iQOO Neo 10 Review – Value-Packed Gaming Powerhouse Phone Tested

Flagship phones are typically costly affairs that cost an arm and leg though iQOO is looking to up-end that notion with their new iQOO Neo 10 that has been launched in Malaysia with the tagline ‘Power to Win’ on account of the gaming-centric emphasis in its design.

As the first phone on our shores to feature the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor along with a slew of other flagship-grade features while retaining  a modest price tag that is substantially less than a current-grade flagship phone in the market. Ahead of its official launch in Malaysia, we managed to get our hands on a sample for field testing – here’s our iQOO Neo 10 review where we share if this is truly a flagship killer of a phone.

iQOO Neo 10 Review – Build and Design

While it bears the same name, our iQOO Neo 10 review sample for the Malaysia market bears closer resemblance to the version that was recently launched in India last month rather than the one that was deployed late last year in China which has different aesthetics and an altogether different chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. 

Like the version launched in India, the iQOO Neo 10 for Malaysia is powered by the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor augmented by iQOO’s own Q1 Supercomputing Chip that reduces power consumption and improves frame rates for selected games. For Malaysia ,the phone has two possible storage configurations – either a 12GB RAM/256GB storage variant  or an impressive 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage. Our iQOO Neo 10 review sample is the latter.

For colourways, Malaysia gets your choice of either Astral Black or Desert Gold paint jobs with our iQOO Neo 10 review sample being the latter which works out to a muted shade of metallic gold that resists smudges and repels fingerprints nicely.

In terms of design, the IQOO Neo 10 features rounded corners, a backplate curved around the edges for better tactility and a flat display. The rounded corners and slightly curved edges make it relatively comfortable to hold one handed. Belying its aesthetics, the phone is surprisingly robust with an IP65 dust and water resistance rating, allowing it to resist dust ingress and survive splashes of water and low pressure jets of water like rain. Better yet, it also has a MIL-STD-810H rating, meaning that it has improved resistance to drops. 

This is on account of a series of unique features in its design including reinforced corners, sealed internal components and internal cushioning structures around the screen for full-edge protection. The screen itself also utilises Shield Glass, making it 150% more drop resistant than its predecessor while remaining scratch resistant too. As an added measure, the phone also has a pre-applied Diamond Anti-drop Film on the display that reduces the risk of screen breakage if dropped on hard surfaces like concrete. Combined, these measures make the iQOO Neo 10 resistant to many day to day mishaps.

The backplate is done up entirely in Desert Gold with a raised camera housing that resembles a square with the corners rounded off that houses a dual camera array that consists of a primary 50MP camera with OIS and a secondary 8MP ultra wide angle camera accompanied by an LED flash. The bottom quadrant retains the iQOO logogram emblazoned in silver.

The layout is fairly standard with a power button and volume rocker on the right, a USB-C port as well as a nano SIM card port and a grille for one of the two speakers on the base and an otherwise nondescript top and sides. 

Up front, our iQOO Neo 10 review unit features a large 6.78-inch 1.5K Eyecare AMOLED display that has slim bezels all around, a 144Hz refresh rate and a global peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits. An under-display fingerprint reader adds a measure of security to the phone. Of note is that it has a slew of SGS certificates including Low Blue Light, Low Flicker and Five-Star Sunlight Readable Display rating. The last certification ensures that it retains excellent clarity under direct sunlight. The only quibble here is that the pre-applied screen protector is a fingerprint magnet though this isn’t a deal breaker.

@hitechcentury We get a firsthand look and unbox the new iQOO Neo 10! #powertowin #iqooneo10 #gaming #unboxing #firstlook #techtok #fyp #hitechcentury #iqoo @iqoo_my ♬ Write This Down (Instrumental) – SoulChef

Aesthetically speaking, the iQOO Neo 10 looks surprisingly modest as opposed to the frippery adorning lesser phones that add in gaudy aesthetic trimmings rather than actual hardware. Fortunately, they add in a generous array of extra kit that consists of a free 120W wired charger with an UK-style pin, a USB-C cable, a dark gray soft-TPU casing and the usual warranty paperwork and SIM eject pin in the box that adds quite a bit of value to the phone.

 

iQOO Neo 10 Review – Performance and Benchmarks

Where the iQOO Neo 10 knocks things out of the ballpark is the hardware it packs under the hood. Beyond its quality AMOLED display that has a measure of resistance to nicks and drops, the display itself also features a slew of SGS certifications, chief among them that it is easy on the eyes and readable under direct sunlight.

What really takes the cake is that it is the first phone in Malaysia to use the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. Built on the same 4nm process and featuring a similar Adreno 825 GPU as the flagship top of the line Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is more optimised for value while retaining much of the capabilities of its higher end flagship sibling. On paper, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 offers a 49% improvement in performance and 39% better energy efficiency compared to its generational predecessor, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3.

