Our Top Pick: Buy the iQOO Z11i Now
An iQOO Z11 series buying guide helps budget shoppers choose between the already-launched iQOO Z11i and the rumoured Dimensity 7500-based Z11 Pro by comparing display, performance, battery, durability and AI capabilities in plain language so they can decide whether to buy now or wait for a possible future upgrade. For most people, the iQOO Z11i is the right budget phone to buy right now. It is real, on sale, and built around dependable value: a 6.74-inch HD+ LCD with 120Hz refresh, a large 6,500mAh battery, and the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip at entry-level pricing. You also get practical touches such as IP65 dust and water resistance and expandable storage, which matter more day to day than speculative future features. Unless you are intentionally holding out for stronger AI performance and higher-end specs, the Z11i is the safer, clearer choice.
iQOO Z11i Specs and Real-World Experience
The iQOO Z11i is designed as an entry-level workhorse that prioritises battery life, durability, and smooth scrolling over headline-grabbing performance numbers. Its 6.74-inch HD+ LCD runs at 120Hz and can hit up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness, with DC dimming, a paper-like viewing mode, and TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification for eye comfort. Under the hood, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 teams up with up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, plus microSD expansion for users who keep a lot of photos, apps, and offline video. A 6,500mAh battery with 15W charging and reverse wired charging backs all-day use. Everyday reliability is reinforced by an IP65 rating, SGS five-star drop resistance, side fingerprint reader, 3.5mm jack, IR blaster and hybrid dual-SIM slot. “The iQOO Z11i debuts in China as an entry-level model with price starting from ¥1,299 (approximately USD 190, approx. RM890).”
| Spec | iQOO Z11i | Rumoured Z11 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Dimensity 7500 (expected) |
| Display | 6.74" HD+ LCD, 120Hz | AMOLED, 1.5K, up to 144Hz (based on similar Dimensity 7500 phone) |
| Battery | 6,500mAh, 15W charging | 7,200mAh, 90W charging (reference Vivo S60e) |
| RAM | Up to 8GB | 12GB in leak |
| OS | Android 16, OriginOS 6 | Android 16, OriginOS 6 in leak |
| Durability | IP65, SGS drop resistance | Not yet confirmed |
| Storage | Up to 256GB + microSD | Not yet confirmed |
Rumoured iQOO Z11 Pro: Dimensity 7500 and AI Power
A new iQOO Z-series phone with model number I2514 has appeared on Geekbench AI, pointing strongly toward a performance-focused variant often referred to as the potential iQOO Z11 Pro. The listing shows MediaTek’s MT6881, expected to be the Dimensity 7500 processor, with four performance cores at 2.6GHz and four efficiency cores at 2.0GHz. It is paired with 12GB of RAM and runs Android 16 with OriginOS 6, clearly aiming above the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2-based Z11i. Geekbench AI scores of 1,174 (Single Precision), 1,757 (Half Precision), and 2,926 (Quantized) indicate strong on-device AI performance and efficient quantised workloads. According to the leak, this Dimensity 7500 phone is expected to sit at the top of the Z-series lineup, making it the choice for users who care about AI features, heavy multitasking and more premium hardware.
Should You Buy Now or Wait? Clear Recommendations
Your budget phone comparison comes down to a simple trade-off: guaranteed value today with the iQOO Z11i versus uncertain but likely higher performance from the rumoured Z11 Pro. The Z11i is available with clear iQOO Z11i specs, stable software and durability features that make it ideal for everyday users, students and anyone who needs a long-lasting device that will tolerate rain, accidental drops and a growing photo library. The Dimensity 7500 phone seen on Geekbench puts forward a different proposition: 12GB RAM, better AI scores and a chipset expected to outperform Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 in both raw and AI tasks. If you care about camera upgrades, faster charging and AMOLED displays, leaks referencing a Dimensity 7500 device similar to Vivo S60e suggest the upcoming model could be a more capable multimedia and gaming machine. However, its name, final specs and release timing are not yet confirmed.
- Buy the iQOO Z11i if you need a reliable budget phone right now with a 120Hz LCD, big 6,500mAh battery and IP65 protection.
- Skip the iQOO Z11i if you prioritise AMOLED displays, faster charging and are willing to wait for a Dimensity 7500-based Z11 Pro.
- Buy the iQOO Z11i if expandable storage, a 3.5mm headphone jack, IR blaster and proven drop resistance matter more than cutting-edge AI features.
- Skip the iQOO Z11i if you want 12GB RAM and stronger on-device AI performance suggested by the Dimensity 7500 Geekbench leak.
- Buy the rumoured Z11 Pro if you are a power user or mobile gamer who can wait and wants the most powerful Z-series phone with advanced AI scores.
- Skip the rumoured Z11 Pro if you dislike waiting for unconfirmed devices and prefer the certainty of a launched model with known iQOO Z11i specs and pricing.
