The iQOO Neo 10R has entered the Indian smartphone market with a bang, promising flagship-level performance at a jaw-dropping price of around ₹25,000. With specs like the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a 6,400mAh battery, a 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 50MP Sony IMX882 camera, it seems almost too good to be true. Is there a catch? Or is this phone truly a game-changer for budget-conscious gamers and performance enthusiasts? Let’s dive into a detailed review to explore its design, performance, display, battery, camera, and software to help you decide if the iQOO Neo 10R is worth your money.
Design and Build: Simple Yet Functional
The iQOO Neo 10R sports a clean and straightforward design that doesn’t scream for attention but gets the job done. It’s an all-plastic build, which might not feel as premium as glass or metal, but it keeps the phone lightweight at just 196 grams despite packing a massive 6,400mAh battery. At 8mm slim, it’s impressive how iQOO has managed to fit such a large battery into a sleek form factor, making it comfortable to hold for long gaming or multimedia sessions.
The phone comes in two color variants: Raging Blue and MoonKnight Titanium. The Raging Blue variant features a dual-tone finish with a blue-and-white split, inspired by racing tracks, giving it a sporty vibe. The MoonKnight Titanium, on the other hand, is more subtle and sophisticated, appealing to those who prefer understated elegance. Which one do you prefer? The choice is subjective, but both look modern and appealing.
To add durability, the iQOO Neo 10R comes with an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it can handle splashes and dust without breaking a sweat. The display is protected by Schott Xensation Up glass, which offers decent scratch resistance. An infrared (IR) blaster is also included, a feature that’s becoming rare but is super useful for controlling home appliances like TVs and ACs. Are you a fan of the IR blaster? It’s a handy addition for those who like to use their phone as a universal remote.
However, there’s a small catch: the phone uses a USB-C 2.0 port instead of the faster USB 3.0, which might disappoint users looking for quicker data transfer speeds. While this isn’t a dealbreaker at this price point, it’s something to keep in mind if you frequently transfer large files.
Display: A Gamer’s Delight
The iQOO Neo 10R boasts a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a resolution of 2800×1260 pixels, delivering sharp and vibrant visuals. With a 144Hz refresh rate, it’s a treat for gamers, ensuring smooth scrolling and fluid animations in supported games like Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars. However, the 144Hz refresh rate is limited to specific games, while the UI sticks to a maximum of 120Hz, which is still plenty smooth for everyday use.
The display supports a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, making it easily visible even under direct sunlight. In high brightness mode, it reaches 1,200 nits, which is more than sufficient for outdoor use. The 3,840Hz PWM dimming reduces flicker, making it easier on the eyes during low-light usage—a feature that brands like Apple and Samsung could learn from. The display also supports HDR10+ and Widevine L1 certification, allowing you to enjoy 1080p HDR content on platforms like Netflix and YouTube.
The bezels are ultra-thin, giving the phone a modern, immersive look. The haptic feedback is crisp, and the in-display optical fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable, though it’s placed slightly lower than ideal. For multimedia enthusiasts, the stereo speakers deliver well-tuned sound, but the lack of LHDC codec support (only LDAC is available) might be a minor letdown for audiophiles.
Overall, the display is a standout feature, especially for gamers and content consumers. It’s bright, colorful, and responsive, making it one of the best in its price range.
Performance: A Powerhouse Under ₹30,000
At the heart of the iQOO Neo 10R is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, built on a 4nm TSMC process and paired with an Adreno 735 GPU. This chipset is a beast, delivering near-flagship performance at a mid-range price. Whether you’re multitasking, streaming, or playing graphically intensive games like BGMI or Genshin Impact, the Neo 10R handles everything with ease.
The phone comes in three variants:
- 8GB RAM + 128GB storage (UFS 3.1)
- 8GB RAM + 256GB storage (UFS 4.1)
- 12GB RAM + 256GB storage (UFS 4.1)
The 256GB variants benefit from faster UFS 4.1 storage, which ensures quicker app loading and file transfers. The LPDDR5X RAM further enhances multitasking, allowing you to switch between apps seamlessly. In benchmarks, the phone scores over 1.7 million on AnTuTu, making it one of the fastest in its segment. Geekbench scores are equally impressive, and the CPU throttles to 81% under stress, indicating solid thermal management.
For gamers, the iQOO Neo 10R is a dream. It supports smooth graphics and Extreme+ frame rates in BGMI, delivering a stable 85-90 FPS for up to 6.5 hours on a single charge, as per iQOO’s claims. In our testing, a 30-minute BGMI session averaged close to 90 FPS with peak temperatures around 37°C, thanks to the 6,043mm² vapor cooling chamber. Even in Genshin Impact at the highest settings (60 FPS), the phone achieved an average of 59.8 FPS, outperforming other Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 devices like the Poco F6 and Realme GT 6T. The peak temperature during this test was 42.4°C, which is well within acceptable limits.