What makes the iQOO Neo 10 unique is that it has iQOO’s own proprietary graphics chip referred to as the Q1 Supercomputing Chip that is able to enhance frame stability, improve graphics resolution and offer lower latency in selected games while also offering lower power consumption. 

That’s not all, our iQOO Neo 10 review sample also comes kitted out with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM as well as 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, both of which utilise high-grade memory that’s usually issued in the best flagship phones for reliable and blazing fast read-write speeds. A more affordable configuration is also available with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.1 storage as well for the Malaysia market.

What makes the fast chipset, RAM and storage a winning trifecta is the addition of a 7K Ultra VC Cooling System which ensures that heat from the CPU, battery and cameras are managed effectively via a series of graphite sheets and a large vapour chamber spanning 7000 mm² , combining to offer up a total heat dissipation area measuring up to 27,000 mm² which is substantial by any measure of the word.

Here’s how our iQOO Neo 10 measures up on paper:

Price	RM1,999 12GB RAM/256GB | RM2,19916GB RAM/512GB storage
Display	6.78-inch 1.5K Eyecare AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate, manual peak brightness 800 nits, global peak brightness 2,000 nits, HDR peak brightness 5,500 nits; Low Blue Light, Low Flicker and Five-Star Sunlight Readable Display SGS Certificate
Processor	Snapdragon 8s Gen4 with Q1 Supercomputing Chip
OS	Android 15 w/ Funtouch 15
Memory	16GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM w/ 512GB  UFS 4.1 (review unit) / 12GB / 256GB variant available
Camera	50MP IMX882 Sony sensor w/ OIS + 8MP ultra wide camera [rear] / 32MP [front[
Battery	7,000mAh Gen 3 Silicon BlueVolt battery w/ 120W FlashCharge
Size/Weight	163.7 x 75.9 x 8.1mm / 206g

The phone runs on Android 15 with their own FunTouch 15 OS that has a special Ultra Game mode which has a number of enhancements for a better gameplay experience. Like many other Android phones, the iQOO Neo 10 is also able to assign virtual RAM off onboard storage with up to 16GB available for use.

When subjected to virtual benchmarks, our iQOO Neo 10 review sample with 16GB of virtual RAM selected got the following:

 

3D Mark Steel Nomad Light	1,838
3D Mark Steel Nomad Light Unlimited	1,552
3D Mark Solar Bay	5,051
3D Mark Solar Bay Unlimited	5,038
3D Mark WildLife Extreme	2,963
3D Mark WildLife Extreme Unlimited	2,891
Geekbench 6 Single Core	2,068
Geekbench 6 Multi Core	6,452
Geekbench 6 OpenCL	13,765
Geekbench 6 Vulkan	18,514
Geekbench AI (CPU quanticised)	3,228
Geekbench AI (GPU quanticised)	799
PCMark Work 3.0 Performance	10,962
PCMark Battery Life	24 hours 21 minutes

When compared to several phones packing the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, our iQOO Neo 10 review sample scored slightly behind across most synthetic benchmarks but the key difference here is that it still achieves much of the performance capabilities of a Snapdragon 8 Elite at a lower price point.

When tackling gaming, our iQOO Neo 10 did not disappoint with smooth results across the board. In a number of games including Honor of Kings, Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact, the phone was able to run these games smoothly without issue.

Some games, like CODM were able to run with HD texture packs and on maximum settings while the typically demanding Genshin Impact was able to comfortably run on High settings.

Where the phone shows its capabilities is its ability to tackle sustained work loads for extended periods of time with relative stability. In the Steel Nomad Light Stress test, it enjoyed a 76.2% stability score while maxing out at about 40℃. When playing Genshin Impact for an hour plus, the large vapour chamber did its work, ensuring that the phone remained wieldable if slightly warm. 

Needless to say, it did not disappoint in day-to-day performance and was nippy, fast and responsive for all the usual tasks expected of a smartphone with iQOO’s FunTouch OS 15 offering a relatively pleasant user experience. Unfortunately, there’s still quite a bit of bloatware on a fresh install though it can be removed with a bit of housekeeping.

Of note is that FunTouch OS 15 has a wealth of customisable settings, especially in their Ultra Game mode that allows for the ability to toggle frame interpolation for smoother animations, visual enhancement as well as super resolution to upscale in-game graphics on a per game basis  and isn’t universal across the board. In Genshin Impact, it added slightly sharper textures to the game that fortunately didn’t affect frame rates or gameplay

There is also the novel ability to add additional haptic feedback in selected games using the built-in accelerometer, adding vibrations when you’re firing weapons in CODM and also when you’re taking out opponents in HoK. It’s an unusual but welcome addition to enhance your gaming experience but this is dependent on if the iQOO Neo 10 supports the game you like to play.

iQOO Neo 10 Review – Display and Speakers

On paper, the 6.78-inch 1.5K EyeCare AMOLED display on our iQOO Neo 10 review unit officially has a global peak brightness of 2,000 nits and has an SGS certification for clarity outdoors under sunlight. The display offered excellent clarity even under the blazing noonday sun though the screen needed to be dialled to maximum brightness which is typically the case for almost any display. 

