Iqoo 7 Legend arrives in India: Cheap flagship gaming phone for racing fans

After it made its Chinese debut earlier this year, vivo sub-brand Iqoo has announced its new Iqoo 7 series in India.

Two devices, namely the Iqoo 7 and the Iqoo 7 Legend, do feature some aesthetic differences. The Legend is cloaked in a BMW Motorsport-inspired three-stripe livery with a more square camera array at the rear. The standard Iqoo 7 is more restrained in its colorway options and features a more rectangular camera hump around the back.

Despite these visual departures, the two phones share several base specifications. Both wear a 6.62-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with 2,400 x 1,080 resolution and HDR10 Plus support. The display also packs a 300Hz base touch sampling rate but can be buffed to 1,000Hz when required with Super Touch Acceleration. The two Iqoo 7 models also share 66W FlashCharge tech, a 48MP primary shooter with OIS and Pixel Shift tech, and a 13MP wide-angle camera. A 16MP selfie camera can be found in a punch hole on both devices.

The Iqoo 7 Legend, however, is the headlining model in terms of horsepower. It’s powered by the faster Snapdragon 888 SoC and packs a 4,000mAh battery. It also features a 13MP 50mm portrait camera as its third rear shooter. Pressure-sensitive touch buttons and linear vibration motors add to the gaming slant, too.

The standard Iqoo 7 sports a Snapdragon 870 SoC with a larger 4,400mAh battery. This might make it a better option if longevity is a key buying decision for you. Mobile photographers do have to settle for a notable switch from the 13MP portrait snapper to a 2MP mono camera, though.

Iqoo 7 series: Price and availability

Pricing for the Iqoo 7 starts at Rs 31,990 (~$426) for the 8GB/128GB variant and Rs 33,990 (~$453) for the 8GB/256GB model. A 12GB/256GB version is also on offer for Rs 35,990 (~$480). It will be available in Storm Black and Solid Ice Blue colorways.

The Iqoo 7 Legend will be available in 8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB guises priced at Rs 39,990 (~$533) and Rs 43,990 (~$587), respectively. Unsurprisingly, it will only be available in its eponymous racing-themed colorway.

Both phones will be available to preorder from May 1 on Iqoo’s official site and Amazon India.

That’s pretty competitive pricing coverage for the Legend considering its chief Snapdragon 888 rival, the OnePlus 9, starts at Rs 49,999 (~$666). The Iqoo 7 takes aim at the Snapdragon 870-powered OnePlus 9R, which comes in at Rs 39,999 (~$534).

What do you think of the Iqoo 7 series? Can the two phones rough it with the likes of OnePlus in India? Let us know in the comments below and vote in our poll above!