The phone also comes with gaming-focused features like Ultra Game Mode, built-in FPS meter, e-sports mode, Monster Mode, and bypass charging, which reduces battery wear during extended gaming sessions. However, the GPU stability in 3DMark Wireless stress tests was slightly lower at 64%, which could be improved.
One major drawback is the lack of NFC support, which means you can’t use the phone for contactless payments. This is a surprising omission for a performance-oriented phone in 2025.
Battery Life and Charging: Built for Endurance
The 6,400mAh battery is one of the iQOO Neo 10R’s biggest strengths. It’s one of the largest batteries in its class, yet the phone remains slim and lightweight thanks to Silicon-Carbon technology. iQOO claims the battery can last up to 6.5 hours of BGMI at 90 FPS, and in real-world use, you can expect at least 8 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage (gaming, streaming, and social media).
The 80W fast charging support is impressive, charging the massive battery from 0% to 50% in about 27 minutes and 100% in roughly 55 minutes, as per GSMArena’s testing. The included charger and 7.5W reverse charging add convenience. iQOO also claims the battery retains ≥80% health after 1,600 charge cycles, ensuring long-term reliability.
Camera: Surprisingly Good for a Performance Phone
Performance-focused phones often skimp on cameras, but the iQOO Neo 10R surprises with a capable setup:
- Primary Camera: 50MP Sony IMX882 with OIS and EIS, supporting 4K 60 FPS video.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 8MP, supporting 1080p 30 FPS.
- Selfie Camera: 32MP, supporting 4K 30 FPS.
In daylight, the primary camera captures detailed and vibrant photos with natural colors in ProColor mode. Portraits at 1x and 2x digital zoom are impressive, with accurate edge detection and pleasing bokeh. The dynamic range is solid, though there’s slight blooming when shooting against bright light. The ultra-wide camera is decent but not exceptional, while the selfie camera performs well in good lighting but struggles slightly in low light.
Low-light shots from the primary camera are surprisingly good, thanks to OIS and iQOO’s Super Night Mode, which keeps images bright and detailed. Video recording is a highlight, with stable 4K 60 FPS footage from the main camera and 4K 30 FPS from the selfie camera.
AI features like AI Eraser, AI Photo Enhance, and Live Cutout add fun and utility to the camera experience, making it easy to edit photos on the go. While the cameras aren’t flagship-level, they exceed expectations for a phone in this price range.
Software: Clean and Feature-Packed
The iQOO Neo 10R runs Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15, offering a smooth and optimized experience. iQOO promises three years of OS updates and four years of security patches, which is competitive for a mid-range phone. The software is clean, with minimal bloatware that can be uninstalled easily.
Useful features include call recording, small window mode, split-screen multitasking, and AI tools like screen translation, live transcribe, AI Note Assist, and Google’s Circle to Search. These make the phone versatile for productivity and creativity. The gaming features, like Ultra Game Mode and motion control, further enhance the experience for gamers.
Specifications Table
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.78-inch AMOLED, 1.5K (2800×1260), 144Hz refresh rate, 4,500 nits peak brightness |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, 4nm TSMC process, Adreno 735 GPU |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.1) |
| Rear Camera | 50MP Sony IMX882 (OIS, 4K 60 FPS) + 8MP ultra-wide (1080p 30 FPS) |
| Front Camera | 32MP (4K 30 FPS) |
| Battery | 6,400mAh, 80W fast charging, 7.5W reverse charging |
| OS | Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15, 3 OS updates, 4 years security updates |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C 2.0, no NFC |
| Build | Plastic frame and back, IP65 rating, Schott Xensation Up glass |
| Weight | 196 grams |
| Thickness | 8mm |
| Additional Features | IR blaster, stereo speakers, in-display fingerprint scanner, gaming modes |
| Price | ₹24,999 (8GB+128GB), ₹26,999 (8GB+256GB), ₹28,999 (12GB+256GB) |
Should You Buy the iQOO Neo 10R?
At a starting price of ₹24,999 (potentially lower with discounts), the iQOO Neo 10R is a steal for gamers and performance enthusiasts. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, massive 6,400mAh battery, 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED display, and capable cameras make it a well-rounded package. The IP65 rating, IR blaster, and long-term software support add value, while the gaming features cater perfectly to its target audience.
However, there are a few compromises. The lack of NFC is a notable miss, and the USB-C 2.0 port feels outdated for a performance-focused phone. The plastic build might not appeal to those seeking a premium feel, and the ultra-wide camera is average at best. Compared to rivals like the Poco F6 (smaller battery, similar chipset) or Nothing Phone (3a) Pro (better build, weaker processor), the Neo 10R stands out for its battery life and display quality.
If you’re a gamer or someone who values performance and battery life over premium materials, the iQOO Neo 10R is one of the best phones under ₹30,000.
