The Indian smartphone market is buzzing with exciting options, and two devices that have grabbed a lot of attention in the sub-₹25,000 segment are the Realme P3 Ultra and the iQOO Neo 10R. Both phones promise top-notch performance, sleek designs, and features that punch above their price tags. But are they just performance beasts, or do they offer more? In this detailed comparison, we’ll break down their design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, software, and more to help you decide which one is worth your money. Whether you’re a gamer, a photography enthusiast, or someone looking for an all-around smartphone, this article will guide you to make an informed choice.
Design and Build Quality: Style Meets Durability
When it comes to design, both the Realme P3 Ultra and iQOO Neo 10R are eye-catching, but they cater to slightly different tastes. The Realme P3 Ultra stands out with its sleek and lightweight build, measuring just 7.38mm thick and weighing 183g. Its glossy back, especially in the Glowing Lunar White variant, features a unique moon-textured design that glows in the dark—a cool party trick! The copper accents around the camera module and power button add a premium touch. However, the glossy finish makes it a bit slippery, so you might want to use a case.
The iQOO Neo 10R, on the other hand, is slightly bulkier at 8mm thick and 196g. Its dual-tone design, inspired by racing tracks, looks sporty, especially in the Moonlight Titanium color. While it’s not as slim as the P3 Ultra, it still feels good in hand. Both phones use plastic back panels, which is common in this price range, but the Realme feels more premium due to its slimmer profile and rounded corners.
Durability: Realme Takes the Lead
Durability is where the Realme P3 Ultra shines. It comes with an IP66, IP68, and IP69 rating, offering excellent protection against dust and water, including high-pressure water jets. This is a big plus in a countries, where monsoons are common. The phone also uses Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for better drop resistance.
The iQOO Neo 10R, while durable, has a slightly lower IP65 rating, which protects against dust and low-pressure water jets but isn’t as robust as the P3 Ultra. It uses Schott Xensation glass for screen protection, which is decent but not as advanced as Gorilla Glass 7i. If durability is a priority, the Realme P3 Ultra is the clear winner.
Display: A Visual Treat for Different Needs
The display is a critical factor for any smartphone, especially if you love watching videos or gaming. The Realme P3 Ultra sports a 6.83-inch quad-curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The curved edges give it a premium look, and the high 3840Hz PWM dimming ensures flicker-free viewing in low light, which is great for your eyes. However, it lacks Netflix HDR support, which might disappoint OTT enthusiasts.
The iQOO Neo 10R comes with a slightly smaller 6.78-inch flat AMOLED display, also with a 1.5K resolution but a higher 144Hz refresh rate. This makes it smoother for gaming, especially in titles like BGMI that support higher frame rates. The Neo 10R also boasts a higher peak brightness, making it better for HDR content on platforms like YouTube and Netflix. Both phones offer similar visibility under direct sunlight, thanks to comparable high-brightness mode metrics.
Which Display Is Better?
If you prefer a larger, curved display with a premium feel, the Realme P3 Ultra is the way to go. However, if gaming and HDR content are your priorities, the iQOO Neo 10R’s higher refresh rate and brighter display give it an edge.
Performance: Power-Packed for Gamers and Multitaskers
Both the Realme P3 Ultra and iQOO Neo 10R are built for performance, making them ideal for gamers and heavy users. The Realme P3 Ultra is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultra chipset, paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage (both 128GB and 256GB variants). It supports 90fps gaming in titles like BGMI and COD: Mobile and comes with a 6050mm² vapor cooling chamber to keep temperatures in check. In real-world tests, it maintained a cool 36°C during intense gaming sessions like Genshin Impact.
The iQOO Neo 10R takes things up a notch with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, also paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM. The 128GB variant uses UFS 3.1, while the 256GB variant upgrades to UFS 4.1, offering faster read/write speeds. The Neo 10R scored higher in benchmarks like AnTuTu (1,476,651 vs. 1,403,197) and Geekbench, making it better for tasks like gaming and video editing. It supports 120fps in BGMI and delivered an impressive 59.8fps in Genshin Impact at the highest settings. However, it runs slightly warmer at 42°C during gaming.
Thermal Management and Stability
The Realme P3 Ultra has better thermal management, retaining 50% of its peak performance in CPU throttling tests compared to the Neo 10R’s 44.2%. This means the P3 Ultra stays cooler under heavy load. However, the iQOO Neo 10R’s raw power gives it a slight edge in gaming performance. Both phones have large vapor cooling chambers (over 6000mm²), ensuring no overheating issues.
Real-World Performance
For everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and multitasking, both phones are smooth. However, the iQOO Neo 10R’s Snapdragon chipset makes it a better choice for hardcore gamers and those who need top-tier performance.
Camera: Decent but Not Perfect
While both phones are performance-focused, their cameras are surprisingly capable for the price. The Realme P3 Ultra features a 50MP Sony IMX896 primary sensor with OIS and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 16MP front camera handles selfies. In daylight, it captures vibrant, slightly oversaturated images with good detail but tends to oversharpen at 100% crop. Portrait shots have excellent edge detection, and low-light performance improves significantly with Night Mode. However, the ultrawide lens is inconsistent, with soft details and mismatched color tones.
