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iQOO Neo 10 Review: A Gaming Powerhouse With a Few Trade-Offs

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iQOO Neo 10 Review: A Gaming Powerhouse With a Few Trade-Offs

iQOO is wasting no time in 2025. After launching just one Neo model last year, the company is back with its second release this year—the iQOO Neo 10. It’s the first phone in India to feature the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, paired with iQOO’s own Q1 graphics chip and a massive 7,000mAh battery. On paper, this looks like a dream for gamers—but does it live up to the hype? After using it for 10 days, here’s what I found.

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Unboxing & Design iQOO Neo 10

The packaging includes the essentials: the device, a transparent case, SIM ejector, USB-A to USB-C cable, and the usual paperwork no one reads.

Design-wise, the Neo 10 is nearly identical to the Neo 10R launched in March. It features a squiricle camera module, iQOO branding at the bottom, and a full plastic build—frame and back included. Unfortunately, it feels rather underwhelming for a phone priced above ₹30,000. Despite its sleek looks, the 6.78-inch screen and plastic build make it feel bulky and not particularly premium. Button feedback is also a letdown.

It does come with IP65 water and dust resistance, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and an IR blaster for added connectivity.

Display

The Neo 10 boasts a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate (usually locked at 120Hz), HDR10+ certification, and an impressive 5,000 nits of peak brightness (2,000 nits in high brightness mode).

This flat display is a gamer’s delight—offering vibrant colors, deep contrast, and strong outdoor legibility, although reflections can be an issue in direct sunlight. The stereo speaker setup is loud and clear, adding to its entertainment appeal.

Cameras

The Neo 10 carries the same camera setup as the 10R:

In daylight, the primary camera delivers solid detail and dynamic range, and it performs fairly well in low-light too—though lens flare around bright lights is noticeable. The ultra-wide camera struggles with color accuracy and detail drop-off, and the absence of a telephoto lens feels like a missed opportunity.

Selfies from the 32MP front cam are sharp in good lighting but suffer from poor color accuracy and over-beautification in low light.

Performance

The highlight of the Neo 10 is its performance. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, delivers flagship-level responsiveness. App launches, multitasking, and gaming all feel seamless.

Despite peak summer conditions, the phone handled heat well. During extended gaming, it got warm but never uncomfortably hot, and cooled quickly.

Benchmark Scores:

Software & Battery

The Neo 10 runs Funtouch OS 15 (Android 15), with iQOO promising 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches. The UI is functional, but not without bloat—apps like Facebook, PhonePe, Amazon, and Netflix come preinstalled. Even worse, the interface is riddled with ads, from the lock screen to the app drawer, and disabling them isn’t straightforward.

The 7,000mAh battery is a beast, easily offering over a day of heavy use with 8–9 hours of screen time. Despite supporting 100W charging, the box includes a 120W charger, topping up the battery in about 40–45 minutes.

Verdict: Worth It for Gamers, With Caveats

At a starting price of ₹31,999, the iQOO Neo 10 shines in performance and battery life. It’s built for power users and gamers, thanks to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, UFS 4.1 storage, and a vivid, flat AMOLED display.

However, its plastic build, bloatware-heavy software, lack of a telephoto lens, and uninspiring design may limit its appeal for mainstream users. If raw performance and gaming are your top priorities, the Neo 10 is easy to recommend. But for those looking for a well-rounded flagship experience, there are better-balanced options at this price point.

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