Jeet
The iQOO Neo 10R 5G hit India on March 11, 2025. It’s a mid-range phone. Promises big power. Big value. Starting at ₹26,999. Can it compete with heavyweights like the POCO X7 Pro? Or the Nothing Phone 3a Pro? We tested it. Played games. Snapped pics. Pushed it hard. Here’s the full scoop. Ready to rub the lamp?
iQOO Neo 10R 5G
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
6400mAh Battery
144Hz AMOLED Display
What’s Inside the Magic Box?
Unboxing
You open the box. Sleek. Black. Silver iQOO logo shining. Like a treasure chest. Inside, you find:
A charger and a case? Sweet. Like extra wishes from a genie. Many brands skip these. Not iQOO. It’s a win for budget buyers.
Looks That Sparkle
First Impressions
The phone? Stunning. Pick Raging Blue. It’s bold. White-blue design. Pixelated racing-track texture. Like a sports car speeding through a tech desert. Or choose MoonKnight Titanium. Sleek. Elegant. Like a polished magic lamp. At 196g, it’s light. Only 7.98mm thick. A huge battery fits inside. Thanks to Silicon-Carbon tech. Clever.
The screen? A 6.78-inch AMOLED. Vibrant. Slim bezels. A slightly thicker chin. No big deal. The in-display fingerprint sensor? Fast. Unlocks in a flash. Setting up is easy. But Funtouch OS 15? Some bloatware. Apps like Hot Games. Hot Apps. Annoying. Like sand stuck in your lamp. Still, the phone feels premium. For the price? It’s a strong start.
Magic Under the Hood
The Specs
What powers this beast? Let’s break it down:
| Display | 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED. 120Hz refresh rate. Up to 144Hz for games. 4,500 nits bright. Like a sunlit mirror. Supports HDR10+. 3840Hz PWM dimming for eye comfort. |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. 4nm chip. Blazing. Paired with Adreno 735 GPU. Handles anything. Games. Videos. Multitasking. |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB or 12GB LPDDR5X RAM. 128GB or 256GB UFS 4.1 storage. No SD card slot. Bummer. |
| Cameras | Main: 50MP Sony LYT-600. f/1.8. Optical stabilization. Sharp as a genie’s gaze. Ultra-wide: 8MP. f/2.2. 112° view. Decent. Not great. Front: 16MP. f/2.45. Clear selfies. |
| Battery | 6,400mAh. 80W FlashCharge. Like a camel that never stops. |
| Software | Funtouch OS 15. Based on Android 15. Three years of updates. Four years of security patches. |
| Connectivity | Dual 5G. Wi-Fi 7. Bluetooth 5.4. NFC. GPS. Even an IR blaster. Cool. |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers. Hi-Res Audio. No headphone jack. Sigh. |
| Build | Plastic back. Plastic frame. Gorilla Glass 7i front. IP65 splash-proof. |
| Extras | 4D Game Vibration. Ultra Game Mode. AI tricks like Circle to Search. |
Speed Like a Flying Carpet
Performance
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3? A powerhouse. Like a genie with endless energy. Apps open instantly. Multitasking? No sweat. We ran 15 apps at once. No lag. Edited 4K videos. Smooth as silk. Benchmark scores? Here’s a comparison against the best values:
Beats the POCO X7 Pro in CPU power. Matches the Nothing Phone 3a Pro in graphics. Stays cool, too. A 6,043mm² cooling system works hard. Gaming for 45 minutes? Stays below 42°C. No throttling. Nice. X users love this. They say it’s a gamer’s dream.
Software? Funtouch OS 15 is smooth. Mostly. AI features shine. Like Note Assistant. Or AI Translation. But bloatware? Ugh. Hot Apps. Glance. You can uninstall some. Not all. Animations stutter sometimes. Not a dealbreaker. Three years of Android updates? That’s future-proof.
A Magical Adventure
Gaming
Gamers, get ready. This phone’s a beast. Genshin Impact? 60fps on high settings. Call of Duty: Mobile? 90fps in multiplayer. BGMI? Smooth as a magic carpet ride. The 144Hz screen? Buttery. Touch response? Lightning-fast. Like a genie catching every wish.
Gaming perks:
An hour of BGMI? Only 15% battery drain. Better than the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. Speakers? Loud. Clear. Like a bard at a tech festival. No dedicated display chip like the Neo 9 Pro. But you won’t miss it.
Capturing Magic Moments
Camera
The 50MP main camera? Stellar. Daylight shots? Sharp. Vibrant. Like a painter with a magic brush. Colors pop. Details shine. Optical stabilization helps. Low light? Still good. Night mode keeps noise low. Outshines the Nothing Phone 3a Pro in bright scenes. But POCO X7 Pro wins in dynamic range.
The 8MP ultra-wide? Weak. Fine for landscapes. But dim light? Grainy. Colors don’t match the main lens. Like a backup genie who’s half asleep. The 16MP selfie cam? Solid. Clear shots. Natural skin tones. Turn off beauty filters. They’re too much. Like overdone magic makeup.
Video? 4K at 60fps on the main camera. Looks great. But stabilization wobbles. Like a shaky carpet ride. Stick to 1080p for smooth clips. Ultra-wide and selfie cams? 1080p max. Audio’s clear. Focus shifts? A bit slow.
AI tricks? Fun. Circle to Search is quick. Like a genie finding answers. AI Erase? Removes objects. Sometimes leaves smudges. Filters like Vintage Film? Add a magical vibe. Overall? The main camera’s a star. The ultra-wide? A letdown.
Power That Lasts
Battery
The 6,400mAh battery? Huge. Like a camel crossing a tech desert. Heavy use? Eight hours of screen time. Gaming. Streaming. Social media. Normal use? Twelve hours. Light use? Two days. Crazy. The 80W FlashCharge? Fast. 50% in 26 minutes. Full in 55. Beats the Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s 50W. Matches the POCO X7 Pro’s 90W.
Gaming while charging? No heat. Bypass charging saves the battery. An hour of BGMI? Just 15% drain. Impressive. This phone’s built for power users.
Ready for the Future
Connectivity
This phone’s connected. Big time. Dual 5G? Check. Wi-Fi 7? Speedy. Bluetooth 5.4? Low lag for earbuds. NFC? Pay with a tap. GPS? Spot-on. Even an IR blaster. Control your TV. Your AC. Poof. Like magic. X users say it’s reliable. No dropped calls. No Wi-Fi hiccups.
The fingerprint sensor? Unlocks in 0.3 seconds. Quick. IP65 rating? Splash-proof. Good for rain. Not a pool party. No headphone jack. Bummer. But Bluetooth and USB-C audio work fine.
Little Sparks of Magic
Extras
Pros and Cons
The TechyGenie Verdict
The iQOO Neo 10R 5G? A mid-range marvel. It’s fast. It’s powerful. It lasts. Like a genie granting most wishes. The screen? Gorgeous. The battery? A beast. The main camera? Sharp. Starting at ₹26,999, it’s a steal. Compared to rivals:
The downsides? Plastic back. Feels cheap. Ultra-wide camera? Weak. Software? Some bloat. Video stabilization? Needs work. Still, for gamers, power users, and budget buyers? This phone shines. Like a lamp in a tech cave.
Where to Buy
Best Deal
iQOO Neo 10R 5G
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
6400mAh Battery
144Hz AMOLED Display
