iQOO’s newest addition to its midrange Neo series sits above Neo 10R, which was launched in March. The Neo 10 retains the design of the entry-level variant, but packs a more powerful processor and a bigger battery. And while both smartphones have a plastic exterior, the Neo 10 is compliant with MIL-STD-810H durability standards. Of course, there is a margin of Rs 5,000 that separates the two smartphones as well. Prices for the Neo 10 start at Rs 32,000. We used it for a week to find out if it really is the best gaming smartphone in its price bracket. Here is our iQOO Neo 10 review.
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In This Article
iQOO Neo 10 Review: Design and Display
Here’s what you get inside the iQOO Neo 10’s retail box:
- Smartphone
- 120W power adapter
- USB Type-C to Type-C
- Clear plastic case
- SIM ejector
- Quick start guide
- Warranty card
As we mentioned earlier, the iQOO Neo 10 looks identical to the Neo 10R. Both smartphones share the same design and form factor. The rear camera panel is similar to the module on the iQOO 13 (our review here). The back panel on the Neo 10 is made out of plastic, which is not a good look on a smartphone priced above Rs 30,000. However, iQOO has worked this to its advantage by making the smartphone compliant with MIL-STD-810H durability standards. The dual-tone plastic back does not have any flex to it, and its smooth finish gives it the in-hand feel of glass. The Neo 10 weighs 206g. This weight is evenly distributed, which keeps the device from being top-heavy.
The plastic frame houses the SIM tray, primary microphone, USB Type-C port, and primary speaker on its bottom edge. Up top lies the secondary speaker grille and a noise-cancelling microphone. The volume rocker keys and the side button are positioned on the right edge of the frame. The left edge is completely buttonless.
The 6.78-inch AMOLED display supports a 144Hz refresh rate and has a 1,260 x 2,800p resolution. Its brightness maxes out at 5,500 nits. The smartphone does not struggle with any legibility issues under direct sunlight. Its touch response is one of the smoothest in its category. The optical fingerprint scanner is positioned a little lower than where we would’ve liked it, but it is quick and snappy. The bezels surrounding the display are sleek and uniform.
During the review period, we used the iQOO Neo 10 as our primary media streaming device. The smartphone did an excellent job of relaying punchy, detailed, and dynamic visuals from OTT platforms like Netflix, JioHotstar, and Prime Video. The colours showcased by the pictures were very vivid – something that only AMOLED panels can curate. The audio output from the dual speaker setup was decent, albeit a bit tinny.
The Neo 10 is rated IP65 for dust and water resistance. At a time when more smartphones across price segments are embracing IP69 protection, an inferior rating sticks out like a sore thumb. On the bright side, the smartphone has a tough exterior that’s compliant with MIL-STD-810H standards. The display is protected by Shield Glass, in contrast to the Schott Xensation Up protection on Neo 10R.
iQOO Neo 10 Review: Performance and Cameras
Powering the iQOO Neo 10 is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC. iQOO’s in-house Supercomputing Chip Q1 works in tandem with this processor. This combination can unlock a 144fps frame rate in certain gaming titles. On the Geekbench 6 app, the smartphone scored 2,154 points in the single-core test and 6,922 points in the multi-core test.
The Neo 10 is available in 4 RAM + storage configurations:
8GB (LPDDR5X Ultra) + 128GB (UFS 3.1): Rs 32,000
8GB (LPDDR5X Ultra) + 256GB (UFS 4.1): Rs 34,000
12GB (LPDDR5X Ultra) + 256GB (UFS 4.1): Rs 36,000
16GB (LPDDR5X Ultra) + 512GB (UFS 4.1): Rs 41,000
The iQOO Neo 10 is one of the fastest smartphones in its category. Its dual chipset, coupled with the ultra-fast RAM and storage combination, delivers a rock-solid everyday performance. Apps take no time to load, and general tasks like calling, texting, media streaming, web browsing, and navigation are handled with utmost expertise. The touch response of the display is fantastic. With ultra-fast processing, we were always at the top of our tasks. Our only minor complaint lies with the haptic motor, which could use a little tuning for sharper feedback.
