Here is what you need to know: the iQOO Z11 series is heading outside China, and the timeline is now confirmed. Both the iQOO Z11 and Z11x have been listed on Vivo Malaysia’s online store, with a launch date of May 6th and reservations open from April 27th. While this is a Malaysia launch, the global rollout matters for India too, as the Z11x already arrived here in March, and the Z11 is the natural next step. That said, what’s interesting is that the global Z11 is not quite the same phone that launched in China.

iQOO Z11 core specifications: global vs Chinese

The Chinese iQOO Z11 launched at CNY 2,299 (around Rs 32,000), and runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 8500, a 4nm chip that sits above the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 in performance terms. The global variant, spotted on Geekbench under model number Vivo I2512, swaps that out for a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 with an Adreno 810 GPU and a 2.71GHz peak frequency. The design also appears to take cues from the Vivo T5 Pro rather than the Chinese Z11.

This kind of regional chipset swap is not unusual, but it is worth knowing before you compare specs between the two. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 is a solid chip, and it powers the Nothing Phone 4a, Vivo T5 Pro, and the upcoming OnePlus Nord CE 6. But shoppers expecting the Dimensity 8500 performance will find something different in the global model.

What does carry over is the headline spec — a 9,020mAh battery with 90W fast charging, housed in an 8.25 mm body. The display is a 6.83-inch AMOLED at up to 165Hz. The camera system is a 50MP main with OIS and a 2MP depth sensor, plus a 16MP front camera. IP68 and IP69 ratings are on board. The global version is set to become available in Blue and Black with 8GB and 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, running Android 16.

The Z11x, by contrast, appears to be identical to the Indian version that launched in March (review). It comes with a Dimensity 7400 Turbo chipset, a 7,200mAh battery with 44W charging, and 8GB RAM with 128GB or 256GB storage in Silver and Black.

Expected global pricing and availability

The Malaysia launch will be the first indicator of global pricing. Based on the China launch price of CNY 2,299 and typical regional conversion patterns, the global Z11 could be expected somewhere in the Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 range in the country, as component costs and import duties could push that higher. The Z11x arrived in the Indian market at Rs 18,999, which gives a rough floor for the series.

For India specifically, no launch date has been confirmed, but the Malaysia rollout suggests the announcement is not far off. iQOO has been consistent about bringing its Z series to India quickly after global launches. At the right price, the Z11 would be a strong mid-segment contender. A 9,020mAh battery is currently one of the talking points of the OnePlus Nord 6, which sits just under Rs 40,000. If iQOO prices the Z11 meaningfully below that as the Z series has historically been priced aggressively, it puts real pressure in a segment that is already crowded.

Should you be currently shopping in the sub-Rs 35,000 range and battery life is on the top of your list, it is worth holding off until iQOO makes a formal India announcement. The Malaysia launch next week should give a much clearer picture of what to expect.