IQOO Z6 Lite 5G: Redefining Mobile Connectivity

iQOO Z6 Lite 5G

iQoo has introduced the Z6 Lite 5G as a budget-friendly 5G offering in the Indian market, positioning it as the entry point to their Z6 series. Priced at a modest starting point of Rs 13,999, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G brings forth dependable performance coupled with 5G network compatibility.

Draped in a shade known as Stellar Green, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G exudes a more premium appearance than its actual price point might suggest. Flaunting a flat frame and a plastic body, it maintains a thickness of 8.3mm and a weight of 194g. Notably, its LCD display stands out with its impressive 120Hz refresh rate, marking the highest in its price category.

The standout feature of the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G is its performance prowess, driven by the presence of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC. Complementing this power is a robust 5000mAh battery supported by 18W fast charging, though it's important to note that the charger isn't included in the package.

At the rear, a dual-camera configuration takes the spotlight, featuring a 50-megapixel primary camera paired with a 2MP depth sensor. While daylight captures exhibit commendable quality, the white balance can be somewhat hit or miss. Selfies are taken care of by an 8MP front camera.

On the software front, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G runs on the Funtouch OS 12, based on Android 12, straight out of the box. The software experience, however, comes bundled with pre-installed bloatware and occasional notifications from the browser app that might prove slightly intrusive. The custom skin, however, extends opportunities for software personalization and customization.

iQOO Z6 Lite 5G (64GB 4GB RAM)

iQOO Z6 Lite 5G (128GB 6GB RAM)

 

General

Dimensions (mm)	164 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)
Weight (g)	194 gm
Battery capacity (mAh)	5000 mAh
Fast charging	18W wired
Colours	Mystic Night, Stellar Green
IP Raiting	N/A

Display

Refresh Rate	120-240 Hz
Screen size (inches)	IPS LCD, 6.58 inches, 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio
Pixels per inch (PPI)	401ppi

Hardware

Processor CPU	Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Processor GPU	Adreno 619
RAM	4GB, 8 GB
Internal storage	64GB , 128GB

 

Camera

Rear camera -2	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Front camera	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)

Connectivity

Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC/ INFRARED	n/a
USB	Type-C, 2.0 , OTG
Headphones	3.5mm Jack
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass

 

Reviews

iQOO z6 g5 design and display

Presenting itself in two distinctive hues, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G arrives with the Stellar Green variant—although it leans more towards blue in appearance. The rear panel showcases a gradient finish that shimmers under illumination, effectively enhancing its visual allure. This color scheme effortlessly elevates the phone's aesthetic appeal beyond its price bracket. Remarkably, the back panel manages to repel fingerprints and smudges, maintaining its pristine appearance. For those inclined towards a more classic appearance, the Mystic Night color option is also available.

The iQoo Z6 Lite 5G features a flat frame design, housing a sizable rectangular camera module on the back, reminiscent of the Vivo V25 series. This design approach imparts a lightweight feel, defying its actual weight of 194g. Positioned along the right side are the tactile power and volume buttons, though they exhibit a somewhat recessed profile. The bottom section accommodates the USB Type-C port, flanked by the 3.5mm headphone jack and the speaker grille.

Moving to the front, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G boasts a 6.58-inch IPS LCD display with a full-HD+ resolution. The display's edges feature slender bezels, with the exception of the comparatively thicker chin at the bottom. A notable presence of backlight bleeding around the screen's edges is evident. While an AMOLED display would have been preferable for its heightened brightness and vibrancy, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G prioritizes a 120Hz refresh rate. While the software experience isn't the smoothest. I've encountered despite the high refresh rate, it's a compromise that aligns well with the device's pricing. In terms of brightness, the screen proves sufficiently luminous for outdoor use when maximizing the brightness setting. Similar to its predecessor, the iQoo Z6 5G, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G incorporates a waterdrop notch positioned at the display's upper section, contributing to a slightly dated visual impression.

iQOO Z6 Lite 5G performance and battery life

The iQoo Z6 Lite 5G truly shines in the realm of performance, positioning itself as one of the standout contenders within its price bracket. Whether it's handling daily tasks or delivering seamless gaming experiences, this phone proves its mettle. Titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 Legends run smoothly, even at higher settings—impressive for a device at the Rs. 15,499 mark. Occasional minor stutters are observable but remain tolerable considering the cost.

In the AnTuTu benchmark, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G impressively scored 3,85,763 points, surpassing pricier competitors such as the Moto G72 with a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC and the similarly priced Redmi 11 Prime 5G equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC. Notably, the device managed to maintain its coolness during intensive tasks, thanks to its four-component cooling system effectively managing heat dissipation.

The single bottom-firing speaker delivers commendable loudness. While a 3.5mm headphone jack is present, it's worth mentioning that wired earphones aren't included in the package. On the practical side, the side-mounted fingerprint scanner swiftly unlocks the device, complemented by less secure AI face recognition as an alternative. On the downside, the phone supports only two 5G bands—n77 and n78—an aspect that might leave users wanting more.

 

Battery endurance is far from disappointing, with the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G comfortably lasting through an entire day on a single charge. Even during days of active gaming and camera usage, the phone managed to offer around nine hours of screen-on time. Lighter usage patterns yielded over 10 hours of screen-on time. Impressively, in the battery loop test, the iQOO Z6 Lite 5G maintained a runtime of 15 hours and 2 minutes. Utilizing the 22.5W fast charger bundled with the Redmi 11 Prime 5G, it took roughly two hours to achieve a complete charge.

 

Turning to its camera capabilities, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G incorporates a dual-camera setup on the back, although only one sensor is practically functional. With a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, the primary camera surprisingly delivers satisfying results. Captures boast intricate details and slightly vibrant colors, aided by a post-processing algorithm that improves dynamic range. However, occasional white balance issues and color casts are noticeable. The phone's night mode corrects the sky color but introduces a pink cast while attempting to balance the white tones. Notably, the 4GB RAM variant lacks Night mode—a notable omission considering the support for up to 2GB of extended (virtual) RAM. The 8-megapixel front camera produces respectable selfies with balanced colors and details. Portrait mode, however, tends to over-smoothen skin, even when beauty mode is disabled. In contrast, standard Photo mode yields more authentic skin tones and textures.

In terms of video recording, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G enables up to 1080p at 60fps with the rear camera, while the front camera offers 1080p at 30 fps. Video color rendition is reasonable, though the dynamic range performance falls short of certain peers in this category.

(Disclaimer: When referencing rumors, clearly indicate that the content is not proven and is based on speculation.)