The iQOO Z10 5G has arrived as a strong contender in the budget smartphone segment, promising a blend of high performance, exceptional battery life, and a premium design at an affordable price point. Priced starting at ₹21,998 in India, this phone targets students, gamers, and budget-conscious buyers who want a device that can keep up with their demanding lifestyles. With a massive 7,300mAh battery, a vibrant AMOLED display, and a capable Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, the iQOO Z10 aims to redefine expectations in the sub-₹25,000 category. But does it deliver on its promises, or are there compromises hidden beneath its impressive specs? Let’s dive into this comprehensive review to find out.
Design and Build: Sleek Yet Sturdy
The iQOO Z10 5G defies the stereotype of bulky big-battery phones. At just 7.89mm thick and weighing 199 grams, it feels surprisingly light and comfortable in hand, despite packing a massive battery. The phone’s quad-curved design, with a 40° golden curvature, ensures a natural grip, making it ideal for extended use, whether you’re gaming or scrolling through social media. Available in Glacier Silver and Stellar Black, the Z10 opts for a minimalist, elegant aesthetic. The Glacier Silver variant, with its matte finish, resists fingerprints effectively, while the plastic back subtly hints at its mid-range positioning.
The phone also boasts military-grade durability with MIL-STD-810H certification and an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, making it a reliable companion in tough conditions. The premium Schott Alpha Glass on the front adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring the device can handle the occasional drop or splash. While the large circular camera module may not appeal to everyone, it gives the Z10 a distinctive look that feels inspired by flagship designs. Overall, the iQOO Z10 strikes an excellent balance between portability, durability, and style, making it a standout in its price range.
Display: A Visual Treat for Budget Buyers
The iQOO Z10 sports a 6.77-inch FHD+ quad-curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering a smooth and immersive viewing experience. With a peak brightness of 5,000 nits (1,300 nits in High Brightness Mode), this screen is among the brightest in its class, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. Whether you’re streaming Netflix, browsing Instagram, or gaming, the display’s vibrant colors and sharp visuals, with 1.07 billion colors and HDR support, make every moment pop. The 3,840Hz PWM dimming reduces eye strain during low-light usage, a thoughtful addition for late-night scrollers.
While Netflix doesn’t support HDR at this price point, YouTube does, enhancing the viewing experience for compatible content. The ultra-slim bezels and curved edges create a near edge-to-edge display, perfect for immersive media consumption. For budget-conscious buyers, this display feels like a steal, offering flagship-level quality without the premium price tag.
Performance: Power-Packed for Everyday and Gaming
Under the hood, the iQOO Z10 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, built on a 4nm process, paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. This combination delivers impressive performance, with an AnTuTu score exceeding 800,000, outpacing competitors like the Nothing Phone 3a and Motorola Edge 60 Fusion. Geekbench results are equally strong, showcasing excellent single-core and multi-core performance. The Adreno 710 GPU ensures smooth gaming, with titles like BGMI running at a steady 60fps, though it’s capped at this frame rate, which may disappoint those seeking 90fps gameplay.
The phone’s thermal management is a highlight, with temperatures staying around 35°C even after 30 minutes of intensive gaming. Without an active vapor chamber, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3’s efficiency keeps throttling to a minimum, with only 68.3% throttling under heavy loads. Features like Ultra Game Mode and 4D Game Vibration enhance the gaming experience, though they’re limited to specific titles. For everyday tasks like multitasking, browsing, and editing, the Z10 remains fluid, thanks to iQOO’s extended RAM feature, which can virtually boost memory by up to 12GB.
Battery Life: A True Game-Changer
The iQOO Z10’s standout feature is its 7,300mAh battery, the largest in India as of March 2025, powered by BlueVolt 3rd-Gen Silicon Anode Technology. This high-density battery (838 Wh/L) allows for a slim design while delivering exceptional endurance. In real-world tests, the phone lasts up to two days with moderate use, and even heavy users—gamers, streamers, or social media enthusiasts—can expect a full day without needing a charger. In a PCMark battery loop test, it lasted 24 hours while draining only to 20%.
The 90W FlashCharge support is equally impressive, juicing up the battery from 20% to 100% in just 42 minutes. The included 90W charger and Bypass Charging technology, which reduces battery strain during charging, further enhance its longevity. Reverse wired charging at 7.5W lets the Z10 double as a power bank, a handy feature for charging other devices. For students or professionals on the go, this battery life eliminates the need for constant recharging or carrying a power bank.
Camera: Decent but Not the Star
The iQOO Z10 features a dual-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor, alongside a 32MP front camera. Daylight shots are impressive, with quick focus and good dynamic range when HDR is enabled. Portrait mode offers decent edge detection, and the 4K 30fps video recording on both front and rear cameras is a step up from previous iQOO mid-rangers. However, the lack of an ultrawide lens limits versatility, and low-light photography is a weak point, with noticeable noise and inaccurate white balance. Night mode improves sharpness but can oversaturate colors.
The 32MP selfie camera performs well in daylight but struggles in low light. For casual users, the camera setup is sufficient, but photography enthusiasts may want to explore alternatives like the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion for better low-light performance. The inclusion of AI features like AI Erase, AI Super Document, and AI Circle to Search adds value for content creators and students, making photo editing and document scanning a breeze.
Software: Smooth with Room for Polish
Running Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15, the iQOO Z10 offers a clean and responsive software experience. Features like vivo’s Priority Scheduling (15% faster app launches), zRAM compression (40% better memory management), and the Lightning Speed Engine ensure smooth performance. AI tools like AI Note Assist and AI Circle to Search are practical for students, summarizing notes or enabling quick searches. However, the UI lacks the polish of competitors like OxygenOS, and haptic feedback feels average due to spring haptics. With two years of OS updates and three years of security patches, software support is decent but not class-leading.
Verdict: A Budget Champion with Minor Trade-Offs
The iQOO Z10 5G is a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking a phone that excels in battery life, display quality, and performance. Its massive 7,300mAh battery, vibrant AMOLED display, and smooth Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 performance make it ideal for students, gamers, and heavy users. However, the lack of an ultrawide camera, stereo speakers, and NFC, along with average low-light photography and haptics, are notable compromises.
At ₹21,998 (or ₹19,999 with bank discounts), the iQOO Z10 offers unmatched value, especially for those prioritizing endurance and display quality over camera versatility. If you’re looking for a reliable, long-lasting mid-range phone that doesn’t skimp on performance, the iQOO Z10 is hard to beat. For those needing better cameras or higher frame rates in gaming, alternatives like the Nothing Phone 3a or Motorola Edge 60 Fusion may be worth considering.
Pros:
- Massive 7,300mAh battery with 90W fast charging
- Stunning 6.77-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Smooth performance with Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
- Sleek design with IP65 and MIL-STD-810H durability
- Useful AI features for productivity
Cons:
- No ultrawide camera
- No stereo speakers or NFC
- Average low-light camera performance
- Haptic feedback could be better
For gamers, students, or anyone seeking a budget-friendly phone that doesn’t compromise on power, the iQOO Z10 5G is a fantastic pick that delivers where it matters most.