Redmi Note 9S vs Vivo iQOO 16
The Redmi Note 9S (2020) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, while the Vivo iQOO 16 (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6; launch prices were $200 and $840. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads — 89/100 vs 39/100 (a 50-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo iQOO 16 has the bigger battery (8400 mAh vs 5020); the main camera is 48 MP vs 50 MP; the Vivo iQOO 16 is faster in AnTuTu (5,498,720 vs 517,460); the Vivo iQOO 16 has NFC for contactless payments, the Redmi Note 9S doesn't.
Profile comparison
Category scores
Redmi Note 9S
Vivo iQOO 16
What makes Redmi Note 9S better?
- Lighter: 210g vs 223g
- Cheaper at launch: $200 vs $840
- Better portability (44/100 vs 42/100)
What makes Vivo iQOO 16 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 5498720 vs 517460
- Better Geekbench Single: 4327 vs 746
- Better Geekbench Multi: 12873 vs 1762
- Bigger battery: 8400 vs 5020 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 18W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 48MP
- Higher refresh rate: 165Hz vs 60Hz
- Higher performance (100/100 vs 41/100)
- Better camera (78/100 vs 34/100)
- Longer battery life (90/100 vs 43/100)
- Better display (99/100 vs 42/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Redmi Note 9S vs the Vivo iQOO 16, the Vivo iQOO 16 scores 50 points higher (89/100 vs 39/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (100/100 vs 41/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (78/100 vs 34/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (90/100 vs 43/100). Value score: Redmi Note 9S — 38/100, Vivo iQOO 16 — 92/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S (100/100 vs 41/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S (99/100 vs 42/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S (78/100 vs 34/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S (90/100 vs 43/100). In the "portability" category, the Redmi Note 9S and the Vivo iQOO 16 are nearly equal (44/100 vs 42/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Redmi Note 9S | Vivo iQOO 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | |
| AnTuTu | 517460 | 5498720 | |
| Geekbench Single | 746 | 4327 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 1762 | 12873 | |
| Display | 6.7" IPS LCD | 6.8" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2400x1080 | 1440x3168 | |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 165 Hz | |
| Battery | 5020 mAh | 8400 mAh | |
| Charging | 18W | 100W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 40W | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 16 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 4GB / 6GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 17 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 450 nits | 6000 nits | |
| NFC | no | yes | |
| Protection | — | IP68/IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 165.8×76.7×8.8 mm | 163.8×76.9×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 210 g | 223 g | |
| Launch price | $200 | $840 |
Camera comparison
Redmi Note 9S
- Main: 48MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Front: 16MP
Vivo iQOO 16
- Main: 50MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Redmi Note 9S
- 6.7" IPS LCD
- Resolution: 2400x1080
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Vivo iQOO 16
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3168
- Refresh rate: 165 Hz
Battery and charging
Redmi Note 9S
- 5020 mAh
- Wired: 18W
- No wireless charging
Vivo iQOO 16
- 8400 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 40W
Overall performance score
We compared Redmi Note 9S and Vivo iQOO 16, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo iQOO 16 leads Redmi Note 9S by 90.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $640. Redmi Note 9S was $640 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S (100/100 vs 41/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S (99/100 vs 42/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S (78/100 vs 34/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S (90/100 vs 43/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Redmi Note 9S and the Vivo iQOO 16 are nearly equal (44/100 vs 42/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Redmi Note 9S or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9S by 50 points (89/100 vs 39/100).
What is the rating of the Redmi Note 9S and the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Redmi Note 9S has a MobileRank rating of 39/100, the Vivo iQOO 16 — 89/100.
Which has the better camera: the Redmi Note 9S or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on camera score (78/100 vs 34/100).
Which is more powerful: the Redmi Note 9S or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on performance (100/100 vs 41/100).
Should you choose the Redmi Note 9S over the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 is a better fit for gamers and power users, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.