iQOO Neo 10 differs from the Chinese version both externally and technically. And the manufacturer promotes it as a smartphone with a gaming bias for those who do not want to spend extra. Already on May 29, the model will be officially shown in Russia. We have collected everything that is known about the novelty: test results, photo examples and first impressions.
The design is almost flagship
The manufacturer made sure that the smartphone was immediately ready for use – without additional accessories. That’s why you get everything you need: a USB Type-C cable on both ends, a 120W power adapter, a transparent silicone case, and a screen protector.
Externally, the iQOO Neo 10 resembles the flagship iQOO 13 model, except that it does not have an LED ring around the cameras. In order to save money, the side frame was made of plastic, not metal, although it is difficult to attribute this to the disadvantages. But the smartphone weighs only 206 grams, which is not much at all when you take into account the 7000 mAh battery.
If you find fault with the appearance, you can note the difference in the width of the bezels around the screen: 1.54 mm on the sides and top, and 2.39 mm on the bottom. It is optical here, that is, it glows brightly when triggered and can react poorly to wet or dirty fingers.
The smartphone supports the installation of two SIM cards, but it is impossible to expand the built-in storage using microSD. But there is an IR transmitter for controlling household appliances. The iQOO Neo 10 has built-in stereo speakers with a large volume margin, but at the upper values, the quality deteriorates significantly. But you will definitely not miss a call even in a noisy environment.
You can’t find fault with the picture
The display of the iQOO Neo 10 is large – 6.78 inches with a resolution of 2800×1260 pixels. This is an AMOLED matrix with an aspect ratio of 20:9 and high brightness even by the standards of flagships: up to 2000 nits in normal use and up to 5500 nits in a small area of the screen when displaying HDR content. In real life, this means that the screen remains readable even under the scorching sun. Color reproduction is also up to par – 10-bit color depth is supported, in addition, you can choose one of three profiles: standard, bright or professional.
The claimed refresh rate is up to 144 Hz, but automatic adjustment is enabled by default. In this mode, the system can lower the frequency to 120, 90 and 60 Hz, depending on the battery saving scenario. If you want maximum smoothness, it is better to manually turn on the fixed 120 Hz. Gaming also boosts the touch sampling rate to 3000Hz.
Additional options include MEMC and super resolution, which increase frame rate and clarity when watching videos on services like YouTube and Netflix. In the dark, PWM dimming is turned on with a frequency of 4320 Hz, which reduces eye fatigue. Support for DC Dimming is also announced. The screen is covered with SCHOTT Xensation Up glass – this is an analogue of Gorilla Glass, but with German roots.
iQOO Neo 10 Features of the new “dragon”
Inside the smartphone is a new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor. iQOO Neo 10 is made using 4nm technology and operates at a frequency of up to 3.2 GHz. For comparison, the top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite is built on a 3nm process and produces up to 4.47 GHz (in the overclocked version). It’s also worth noting that the base 128GB version uses UFS 3.1 storage, while the 256GB and 512GB variants have faster UFS 4.1 memory.
In AnTuTu, the smartphone scores 2,112,580 points, and in Geekbench 6 – 2153 and 7056 points in single-core and multi-core tests, respectively. In benchmarks, the device is slightly ahead of iQOO 12 and OnePLus 13R based on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The latter, by the way, is installed in the Chinese version of the iQOO Neo10.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is paired with a Q1 coprocessor. It is responsible for frame generation technology to boost up to 144 fps and run games at 1.5K resolution. Only this works in a small number of optimized games, such as PUBG Mobile or Arena Breakout.
Although the processor is not the top-end, it is extremely difficult to feel this in practice. Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Genshin Impact run smoothly at maximum settings. The 3D Mark Wild Life stress test shows 77% stability under load, which is also a very good indicator. In addition, the manufacturer promises 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches.
iQOO Neo 10 Autonomy at altitude
The Chinese version of the iQOO Neo 10 has a 6100 mAh battery, while the global version has a 7000 mAh battery. Depending on the load, you can count on 8-12 hours of screen time or up to two days of normal smartphone use.
With the included 120W adapter, the smartphone charges to 50% in just 20 minutes, and it takes just under 40 minutes to fully replenish energy. In this case, the fast charging option must be manually enabled in the settings. There is no wireless charging here, but you can charge other gadgets with a power of up to 10 watts from the iQOO Neo 10 itself.
During gameplay, you can activate the bypass charging function so that power is supplied directly to the motherboard. In this mode, the charge is not consumed, the battery does not wear out and the heat is less.
iQOO Neo 10 Photographers pass by
In the iQOO Neo 10, less attention is paid to the cameras than to other aspects. The main module is represented by a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 sensor. The same is in the POCO X7 and realme 12 Pro – mid-range models. And there is also an ultra-wide-angle camera with a resolution of only 8 megapixels and a 32-megapixel front camera.
The main camera in good lighting shows itself decently. The pictures are clear and with decent detail. Choose from Vivid, Neutral, and Texture color profiles. The second one works best — it does not bend the contrast and does not turn the frame into a glossy postcard. Portrait mode is also up to par: the edges of objects are cut out neatly, and the blurred background looks natural. At the same time, algorithms like to smooth the skin, making people plastic, especially in portrait mode.
In low light, the limitations of the main camera make themselves felt. Auto Night mode pulls the scene to an acceptable level, but when viewing a close-up shot or on a large screen, noise and lack of sharpness are visible. There is also a super night mode, but it should only be used with a tripod, otherwise the objects in the frame will blur.
The ultra-wide is here for show. Even during the day, you should not expect decent detail, and even the night mode does not save you when there is a lack of light. But the 32 MP front camera takes clear selfies in good light. The portraits from her are also decent. But there are two disadvantages: the focal length is 28 mm, which makes the frame too “tight”, and in low light conditions, the quality drops sharply.
Video can be recorded in up to 4K quality at 60 fps on both the main and front cameras. There is both standard stabilization and enhanced stabilization, but the latter only works in 1080p, cropping the frame and degrading detail. In standard mode, shaking is felt, especially when walking. The ultra-wide is limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second, and is inferior in quality to the main camera.
iQOO Neo 10 Specifications
- DISPLAY
- 6.78″, AMOLED, 2800×1260 resolution, refresh rate up to 144 Hz, local peak brightness up to 5500 nits, 4320 Hz PWM
- CHIPSET
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 + Q1 Gaming Coprocessor
- MEMORY
- RAM – 8/12/16 GB, LPDDR5X
ROM – 128/256/512 GB, UFS 4.1 - ACCUMULATOR
- 7000 mAh, 120W wired charging
- CAMERA
- wide-angle – 50 MP, 1/1.953″ Sony IMX882 sensor, f/1.79 aperture, OIS, video 4K @ 60 fps
, ultra-wide-angle – 8 MP, f/2.2
front – 32 MP, f/2.45 - CONNECTION
- 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, IRD, USB Type-C (USB 2.0)
- FEATURES
- Optical in-screen fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, IP65 splash proof
- DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
- 163.72 x 75.88 x 8.09 mm
206 g
