vivo’s sub-brand iQOO has consistently aimed to deliver a blend of high performance and budget-friendly pricing through its ‘Z’ Series smartphones, which have proven to be a key attraction for consumers. Following the success of the iQOO Z7 and Z9 in recent years, the brand has now introduced the iQOO Z10 to the Indian market, featuring a notable 7300mAh battery.
Additionally, iQOO has introduced several new features to the iQOO Z10, enhancing its appeal for both gamers and everyday users within the 20,000 budget range, thus positioning it as a versatile option. Notably, the device is equipped with a robust 7300mAh battery that ensures all-day performance even under intensive use.
Furthermore, the smartphone boasts an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, an AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, and supports 90W wired charging. Are the specifications on paper truly beneficial in practical use, or do they come with trade-offs? To explore this, we tested the iQOO Z10 5G over several days and will share our findings in this review.
iQOO Z10 5G Price & Availability
iQOO Z10 5G comes in Glacier Silver and Stellar Black hues. It is available in the following storage configurations-
- 8GB RAM+128GB storage-Rs. 21,999
- 8GB RAM+256GB storage-Rs. 23,999
- 12GB RAM+256GB storage-Rs. 25,999
iQOO Z10 5G can be purchased via Amazon and iQOO e-store. With various bank cards, you can get up to 2000 INR instant discount, which makes the effective price as low as Rs. 19,999.
Pros
- Big battery yet sleek design
- Bright AMOLED display
- Fast performance
- 90W wired charging support
Cons
- Underwhelming low-light performance
- Single speaker
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Unboxing
The iQOO Z10 is packaged in a standard black cardboard box, which remains unchanged from the packaging of the iQOO Z9 in 2024. Upon opening the box, the first item you will encounter is the smartphone itself, accompanied by a 90W adapter, a charging cable, a TPU case, a Quick Guide, and warranty documentation.
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Design and Build
One of the standout features of the iQOO Z10’s design is its slim profile of just 7.89mm in thickness and a weight of 200 grams, despite sporting a large 7,300 mAh battery. It remains lightweight in the hand, allowing for extended use without causing any discomfort.
The design is simple and minimalistic, avoiding any unconventional elements, yet it conveys a sophisticated and high-quality appearance within the ₹20,000 price range. Its curved edges enhance grip, making it comfortable to hold.
The back panel, crafted from plastic, features a matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. A prominent camera module is located on the back. This circular module includes two sensors and an LED flash, all protected by a plastic cover.
The front display is safeguarded by SCHOTT Xensation Up glass, which helps prevent scratches in the event of a drop. It has an IP65 rating, providing protection against dust and minor water splashes.
On the right edge, you will find the power button and volume rocker, while the left edge remains unused. The bottom edge features a USB Type-C port, a single speaker grille, the primary microphone, and a SIM tray slot.
Overall, the iQOO Z10 5G’s design may lack flair, yet it provides a premium experience with its well-balanced and comfortable grip. However, I do wish the brand would offer more diverse color options beyond the standard black and light grey, which feel quite ordinary these days.
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Display
The iQOO Z10 features an impressive display ideal for budget-conscious users seeking brightness and quality. It boasts a 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The curved design enhances the premium feel and provides an engaging experience for consuming content.
The standout feature of the display is its exceptional brightness, ranking among the best in its category. As stated by iqoo, the screen can achieve a peak brightness of 5000 nits, although this level does not apply to the entire display. The High Brightness Mode (HBM) can reach up to 1300 nits. In our tests, we found that even under direct sunlight, reading text and viewing content posed no difficulties.
This AMOLED display is capable of showcasing 1.07 billion colors, resulting in images and scenes that appear sharp, detailed, and lifelike. The color output varies based on the selected profile, which includes Standard, Professional, and Bright modes. In Standard mode, colors can appear cooler, with whites sometimes exhibiting a bluish tint.
I found the Professional mode to be the most appealing, as it naturally rendered colors without causing eye strain. Bright Mode is ideal for users who prefer more vivid and intense colors. Additionally, there is a visual enhancement feature that improves color and contrast in different settings.
The iQOO Z10 features PWM dimming technology operating at 3840Hz, which helps reduce eye strain in low-light conditions. Additionally, the display is safeguarded by SCHOTT Xensation Up glass.
With a budget of 20,000, HDR support is available; however, certain platforms only offer FHD content. While YouTube provides HDR support, Netflix does not. Overall, the display of the iQOO Z10 is satisfactory within this price range, making it suitable for streaming, gaming, or messaging in outdoor environments.
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Haptics
The haptic feedback on the iQOO Z10 feels underwhelming, as it’s using spring haptics, not the tactile ones.
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Software
The iQOO Z10 operates on Funtouch OS 15, which is based on Android 15, right from the start. This operating system includes numerous enhancements that improve usability and provide a range of valuable features.
FunTouch OS 15 introduces vivo’s Priority Scheduling, which accelerates app opening times by 15%. The zRAM compression algorithm enhances system memory management by 40%. Additionally, it includes features such as the Lightning Speed Engine and Origin Animation. To improve visual aesthetics, Aqua Dynamic Effects are incorporated, enhancing animations and interactions significantly.
