iQOO Neo 10 Review: Great Gameplay, Big Value

Without a doubt, among the most potent gaming phones available at its price range is the iQOO Neo 10. However, that is just the beginning. It is so much more on the inside. We have good cause to think it could be among the most affordable phones available right now. For all the information, read India Today Tech’s complete review.

The brand iQOO has come to represent high-performing gadgets that don’t break the bank. In a short period, this Vivo spin-off brand has successfully established a little place for itself in India’s fiercely competitive smartphone industry. It has a unique reputation and loyalty among gamers, but it has evolved into a brand that offers more than just a “gamer’s delight”—it now produces phones that are superior to their class in other ways.

To put it another way, iQOO is producing its phones to reach a wider audience than only gamers. A prime example is its most recent model, the iQOO Neo 10. This new mid-range phone from iQOO seems like a true step-up, not just because it has stronger specs but also because of how mature the product is overall. It comes right after the iQOO Neo 10R (and last year’s amazing Neo 9 Pro). It demonstrates iQOO’s intention, focus, and dedication to becoming more than it was before and to being a company capable of competing with some of the largest names in the market. We can state with some certainty that iQOO is headed in the right direction after using it for a while.

Before delving into the details, let’s take a brief look at how the iQOO Neo 10 compares in theory:

Qualcomm’s recently released Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip makes its debut in India with the iQOO Neo 10. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, the successor to the 8s Gen from the previous year, has an octa-core architecture with clock rates of up to 3.21GHz. Its GPU is an Adreno 825. It is paired by iQOO with up to 512GB of storage and up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. This phone has a huge 7,000mAh battery that can be charged quickly at up to 120W.

The big 6.78-inch AMOLED panel has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, a dynamic refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, and a 1.5K resolution (2800x1260p). For pleasant viewing at night, it has 4320Hz PWM dimming and 10-bit color support. Schott Xensation Up glass is being used by iQOO for protection.

A 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 sensor with an optically stabilized lens and an additional 8-megapixel sensor behind an ultrawide lens make up the iQOO Neo 10’s dual camera arrangement on the back for photography. It features a 32-megapixel selfie camera on the front. 4K and 1080p video recording at up to 60 frames per second is supported by both the front and rear cameras.

Funtouch OS 15, which is based on Android 15, completes the package with USB Type-C, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7, dual SIM, and an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Stylish appearance, large battery

Even the most demanding users can get one and a half days out of the iQOO Neo 10’s 7,000mAh battery, while those who use it more sparingly can get two days. Additionally, it enables 120W rapid charging (a compatible fast charger is included in the box) for when you do need to top it off. A full day’s worth of electricity can be obtained with just 15 minutes of plugging in.

These days, phones with large batteries aren’t particularly popular, but very few manufacturers produce comparatively thin phones with large batteries. One of the uncommon cases is the iQOO Neo 10. One of its most notable features is its 7,000mAh battery, but just as amazing is the way iQOO has managed to house it in a design that is, despite appearances, portable. Although it’s generally a good thing that the design is reminiscent of the iQOO Neo 10R, one wonders what would happen if iQOO had opted for more high-end materials like glass or even vegan leather, as was the case with the iQOO Neo 9 Pro.

Display: An aesthetic feast

The iQOO Neo 10’s AMOLED screen measures 6.78 inches. Even in Delhi’s scorching noon sun, you won’t have to squint to read a text on your phone because it can reach 2,000 nits (high brightness setting). It performs admirably whether you’re playing games or watching content on Netflix. Apps that support HDR playback include Netflix and Amazon Prime. Most of the time, interactions are fluid and jitter-free thanks to the 144Hz dynamic refresh rate. I played hard games like COD Mobile, Genshin Impact, and BGMI, and they all performed smoothly at high frame rates and visual settings. The phone didn’t overheat during our testing, which is encouraging for extended gaming sessions. The battery did appear to deplete quickly when using BGMI at its highest settings, but the drop wasn’t concerning.

The phone does everyday chores flawlessly, even when not playing games. It was easy to switch between Chrome, Instagram, Spotify, and email. The iQOO Neo 10 is more than capable for power users who enjoy multitasking.

A reliable performer in games and other activities

As this review has previously made evident, the iQOO Neo 10 is a good all-arounder and not just a gaming phone. The problem is that a mid-range iQOO phone is practically guaranteed to perform well. They have a reputation for that. Nevertheless, the Neo 10’s performance is noteworthy. This is primarily due to the fact that the phone has Qualcomm’s most recent Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, which is based on TSMC’s 4nm technology—the same process that produced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

This is paired with iQOO’s proprietary Q1 chip, which manages the graphics component. What exactly does that accomplish, then? It supports 144 FPS frame rates and allows 1.5K super resolution in more than 20 titles. You also receive real-time FPS tracking and unique animations in Ultra Game Mode because of the Q1 chip. To put it simply, the chip helps deliver ultra-low latency for a smoother, faster reaction when you’re playing high-frame-rate games.

Additionally, we conducted some benchmark tests on the gadget, and the outcomes were intriguing. We contrasted it with the benchmark findings of the iQOO 12, which is now selling for about Rs 45,000 (after discounts) in India and is significantly more expensive. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip powers it. Additionally, the iQOO Neo 10 was able to surpass the iQOO 12 in certain testing.

For example, the iQOO Neo 10 had a very close score of 2153 in the GeekBench 6 test, whereas the iQOO 12 received a single score of 2157. However, the iQOO Neo 10 scored 7056, and the iQOO 12 scored 6639 in multicore.

In our tests, the iQOO 12 received a score of 12220 even in the 3D mark Wild Life Stress test, whereas the iQOO Neo 10 received a score of 12405.

The UI of the phone also plays a significant role in its performance, and iQOO runs Funtouch OS 15, which is based on Android 15. Although there is a large amount of bloatware included with the OS, most of these programs are uninstallable.

Unexpected camera

Another area where iQOO appears to have put a lot of effort into making an impact (and shattering prejudices) is the camera setup. The primary 50-megapixel sensor produces excellent images in both bright and dim lighting. Photos that seem to prefer realism rather than anything AI might conjure are the product of processing that is up to the task, balancing exposure and improving colors just enough without going crazy.

Clean portrait photographs with strong subject separation are produced. Even challenging lighting conditions are handled well. You will need a steady hand because the shutter speed may drop a bit in low light. However, the camera performs admirably overall, and I believe that most people will find it more than sufficient.

All in all, a cost-effective gadget

The iQOO Neo 10 is a phone that performs well above its price range thanks to its large, vivid display, flagship-tier performance, long-lasting battery, and powerful camera system. We are confident in our recommendation of it to anyone looking for a “do-it-all” smartphone that can handle most tasks with ease. Although it may appear to be a gaming phone, which it is in many aspects, it also offers excellent value for those looking for a reliable phone without going over budget.

Depending on your eligibility, iQOO’s pre-booking deals will save you anywhere from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000. The offers’ specifics are available here.)

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