMF Phone 1 takes Price — led by price (199 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want…
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,000 nits vs 1,800 nits.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want better video quality — 83 pts vs 62 pts.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want a better camera — 114 pts vs 92 pts.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want a lower price — 199 USD vs 299 USD.
Choose iQOO Z9 if you want…
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 700,000 pts vs 650,000 pts.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want faster charging — 44 W vs 33 W.
At a glance
- CMF Phone 1
- iQOO Z9
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
CMF Phone 1
Choose CMF Phone 1 if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 199, the lowest price in this group.
iQOO Z9
Choose iQOO Z9 if battery matters most. It costs USD 299.
Pros & cons
CMF Phone 1
- Swappable back design
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Very affordable
- Slow charging
- Average cameras
- No NFC in some markets
iQOO Z9
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Strong chip for the price
- 44 W charging
- No telephoto
- Plastic frame
- Average low-light camera