Exceptional Battery Performance, Tailored Experience

As the adage goes, "Weather can be unpredictable." Similarly, the surge in storage costs has caught many off guard, with far-reaching consequences.

Following in the footsteps of OPPO and OnePlus, vivo and iQOO have recently announced adjustments to the retail prices of select products. With the exception of entry-level budget phones, nearly all new releases this year have seen price hikes.

Amidst this trend, the iQOO Z11 emerged as the first mid-range device to hit the market post-price increases.

As a quintessential mid-range performance phone, the evolution of the iQOO Z series has consistently piqued the interest of gamers and budget-conscious consumers.

This iteration of the iQOO Z11 marks significant changes, boasting a new chassis design that distances itself from the previous vivo Y series and aligns more closely with the Turbo models of yesteryears.

(Source: Leitech)

With its refreshed product positioning, the iQOO Z11 offers impressive hardware specs. It is equipped with the latest MediaTek mid-range SOC—the Dimensity 8500—and features iQOO's largest-ever 9020mAh battery, along with a highly sought-after 165Hz high-refresh-rate display.

Yes, this phone is designed for longevity and performance.

As is customary, Leitech secured an early review unit two weeks ahead of launch. Let's delve into how the latest iQOO Z11 fares in real-world usage and whether it can set a new benchmark for mid-range phones in the wake of price hikes, excelling in both performance and battery life.

Impressive Battery Life, But Bulky Design

Before diving into gaming, let's discuss daily usage.

The 9020mAh battery significantly enhances the daily experience, with its pros and cons being starkly evident.

The primary advantage is the sense of security it provides—freedom from battery anxiety.

During my time with the device, I used it as my primary phone, with mobile 5G network enabled, 1.5K resolution, maximum 165Hz refresh rate, and automatic brightness.

Leaving home at 9 AM with a full charge, I listened to music on my commute. Throughout the morning, I occasionally searched for information and spent an hour and a half browsing short videos and social media during breaks. I also watched an episode of an online video during lunch. In the afternoon, I managed WeChat and work messages while casually playing a gacha game.

(Source: Leitech)

By 6:30 PM when I left work, I checked the battery level and was pleasantly surprised to see 58% remaining.

What does this mean? For most moderate or light users, the iQOO Z11 could easily last two days on a single charge. Even for heavy users like myself, it can comfortably support a full day of intensive use, with some battery left by nighttime.

This means you can confidently use it as a mobile hotspot, navigate for extended periods without worry, or even use it as a gaming console or video player during long trips.

To simulate the experience of a delivery rider, I took it out for an hour-long electric bike ride on the weekend. While I couldn't test order picking and delivery, I confirmed a few things: first, the screen brightness remains readable at noon; second, it gets quite hot in the sun, but performance remains smooth.

(Source: Leitech)

As for charging, after draining the battery, a full charge took 49 minutes to reach 49% and 69 minutes to reach 100%, which is typical for a long-lasting phone.

Of course, such battery life comes with trade-offs.

The first trade-off is the feel and weight. Physical laws cannot be defied—a 9000mAh battery ensures this phone won't be sleek and lightweight.

My measurements show the iQOO Z11 is approximately 8.35mm thick and weighs 219g with a screen protector, comparable to popular 'ultra' models. While it doesn't feel overly heavy in hand, holding it for extended gaming or video sessions puts noticeable strain on the wrist.

(Source: Leitech)

The second trade-off, and my biggest gripe, is the build quality.

It's 2026, and at a price point over 2,000 yuan, the iQOO Z11 still uses a plastic frame and back cover, with inconsistent heights between the back and frame, creating a scraping sensation when sliding it in and out of pockets.

More concerning than aesthetics is durability. A friend's Z10 Turbo from last year, also with a plastic frame, developed two small dents from keys in a pocket despite no drops or impacts.

Honestly, I have to question its long-term durability.

Decent Performance, Struggles with 'Endfield'

After discussing daily use, let's examine its core strength: gaming.

The iQOO Z series has always been gaming-oriented, and the Z11 is no exception, featuring the latest full-spec Dimensity 8500 processor paired with a flagship-grade Monster gaming engine.

Before discussing real-world performance, let's understand the Dimensity 8500 objectively.

In terms of architecture and benchmarks, it resembles a frequency-boosted version of the previous Dimensity 8400, a conventional upgrade with modest performance improvements—primarily an GPU upgrade to Mali-G720 MC8, adding one more GPU core compared to its predecessor.

(Source: Leitech, rendered with Gemini)

Our unit scored 2.31 million on AnTuTu, with GPU performance slightly below the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 and other scores comparable.