Colour rendition and detail were excellent, making the phone great for watching movies and for gaming. While the display is capable of up to 144Hz refresh rate, it runs at 120Hz for the most part when navigating the menus with most games maxing out at 60Hz though this is on account of app limitations rather than the display itself. 

Where it shows its value in particular is the fact that it has both SGS Low Blue Light and Low Flicker certification, making it easy on the eyes especially when used at night or in dim scenarios. Even when watching movies in bed for an hour or so with the lights out, it didn’t result in the usual tiredness or harsh glare. 

The stereo speakers, one placed at the top of the display and one at the base of the phone offered good volume that’s loud enough for gaming or catching up on your Netflix backlog. Where the iQOO Neo 10 gets the edge is that FunTouch OS 15 has the ability to add optimised sound effects  for older users when wearing headphones.

iQOO Neo 10 Review – Battery Life

The combination of the large 7,000mAh Silicon BlueVolt battery and generally efficient Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset lend the phone exceptional endurance with the phone lasting a full day of heavy use including gaming, watching videos and all-day texting with a few minutes of voice calls. If you have a more conservative usage profile, it can likely last a day and a half. In PCMark’s battery life test, it managed a whopping 24 hours and 21 minutes which is exceptional even when compared to flagship phones. 

Where the iQOO Neo 10 impresses especially for gaming duties is that it supports passthrough charging, allowing you to keep it plugged in without having to charge the battery which reduces heat and battery wear and tear for a better gaming experience. Unfortunately, the USB-C port sticks out from the side when held in landscape mode which makes passthrough charging ergonomically awkward for gaming when plugged in though this can be handily solved with a side-angled USB-C port.

On paper, iQOO attests that it is able to attain a 50% charge in 19 minutes and a full charge from dead zero to full in 36 minutes. When fully drained, it managed to achieve a full charge in about 45 minutes on its proprietary FlashCharge charger which is still quite a feat especially seeing the size of its battery.

 

iQOO Neo 10 Review – Cameras

On the imaging front, our iQOO Neo 10 review sample comes with a modest but serviceable setup with a dual camera array on the rear built around a primary 50MP camera that uses a Sony IMX882 sensor augmented by optical image stabilisation (OIS) paired with a modest 8MP ultra wide angle lens camera. 

While basic, the OIS on the main camera allows for sharper stills and steadier view with the large sensor allowing for lossless zoom up to 2X and up to 10x digital zoom the ability to capture up to 4K@60fps video on the rear. 

The front hosts a single 32MP camera for selfies and video calls that’s also capable of up to 4K@60fps video.

In daylight conditions, the iQOO Neo 10 acquits itself in a fairly competent fashion with decent results and slightly more vibrant than usual colour rendition in daylight conditions out to 2x zoom with OIS ensuring shots and videos from the main camera remain crisp and steady. Detail starts to taper off beyond 2x zoom but the results are still usable for sharing on social media.

Low light performance is mixed depending on which zoom distance and camera you use. The ultrawide camera lacks OIS so it requires a steady hand or a tripod in low light conditions. However, the primary OIS-equipped 50MP main camera delivers solid results even with casual off-the-cuff shots.  In field tests in Taiwan’s bustling Ximending district, managed to retain detail and control highlights well under artificial lighting, aided by the Sony IMX882’s dynamic range capabilities.

Selfies on the front camera benefit from the usual array of beauty filters but aren’t particularly remarkable with decent skin tone rendition and fair detail in brightly lit conditions. Of greater utility is the provision of an AI Image Expander that uses AI to add more to the edges of a photo for creative purposes as well as the now obligatory AI Eraser mode to erase photobombers – both of which the phone does quite well.

While the iQOO Neo 10 lacks a telephoto camera, the main 50MP camera nevertheless acquits itself well for most day to day scenarios and will be sufficient for most users though content creators may require more specialised phones or a dedicated camera.

Should you buy the iQOO Neo 10?

The iQOO Neo 10 has flagship-grade hardware where it counts, blending a respectable and power-efficient Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset that offers excellent endurance and gaming performance, top-shelf RAM and storage, a superb AMOLED display and impressive battery life as well as a sufficiently large vapour chamber to keep temperatures down under sustained heavy use.

The provision of passthrough charging and the Q1 Supercomputing Chip also make it great for gaming though the pool of supported games isn’t as diverse as we’d like it to be though it is being added to as time goes on. While it is optimised for gaming, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander as well and the iQOO Neo 10 makes for a capable general workhorse with a price to performance ratio that’s hard to beat.

iQOO Neo 10 review unit courtesy of iQOO Malaysia. For more details please visit https://www.iqoo.com/my