Vivo iQOO 16 vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
The Vivo iQOO 16 (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, while the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (2019) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads — 89/100 vs 54/100 (a 35-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo iQOO 16 has the bigger battery (8400 mAh vs 3300); the Vivo iQOO 16 is faster in AnTuTu (5,498,720 vs 824,513); the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer is noticeably lighter (173g vs 223g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Vivo iQOO 16
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
What makes Vivo iQOO 16 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 5498720 vs 824513
- Better Geekbench Single: 4327 vs 968
- Better Geekbench Multi: 12873 vs 2731
- Bigger battery: 8400 vs 3300 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 27W
- Faster wireless charging: 40W vs 20W
- Higher performance (100/100 vs 54/100)
- Longer battery life (90/100 vs 22/100)
- Better display (99/100 vs 83/100)
What makes Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer better?
- Lighter: 173g vs 223g
- Better portability (79/100 vs 42/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Vivo iQOO 16 vs the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer, the Vivo iQOO 16 scores 35 points higher (89/100 vs 54/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (100/100 vs 54/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (90/100 vs 22/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (100/100 vs 54/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 notably outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (99/100 vs 83/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (90/100 vs 22/100). In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO 16 (79/100 vs 42/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Vivo iQOO 16 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | |
| AnTuTu | 5498720 | 824513 | |
| Geekbench Single | 4327 | 968 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 12873 | 2731 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.4" Super AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1440x3168 | 1080x2340 | |
| Refresh rate | 165 Hz | — | |
| Battery | 8400 mAh | 3300 mAh | |
| Charging | 100W | 27W | |
| Wireless charging | 40W | 20W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | — | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 48 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 0 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 20 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 12GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB | |
| OS | Android 17 | Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 6000 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68/IP69 | — | |
| Dimensions | 163.8×76.9×8.3 mm | 157.5×74.7×7.6 mm | |
| Weight | 223 g | 173 g | |
| Launch price | $840 | — |
Camera comparison
Vivo iQOO 16
- Main: 50MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- Main: —
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Front: 20MP
Display comparison
Vivo iQOO 16
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3168
- Refresh rate: 165 Hz
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- 6.4" Super AMOLED
- Resolution: 1080x2340
- Refresh rate: —
Battery and charging
Vivo iQOO 16
- 8400 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 40W
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- 3300 mAh
- Wired: 27W
- Wireless: 20W
Overall performance score
We compared Vivo iQOO 16 and Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo iQOO 16 leads Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 566.9% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
Price unknownDetailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (100/100 vs 54/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 notably outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (99/100 vs 83/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (90/100 vs 22/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO 16 (79/100 vs 42/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Vivo iQOO 16 or the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 35 points (89/100 vs 54/100).
What is the rating of the Vivo iQOO 16 and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Vivo iQOO 16 has a MobileRank rating of 89/100, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer — 54/100.
Which is more powerful: the Vivo iQOO 16 or the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on performance (100/100 vs 54/100).
Should you choose the Vivo iQOO 16 over the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Vivo iQOO 16 is a better fit for gamers and power users, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.