The budget smartphone market in India is growing very fast, and brands are trying to offer the best features at a low price. In 2025, two popular 5G smartphones under Rs 15,000 are the iQOO Z9x 5G and the Realme Narzo 70x 5G. Both phones are powerful, stylish, and made for young users who want good performance without spending too much money. But which one is the better choice? Let us compare these two phones in terms of design, display, performance, battery, camera, and price.
Design and Build Quality
Both iQOO and Realme have made their phones look premium even at a budget price.
- iQOO Z9x 5G comes with a slim body and a simple matte finish, which feels modern and elegant. It is also quite lightweight, making it comfortable to use for long hours.
- Realme Narzo 70x 5G has a bold design with a shiny back and unique patterns, which gives it a trendy look. It is slightly heavier than the iQOO phone but still easy to hold.
If you prefer a clean and classy design, iQOO Z9x 5G might suit you. But if you like stylish and eye-catching looks, Realme Narzo 70x 5G will impress you.
Display Quality
The display is one of the most important parts of any smartphone.
- iQOO Z9x 5G features a 6.6-inch LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling and gaming very smooth.
- Realme Narzo 70x 5G offers a slightly bigger 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate as well. The AMOLED panel gives better colors, deeper blacks, and improved brightness compared to LCD.
In terms of display quality, Realme Narzo 70x 5G has an advantage because AMOLED screens are better for watching videos and playing games.
Performance and Processor
Performance matters a lot, especially for gamers and heavy users.
- iQOO Z9x 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor. This chipset is powerful and efficient, perfect for gaming and multitasking.
- Realme Narzo 70x 5G comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor. It is also a strong processor, but Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is slightly better when it comes to gaming performance and graphics.
If you want the best performance under Rs 15,000, iQOO Z9x 5G has a slight edge over the Narzo 70x 5G.
Camera Comparison
Cameras are another important factor when choosing a smartphone.
- iQOO Z9x 5G offers a 50MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor at the back. For selfies, it has a 16MP front camera.
- Realme Narzo 70x 5G also has a 64MP main camera with a 2MP secondary lens, and a 16MP front camera.
In real-life photography, both phones give good results in daylight. However, Realme’s 64MP camera captures slightly sharper and more detailed photos. For low-light photos, both phones perform similarly.
Battery and Charging
Battery backup is very important for users who are always on the go.
- iQOO Z9x 5G packs a 6,000mAh battery with 44W fast charging, which can easily last for 1.5 to 2 days with normal usage.
- Realme Narzo 70x 5G has a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging, which charges faster but doesn’t last as long as iQOO’s bigger battery.
If you need long battery life, iQOO Z9x 5G is better. But if you prefer faster charging, Realme Narzo 70x 5G is the winner.
Software and Features
Both phones run on Android 14 with their custom skins. iQOO uses Funtouch OS, while Realme has Realme UI. Both offer smooth performance and regular updates, though Realme UI is slightly cleaner and has fewer pre-installed apps compared to Funtouch OS.
Price and Value for Money
Both iQOO Z9x 5G and Realme Narzo 70x 5G are priced under Rs 15,000, making them very competitive. The iQOO Z9x 5G gives better gaming performance and battery life, while the Realme Narzo 70x 5G offers a better display and faster charging.
Which One Should You Buy?
- Buy iQOO Z9x 5G if you want a phone with powerful gaming performance, bigger battery life, and a clean design.
- Buy Realme Narzo 70x 5G if you want a better AMOLED display, stylish design, and faster charging.
Both are excellent 5G phones under Rs 15,000, but your choice will depend on what you value more – performance and battery (iQOO) or display and charging speed (Realme).