The iQOO 9 SE 5G came out in February 2022. Even though it is four years old now, this phone still works great. It has a Snapdragon 888 chip inside. This is the same chip that expensive phones used back then.
The phone cost around 35,000 rupees when it was new. Now you can buy a refurbished one for less than 25,000 rupees. That is a good deal for students and people who want a fast phone without spending too much money.
Design That Looks Good and Feels Strong
The phone is not too big and not too small. It is 163.2mm tall, 76.4mm wide, and 8.4mm thick. It weighs 199 grams. You can hold it with one hand easily.
The front has Panda Glass to protect the screen. The frame is made of plastic but it does not break easily. It can handle light rain and dust. You get two color options: Space Fusion and Sunset Sierra.
The fingerprint scanner is under the screen. It unlocks very fast. The phone has space for two SIM cards. But there is no slot for a memory card. You get either 128GB or 256GB storage built in.
Screen That Makes Everything Look Amazing
The screen is 6.62 inches big. It uses Super AMOLED technology. The resolution is 1080 x 2400 pixels. This means everything looks sharp and clear.
The best part is the 120Hz refresh rate. This makes scrolling and gaming super smooth. When you play games like BGMI or PUBG, everything moves without lag. The touch response is 360Hz which is very fast.
The screen gets very bright. It can reach 1200 nits at peak. You can see everything clearly even in direct sunlight. The phone supports HDR10+ for better colors in videos.
Performance Specifications
Here is a table showing the main specs:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 5G |
| CPU Speed | Up to 2.84GHz |
| RAM Options | 8GB or 12GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB or 256GB |
| GPU | Adreno 660 |
| Operating System | Android 12, Funtouch OS 12 |
Gaming Power That Does Not Slow Down
The Snapdragon 888 chip is very powerful. It has eight cores that work together. One core runs at 2.84GHz for heavy tasks. Three cores run at 2.42GHz. Four cores run at 1.80GHz for light work.
The phone scores over 850,000 points in AnTuTu benchmark. This means it can run any game or app smoothly. You can play games like Genshin Impact on medium to high settings without problems.
The phone has a cooling system inside. It uses liquid cooling and graphite layers. This keeps the phone from getting too hot during long gaming sessions. Other phones from 2022 get too hot but the iQOO 9 SE stays cool.
Camera Setup That Takes Good Photos
The main camera is 48 megapixels. It uses a Sony IMX582 sensor. It has optical image stabilization or OIS. This helps take clear photos without blur.
There is also a 13 megapixel ultrawide camera. It can capture 120 degrees which is great for group photos or landscapes. The third camera is 2 megapixels for depth. It helps make portrait photos with nice background blur.
The front camera is 16 megapixels. It takes good selfies and video calls look clear. You can record 4K videos at 60 frames per second. The gyro stabilization keeps videos steady.
Night mode works well for low light photos. The camera is not the best in 2026 but it is still good enough for social media and daily use.
Battery Life and Super Fast Charging
The battery is 4500mAh. This is enough for one full day of normal use. If you play games a lot, you can still get 10 to 11 hours of screen time.
The charging is very fast. It supports 66W FlashCharge. You can charge 50% of the battery in just 14 minutes. A full charge takes only 39 minutes.
This is very helpful when you need to charge quickly between classes or during a short break. The phone also has smart charging that protects battery health when you charge overnight.
Audio and Other Features
The phone has stereo speakers. They sound loud and clear. You can watch videos or play games without headphones and still enjoy good sound.
There is no headphone jack. You need to use Bluetooth earphones or USB-C headphones. The phone has an X-axis linear motor. This gives good vibration feedback when you type or play games.
Special Gaming Features
The phone has many gaming features. Monster Mode gives extra power for 90 minutes when you need it. Frame Stabilization keeps the frame rate steady in games.
Network Booster helps grab weak signals. This is useful when you play online games in areas with bad network. You can also customize touch sensitivity. Ultra Game Mode blocks notifications during games so nothing disturbs you.
Software Updates and Support
The phone came with Android 12 and Funtouch OS 12. iQOO has given updates and some users now run Funtouch OS 14. The company promised security updates through 2025.
The software is clean and does not have too much bloatware. The animations are smooth and you can use gesture navigation. Service centers are available in many cities across India.
How It Holds Up in 2026
People who bought this phone in 2022 still love it in 2026. The battery still holds about 87% of its original capacity after years of use. The performance is still good for most games and apps.
The phone is great for students, content creators, and anyone who wants good performance without spending a lot. It works well in areas with weak network signals.
Should You Buy It Now
If you find a refurbished iQOO 9 SE under 25,000 rupees, it is worth buying. You get flagship performance from 2022 at a mid-range price in 2026.
The phone is good for gaming, watching videos, and taking photos. The fast charging is very convenient. The only downsides are no memory card slot and no headphone jack.
For people who want a powerful phone but have a tight budget, this is a smart choice. It beats many new budget phones that cost the same price.