iQOO Neo 10’s bread and butter is its gaming performance. The smartphone does not disappoint in this regard. We played titles like Call of Duty Mobile and Asphalt Legends Units at a 120fps frame rate and medium graphics. Our gaming experience was smooth and lag-free. There were no frame drops to be seen. The touch response rate of the display in FPS games like COD and BGMI was phenomenal. The 7000 mm² Vapor Chamber does an amazing job of cooling down the device in high-intensity gaming sessions. In our tests, the smartphone started warming up after 30 minutes of gameplay.
Handling the software duties on the iQOO Neo 10 is the Android 15-based Funtouch OS 15. iQOO has promised 3 major OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches on this device. Being a midrange smartphone, there are some bloatware apps on this device. Thankfully, all of these apps can be permanently removed.
While Funtouch OS 15 doesn’t match its Samsung and OnePlus counterparts in aesthetics, it offers a diverse range of customisation options. You can customise elements like the fingerprint icon and animation, charging animation, screen transitions, app icons, and touch screen effect, to name a few. The AOD face library offered by this OS is leagues above its counterparts. Even when you customise the smallest details, the software feels light and airy.
When it comes to AI features, Funtouch OS 15 has some work to do. It offers basic features like AI Eraser, AI Image Expander, AI Photo Enhance, and AI Cutout in the photo gallery, along with tools like AI Note Assist and Call Translation. However, compared to other AI packages like OnePlus and Samsung’s Galaxy AI, iQOO’s suite looks a little limited.
On the battery front, the 7,000mAh Si/C unit puts up an exemplary performance. During the review period, we got good mileage out of the iQOO Neo 10. On a full charge, the smartphone lasted a day and a half with heavy usage. With regular use, we were able to push it to 2 days on full charge. This is a benchmark-setting performance in this price segment. The best part is that despite a big battery pack, it takes just over 40 minutes to fully charge the smartphone. This is possible with the 120W power adapter provided in the box.
iQOO Neo 10 shares its camera array with the Neo 10R. The rear camera panel houses a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 32MP front-facing camera is housed in a punch-hole cutout on the display.
The 50MP primary shooter takes great pictures in outdoor daylight conditions. The images look vibrant but not overprocessed. The sharpness, contrast, and dynamic range are very pleasant. In limited lighting conditions, the primary shooter relies on Night Mode to even out the grain and brighten up the subject.
The images taken from the 8MP ultrawide camera are slightly soft compared to the results from the primary shooter. However, they do not compromise on the colour profile. In limited lighting conditions, some noise manages to creep into the images, but they do not look terrible.
Portrait shots taken with the iQOO Neo 10 are colourful and well-focused. The smartphone does a good job of separating the subject from the background and applying a healthy dose of blur. The 32MP front-facing camera takes bright and clear selfies. The skin tone and texture correction effects are kept to a minimum. This camera can record 4K videos at 30 and 60fps. The primary shooter can also record at a similar resolution and frame rate. However, the recording chops of the ultrawide sensor are limited to 1,080p at 30fps.
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Verdict
The iQOO Neo 10 is a more powerful version of the Neo 10R. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and iQOO Supercomputing Q1 Chip combo significantly boost its performance. If you’re interested in high-fps gaming, this is the smartphone for you. To add to its exemplary performance, the Neo 10 also offers a versatile 2-day battery life. This is made possible by the massive 7,000mAh chipset. A glass back panel instead of a plastic unit is one upgrade that we’d have liked on this smartphone. However, the smartphone’s military-grade durability makes up for it.
iQOO Neo 10: Pros
- Powerful performance
- Smooth display
- High fps gaming
- Big battery
- Good cameras
iQOO Neo 10: Cons
- Plastic back
- IP65 rating
