Iqoo's Ridiculous BMW-Branded 9 Pro Phone Is the Silliness the World Needs Now
Remember when phones were fun? Recently, I've slotted my SIM into a bunch of high-end models that will never come to the US. The latest, the BMW Motorsport-branded Iqoo 9 Pro, is a ridiculous, over-the-top smartphone that can't help but make you smile. Of course, like a high-performance sports car, this phone is completely impractical as a daily driver in the US. Inspired by its out-of-the-box design, I couldn't help but use it for a few days anyway.
Iqoo is one of the many brands that operate under BBK, a Chinese conglomerate that also owns OnePlus (the only subsidiary with US products), Oppo, Realme, and Vivo. All of these companies produce somewhat distinct phones, but share significant resources and technologies.
A big, flat phone with a curved screen and even louder branding than OnePlus' McLaren model, the Iqoo 9 Pro is like a thousand-dollar tracksuit that gets you automatic admission to a club where they're playing this.
The 9 Pro is so proud of its racing stripe that it comes with a matte case with the same design. Iqoo could have opted for a clear case like its cousins OnePlus and Oppo do, but that would diminish the stripe's effect. It's clear that Iqoo wants the aggressive Beemer branding to always shine through.
I tested the Indian version of the 9 Pro, which costs the equivalent of $870—quite reasonable for a supercar.
Unlike the Oppo Find X5 Pro, the Iqoo 9 Pro defaults to Google's browser and messaging apps. Its software skin feels lighter and more attractive than Oppo's ColorOS, too. Yes, the phone comes with randomly appearing Indian bloatware apps, but that's more forgivable than a toxic Android skin.
The specs are in line with other high-end handsets, including a 6.8-inch, 3,200-by-1,440-pixel, 120Hz
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