Recently iQOO launched its new beast which is still the ultimate performance king under ₹35,000, and its benchmark score beats even flagship phones. Yes, we are talking about iQOO Neo 10. From design to gaming, camera, and battery, everything is excellent in this phone. I tested it, and will tell you in simple words how is this phone and is it perfect for you!
iQOO Neo 10 Specifications
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm) + Q1 Chip |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.1) |
| Display | 6.87-inch 1.5K AMOLED, 120Hz (144Hz specific apps), 5500 nits peak |
| Camera | 50MP Main + 8MP Ultra-wide, 32MP Selfie |
| Battery | 7000mAh Silicon, 120W Charging, 7.5W Reverse Charging |
| Operating System | Funtouch OS (Android 15) |
| Build | Plastic Back & Frame, IP65, 208g |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB 2.0, IR Blaster |
Design: Cool Look, Great Feel
The design of this phone is extremely sleek. The back panel and frame are made of plastic but the matte finish makes it feel premium and fingerprints are not visible. The rounded corners of the frame provide a great grip in the hand. It weighs 208g, which may feel a little heavy but feels solid in-hand. The colours are Orange and Titanium Chrome – Titanium Chrome feels more subtle and classy, Orange is a little flashy.
Durability is slightly lacking – the plastic build can cause dents if the phone falls. It has an IP65 rating, which means it is protected from a little water and dust but at this price point you can also get IP68 phones. The side-mounted optical fingerprint sensor is fast but has a little low positioning. There is also an IR blaster – you can make it a remote for AC and TV.
Display: Big and Bright
6.87-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate (144Hz in specific apps). Peak brightness is 5500 nits (marketing number), but in real-world, 2000 nits high brightness mode is visible very clearly outdoors. There is HDR10 support, so the colours and details are amazing when watching shows on Netflix like Squid Game.
PWM dimming is also good, so there is no strain on the eyes even in low brightness. Stereo speakers are loud and clear, but the quality is a little low at max volume (300%). Haptics are also decent – typing with Gboard is a different experience.
Performance: Gaming Powerhouse
It has Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor (4nm), which delivers flagship-level performance. AnTuTu score is close to 1 million. The Q1 chip further optimizes gaming. BGMI, COD, Genshin Impact, and Wuthering Waves run smoothly at 55-60fps. With the 7K VC cooling chamber, the phone doesn’t get too hot even during long gaming sessions – it went down to just 38°C in one hour of COD. Battery drop was also just 12-13% in one hour of gaming.
With LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage (in higher variants), apps open quickly and games run in the background in RAM. The base variant has UFS 3.1, which is a bit slow, so for gaming it is better to buy the higher variant. Gaming features include 4D vibration, eSports mode, voice changer, and bypass charging (gives direct power to the CPU so that there is no heat).
Battery: Long Backup, Fast Charging
7000mAh silicon battery, which is rare in this price range. Gives 12 hours of screen-on time in light use and 9-10 hours in heavy use (5G, gaming, outdoor). Idle drain is also low – 1-2% drop in 8-10 hours. 120W fast charging does 0-100% in just 37 minutes. Reverse wired charging is up to 7.5W, but Poco F7 (22.5W) is better in this. Charger is provided in the box, which can also charge MacBook or Samsung phones.
Camera: Decent, but Performance is Priority
There are 50MP main + 8MP ultra-wide rear cameras and 32MP front camera. iQOO uses Vivo’s camera algorithms, so photos perform quite well at this price. In daylight, natural mode shots come with sharp and accurate colours. HDR handling is great – both clouds and subject details are clear. 2x zoom also gives consistent colours.
Ultra-wide is a bit weak, details are lacking. Portrait mode has natural, rotary, and bubble bokeh options – natural looks the best. Low-light shots are also balanced, highlights and shadows both are clear.
Video has 4K 60fps (main camera) and 1080p 30fps (ultra-wide) recording. Ultra stabilization mode (1080p 60fps) is good, but noise is visible in low-light. Front camera’s 4K 60fps video is a bit unstable, 1080p is better. There is no Portrait video mode, which is a bit lacking.
Software: Funtouch OS With AI
Funtouch OS (Android 15) UI seems a bit outdated, but it has a wealth of features. Circle to Search, AI Expand (image editing), AI Eraser, and AI Cutout are quite useful. Native dialer has call recording and live call translate. There is a bit of bloatware, but you can uninstall it. I found one bug – Instagram feed blacks out sometimes, but recovers in milliseconds. You will get 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates. There is no AI writing tool (like Samsung’s), which is a miss.
Network and Extras: Everything is Set
5G speed (tested by Airtel) and Wi-Fi 7 is solid for gaming. There is Bluetooth 5.4 and USB 2.0 port. Call quality is clear, and IR blaster is useful in daily use.
Pricing: Value for Money?
The base variant (8GB+128GB) is available for ₹32,000-33,000, but during sales (like Amazon Prime Day) it goes up to ₹30,000. The higher variant (12GB+256GB) is better for performance.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 + Q1 chip with flagship-level gaming.
- 7000mAh battery, 9-10 hours SOT and 120W charging.
- 6.87-inch AMOLED display, 2000 nits brightness, HDR10.
- Decent cameras with Vivo algorithms, solid daylight and low-light shots.
- IR blaster, Wi-Fi 7, and bypass charging.
Cons:
- Plastic build can get dents.
- IP65 rating is lower, IP68 would be better.
- Funtouch OS UI is slightly outdated, more bloatware.
- Ultra-wide camera and front video stabilization could be better.
- Base variant with UFS 3.1 is slower.
Conclusion
iQOO Neo 10 is a performance beast. Under ₹35,000, getting this much power, great display, solid battery life, and decent cameras is a great deal. If you want gaming, performance, or a big display, this phone is excellent. But if you want premium build, better IP rating, or top-tier cameras, you might feel a bit lacking. Wait for sales when it drops near ₹30,000 – full value for money.