(Source: Leitech)

However, for mid-range phones, performance isn't just about raw power—stability and power efficiency matter more.

Let's judge by gaming performance.

First up is the veteran benchmark 'Genshin Impact.' At room temperature (25°C), with high graphics and 60fps mode enabled, I tested exploration and combat.

After 30 minutes, the average framerate stabilized around 59.3fps, with smooth visuals and no noticeable stutters. The back reached around 42°C, warm but acceptable. This shows the Dimensity 8500 handles mainstream AAA games comfortably.

(Source: Leitech)

Moreover, this is where the iQOO Z11 shines brightest.

After 30 minutes of 'Genshin Impact,' many slim phones might lose 14% or more battery, while the Z11 only consumed about 8%. This means you can game for hours without constantly checking the battery, assuming you don't get tired first.

Next, I tested 'Arknights: Endfield,' the current most demanding game, at room temperature (25°C), with high graphics and 60fps mode enabled, for exploration and combat.

After 30 minutes, the average framerate hovered around 54fps. While the number seems decent, frequent frame drops occurred—not to the point of lag, but noticeable slowdowns. The back reached around 43°C, suggesting poor optimization for MediaTek chips.

(Source: Leitech)

Now, about the display: the iQOO Z11 is the first iQOO device with a 165Hz refresh rate.

Testing with 'Call of Duty: Mobile,' the increased smoothness is noticeable during quick turns and aiming, though it didn't improve my gameplay—I still got destroyed by human players.

(Source: Leitech)

For daily use, most apps and system interfaces on the iQOO Z11 max out at 120Hz. Even if restrictions are lifted later, the marginal benefits of 165Hz are minimal, and few games natively support 165fps.

Thus, this spec is more of a bonus—don't overhype it.

Overall, the iQOO Z11 offers a solid gaming experience. Its strength lies not in peak performance but in efficient cooling and superior battery life, ensuring stable and smooth gameplay over extended sessions.

Design and Camera? Good Enough

Finally, let's briefly discuss design and photography.

I placed these last because they're clearly not the iQOO Z11's focus.

Design-wise, it follows iQOO's signature style with sharp lines and a gaming aesthetic, though its design language isn't particularly refined—durable but unremarkable.

(Source: Leitech)

My unit is 'Celestial White,' which looks more like silver and smudges easily.

(Source: Leitech)

The camera system is merely adequate.

The iQOO Z11 features a LYT600 primary sensor (1/1.953-inch) with optical stabilization. In bright daylight, photos are clear and colorful enough for social media and casual use, but nothing more.

(Source: Leitech)

At dusk, image quality declines noticeably—brightening is decent, but noise increases significantly.

(Source: Leitech)

In short, the camera is for scanning QR codes and emergencies. If you care about photography—portraits, night scenes—the iQOO Z11 will disappoint.

Conversely, for users who treat phones purely as gaming devices and communication tools, this camera setup suffices.

Conclusion: A Distinctive Mid-Range Phone with Exceptional Battery Life

Following Leitech's tradition, let's summarize the iQOO Z11's pros and cons.

Pros:

1. Exceptional battery life, lasting up to two days on a single charge.

2. Stable and smooth gaming performance with good cooling.

Cons:

1. Bulky and heavy, with subpar ergonomics.

2. Basic camera system.

Pricing: iQOO Z11 starts at 1,999 yuan for 8GB+256GB, 2,299 yuan for 12GB+256GB, 2,599 yuan for 16GB+256GB, 2,799 yuan for 12GB+512GB, and 3,199 yuan for 16GB+512GB.

(Source: iQOO)

After several days of intensive use, I believe the iQOO Z11 is a mid-range phone with prominent strengths and weaknesses.

In the 2,000–3,000 yuan range, the standard iQOO Z11 obsessively prioritizes battery life, reaching industry-leading levels with an energy-efficient processor and a large battery that rivals some 10,000mAh devices.

Correspondingly, it sacrifices exquisite feel, excellent imaging, and high-grade materials, focusing all costs on the battery and performance.

Therefore, the target user group for this phone has become exceptionally clear.

If you are a hardcore gaming enthusiast, especially a college student with a limited budget but eager to play long gaming sessions with roommates in the dorm; or if you are a food delivery rider or ride-hailing driver who needs the phone's screen to stay on for extended navigation, then the iQOO Z11 Standard Edition can be considered a miraculous device tailored just for you.

However, if you care about the phone's lightweight feel, enjoy taking photos to document your life, or have higher demands for product texture and durability, then there are plenty of more balanced and suitable options on the market than this one.

iQOO Z11 vivo smartphone

Source: Leikeji

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