iQOO Z9s Pro vs OnePlus Nord CE4; Best Phone Under Rs 25000?

iQOO recently launched its budget-oriented Z9s series in the Indian market. The series consists of two devices, iOQO Z9s and iQOO Z9s Pro. The former is target for budget users whereas the latter is focused on mid-range buyers. The Z9s Pro seems to be a value-for-money offering on paper, but it faces tough competition in the under Rs 25,000 segment where the OnePlus Nord CE4 remains one of its biggest competitor. These devices have several similarities and differences, so let's compare them and see which one is better suited for you.

iQOO Z9s Pro vs OnePlus Nord CE4: Build and Design

The iQOO Z9s Pro uses a metallic frame and a plastic back panel whereas the OnePlus Nord CE4 is entirely made of plastic. The iQOO Z9s Pro gets an edge here because the metal frame is not only sturdier but also provides a premium in-hand feel. The iQOO Z9s Pro has a squarish camera module whereas the OnePlus Nord CE4 has a vertical camera layout. Both devices have a glossy finish, and the iQOO Z9s Pro is also available in vegan leather option. The OnePlus Nord CE4 has an IP54 rating whereas the iQOO Z9s Pro has an IP64 rating which is better.

iQOO Z9s Pro vs OnePlus Nord CE4: Display

Both these devices boast 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rate. The iQOO Z9s Pro has a peak brightness level of 1800 nits whereas the OnePlus Nord CE4 has a peak brightness level of 1100 nits. The iQOO gets a curved display with Scott α Glass protection, whereas the OnePlus Nord CE4 has a flat display but there is no specified glass protection, so iQOO takes the lead here too.

iQOO Z9s Pro vs OnePlus Nord CE4: Camera

Both devices have an almost identical camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary and 8MP ultrawide lens on the back and a 16MP shooter to take care of the selfies and video calls. Both devices have exactly the same hardware on paper and that’s why this round can be concluded as a tie.

iQOO Z9s Pro vs OnePlus Nord CE4: Performance 

Both devices are powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip, however, their software is miles apart. The Z9s Pro is running the Android 14-based custom FuntouchOS 14 which is a cumbersome skin with lots of customisation options whereas the Nord CE4 is running on the Oxygen OS which is comparatively lighter and closer to the stock Android experience. Other than this, the iQOO offers up to 12GB of RAM whereas the OnePlus only has a maximum of 8GB RAM, so if someone is continuously multitasking between heavy applications they might be better off with the iQOO here.

Price and Verdict 

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 and iQOO Z9s Pro are available at Rs 24,999 on Amazon India for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration. Going by the on-paper specs, the iQOO Z9s Pro takes the lead here in almost all categories and that’s why we feel it is a better option for most people. One can opt for the OnePlus Nord CE4 only if they want a cleaner software experience or a flat display.