iQOO Z9vsVivo Y28
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
iQOO Z9 wins
Verdict
iQOO Z9 wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
iQOO Z9 is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — display is its standout. It costs USD 299 — USD 120 more than the Vivo Y28. Pay the premium if display is your priority.
- iQOO Z9 takes Performance — led by performance score (700,000 pts).
- iQOO Z9 takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- iQOO Z9 takes Camera — led by selfie camera (16 MP).
- Vivo Y28 takes Battery — led by battery (6,000 mAh).
- Vivo Y28 takes Price — led by price (179 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose iQOO Z9 if you want…
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 700,000 pts vs 320,000 pts.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a sharper screen — 395 ppi vs 264 ppi.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 90 Hz.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,800 nits vs 550 nits.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 8 MP.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want better video quality — 62 pts vs 44 pts.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a better camera — 92 pts vs 72 pts.
Choose Vivo Y28 if you want…
- Choose Vivo Y28 if you want longer battery life — 6,000 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose Vivo Y28 if you want a lower price — 179 USD vs 299 USD.
At a glance
- iQOO Z9
- Vivo Y28
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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?
iQOO Z9
Choose iQOO Z9 if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 299.
Vivo Y28
Choose Vivo Y28 if price matters most. It costs USD 179, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
iQOO Z9
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Strong chip for the price
- 44 W charging
- No telephoto
- Plastic frame
- Average low-light camera
Vivo Y28
- 6,000 mAh battery
- 44 W charging
- Big display
- Helio G85 is dated
- No 5G
- Average camera