The iQOO Neo 10R also has a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary sensor with OIS and an 8MP ultrawide lens, but it pairs them with a 32MP front camera. Its images are more natural, with better color accuracy and less oversharpening. The Neo 10R excels in 2x and 5x digital zoom, portrait shots, and HDR selfies, thanks to superior algorithm tuning. However, its ultrawide lens is also underwhelming, with soft details in both daylight and low light.
Video Recording
Both phones support 4K 60fps video from the primary camera, but the iQOO Neo 10R offers better detail and stabilization. For selfies, the Neo 10R can shoot 4K 30fps, while the P3 Ultra is limited to 1080p 60fps. If you prioritize video quality or selfies, the iQOO Neo 10R is the better choice.
Camera Verdict
The Realme P3 Ultra is great for vibrant photos and low-light selfies, but the iQOO Neo 10R wins overall with more natural colors, better zoom, and superior video performance.
Battery Life and Charging: Power That Lasts
Battery life is a strong suit for both phones. The Realme P3 Ultra has a 6000mAh battery, delivering 8.5–9 hours of screen-on time with moderate usage. It supports 80W fast charging, fully charging in just under an hour. In real-world tests, it lost 13% battery after a 60-minute gaming session.
The iQOO Neo 10R edges ahead with a larger 6400mAh battery, offering 10–11 hours of screen-on time and up to two days of moderate use. It also supports 80W fast charging but takes slightly longer to charge due to the bigger battery. In gaming tests, it lost only 11% battery in 60 minutes, making it more efficient.
Which One Lasts Longer?
The iQOO Neo 10R’s larger battery gives it a clear advantage, especially for heavy users. However, both phones provide excellent battery life for daily use.
Software: Modern Features with a Catch
Both phones run Android 15, but their software experiences differ. The Realme P3 Ultra uses Realme UI 6.0, which feels modern with fast animations, refreshed icons, and features like Circle to Search, AI Smart Loop, and Flux Themes. It’s similar to Oxygen OS 15 and Color OS 15, offering a smooth and user-friendly experience. However, it comes with some pre-installed apps, which might annoy users who prefer a cleaner interface.
The iQOO Neo 10R runs Funtouch OS 15, which is feature-rich but feels less polished than Realme UI 6.0. It offers three years of OS updates and four years of security updates, compared to Realme’s two years of OS updates and three years of security updates. This makes the Neo 10R more future-proof.
Software Drawbacks
Neither phone supports NFC, which is a letdown for contactless payments. Realme UI 6.0 is the better choice for a modern and fluid experience, but iQOO’s longer update promise is a plus.
Specification Table: Realme P3 Ultra vs iQOO Neo 10R
| Feature | Realme P3 Ultra | iQOO Neo 10R |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.83-inch AMOLED, 1.5K, 120Hz, Quad-Curved | 6.78-inch AMOLED, 1.5K, 144Hz, Flat |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultra | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB UFS 3.1 | 128GB UFS 3.1, 256GB UFS 4.1 |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (IMX896, OIS) + 8MP Ultrawide | 50MP (IMX882, OIS) + 8MP Ultrawide |
| Front Camera | 16MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 6000mAh, 80W Fast Charging | 6400mAh, 80W Fast Charging |
| Software | Realme UI 6.0 (Android 15), 2+3 years | Funtouch OS 15 (Android 15), 3+4 years |
| Durability | IP66/IP68/IP69, Gorilla Glass 7i | IP65, Schott Xensation |
| Price (8GB+128GB) | ₹23,999 (with offers) | ₹24,999 (with offers) |
Price and Value for Money
The Realme P3 Ultra starts at ₹25,899 for the 8GB+128GB variant, but with bank offers, it can drop to ₹23,999. The iQOO Neo 10R is priced at ₹26,999 for the same configuration, though discounts can bring it to ₹24,999. Higher variants of the Neo 10R are slightly more expensive, especially with UFS 4.1 storage.
The Realme P3 Ultra offers better value for those who want a premium design, durable build, and a modern software experience at a lower price. The iQOO Neo 10R, while slightly costlier, justifies its price with better performance, battery life, and cameras.
Should You Buy the Realme P3 Ultra or iQOO Neo 10R?
Choose the Realme P3 Ultra if:
- You want a sleek, lightweight design with a premium quad-curved display.
- Durability is a priority (IP69 and Gorilla Glass 7i).
- You prefer a modern software experience with Realme UI 6.0.
- You’re looking for the best value for money under ₹25,000.
Choose the iQOO Neo 10R if:
- You’re a gamer who needs top-tier performance and higher frame rates.
- You want better battery life and a brighter display for HDR content.
- Camera quality, especially for selfies and videos, matters to you.
- You value longer software support (3+4 years).
Is It Worth It?
Both phones are excellent choices in the sub-₹25,000 segment, offering flagship-level performance and features. The Realme P3 Ultra is the better all-rounder for most users, thanks to its design, durability, and lower price. However, if gaming and battery life are your top priorities, the iQOO Neo 10R is worth the extra ₹1,000.
Final Verdict
The Realme P3 Ultra and iQOO Neo 10R are both fantastic smartphones that deliver incredible value. The Realme P3 Ultra wins in design, durability, and software polish, making it ideal for users who want a stylish, reliable device. The iQOO Neo 10R, with its superior performance, battery life, and cameras, is the go-to choice for gamers and photography enthusiasts. Ultimately, your choice depends on what you value most—style and affordability or raw power and longevity.