Users will have access to various personalization features, including custom call backgrounds, live wallpapers, and fingerprint unlock animation styles. Additionally, several AI functionalities are incorporated, such as AI Eraser, AI Circle to Search, AI Note Assist, and Super Document, all of which enhance productivity and prove to be quite useful.
iQOO has committed to providing 2 OS updates and 3 security patches for this device, which seems limited compared to competitors like Samsung that offer 3 to 4 years of OS updates.
However, this model comes packed with a range of valuable features within a budget of 20,000. Since budget smartphones are typically used for 3 to 4 years, the promised updates may be considered acceptable. Additionally, it includes several pre-installed applications such as Amazon, Facebook, and PhonePe, which can be uninstalled if they are not required.
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Biometrics
Regarding biometrics, the iQOO Z10 5G features a rapid and precise in-display fingerprint sensor. The sensor placement is low, however. Additionally, it includes a Face Unlock function that performs adequately in low-light environments, although it may not be as secure as the fingerprint sensor.
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Performance
The iQOO Z10 5G outperforms its competitors in the segment, thanks to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset built on a 4nm process. This octa-core chipset includes high-performance Kyro Prime and Cortex A720 cores, reaching a maximum clock speed of 2.5GHz, and is complemented by the Adreno 810 GPU.
There is up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage options along with 12GB Virtual RAM expansion being available.
In terms of real-time performance, the applications launch almost instantly, and transitioning between them occurs smoothly without any delays or interruptions. The device efficiently manages all everyday activities, such as taking photos, browsing social media, streaming videos, or enjoying a series in the evening.
Regarding gaming performance, we conducted some tests on the phone and found it to be quite capable. Titles such as BGMI can be played at high settings with 60fps for extended periods.
During my experience, I played COD for half an hour without encountering any issues throughout the session. While it does become slightly warm, this is typical for the summer season, and there is no need for concern.
The results of benchmark tests are below.
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Cameras
The iQOO Z10 5G features a dual-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 50MP Sony IMX882 sensor with optical image stabilization and a 2MP depth sensor. Additionally, it boasts a 32MP front-facing camera that effectively captures facial details for selfies.
The main sensor features an f/1.79 aperture and is a 1/1.95-inch camera that excels in capturing intricate details in bright daylight. The images are rich in detail, with colors appearing natural. Under optimal daylight conditions, the dynamic range is impressive. The photos below illustrate the sharpness of colors and details in the flowers.
In low-light photography, this sensor falls short. When lighting conditions are reduced, details are lost and noise becomes apparent upon zooming in on the images. Although the Night Mode enhances sharpness, it can occasionally result in oversaturated colors.
For instance, in the images below, the Hindi text appears more saturated than it truly was. Nevertheless, this device can still produce satisfactory images suitable for social media. Additionally, there is a Supermoon mode that allows for 20x zoom, but the quality remains subpar.
The primary camera features 2x in-sensor zoom and captures impressive images in bright daylight, as demonstrated in the samples below. Additionally, it offers AR Stickers, a 50MP mode, and long exposure settings.
When it comes to the selfie camera, it performs admirably in bright daylight, capturing clear photos. The portrait mode effectively highlights facial features; however, it faces challenges with detail and color accuracy in low-light environments.
This device features front and rear cameras capable of recording video in 4K at 30 frames per second, and with OIS, the footage remains steady but there is a noticeable EIS jerk in the videos. Additionally, there is an Ultra Stabilization mode available, although it limits video recording to 1080p resolution.
iQOO Z10 5G Review: Battery Life and Charging
The iQOO Z10 is the first smartphone in India to feature a 7,300mAh battery, all while being priced under 20,000 INR. It can easily last a full day, even with intensive use. During my testing, which involved extensive WhatsApp chatting, benchmark evaluations, photography, content streaming, and approximately 1.5 hours of gaming, I was able to achieve a remarkable two days of battery life. Additionally, the battery optimization is quite satisfactory.
Additionally, the device features a large battery that supports 90W wired charging. The included adapter can charge the battery to 50% in approximately 30 minutes and fully charge it in around an hour. It also offers fast charging and bypass charging capabilities, allowing you to charge the phone while gaming without straining the battery.
The iQOO Z10 features a 7.5W reverse charging capability, allowing it to function as a power bank to share power with other devices. Overall, this budget-friendly smartphone provides remarkable battery and charging performance.
Review Verdict: Should You Buy the iQOO Z10 5G?
The iQOO Z10 is a budget-friendly and remarkable smartphone priced at Rs. 21,999. It boasts features such as a 7,300mAh battery, 90W wired charging (including bypass and reverse charging), which are key selling points, providing users with extended battery life and rapid charging capabilities. Additionally, it features an AMOLED display with a brightness of 5000 nits, delivering an exceptional visual experience.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset offers impressive speed and efficiency, making it an excellent choice for gamers seeking a phone within this price range. Additionally, the 32MP sensor delivers satisfactory results for selfies.
While there are some limitations, such as the lack of an ultrawide camera, mediocre low-light photography, and the absence of stereo speakers, the iQOO Z10 5G is a solid choice if you seek a durable smartphone with long battery life and efficient performance within your budget.
Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 8.2/10
- Design and Build: 7.5/10
- Display: 8/10
- Speakers: 7/10
- Software: 8/10
- Haptics: 7/10
- Biometrics: 8/10
- Performance: 9/10
- Cameras: 8/10
- Battery Life & Charging: 9.5/10
First reviewed in April 2025.
