1 week Ago
iQOO has been steadily catering to the budget-conscious market with its Z-series smartphones. The iQOO Z9 stood out as one of the best-performing devices under Rs 20,000, and now, its successor — the iQOO Z10 — arrives in India, aimed particularly at students. It brings a formidable 7,300mAh battery, 90W fast charging, a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, a 50MP camera, and a 120Hz AMOLED display to the table.
While these upgrades make the Z10 a worthy successor on paper, does it truly set a new benchmark? Let’s find out. Design and Display Despite packing in a massive battery, the iQOO Z10 manages to stay sleek, slim, and impressively lightweight at just 199 grams and 7.9mm thick.
It strikes a fine balance between power and portability, and even weight distribution makes it feel comfortable in hand. Its aesthetic appeal is modern, though the large circular camera module — inspired by flagship designs — might divide opinions. The handset is offered in Glacier Silver and Stellar Black.
Our review unit, the Stellar Black version, features a dual-finish design: a glossy camera module paired with a matte rear panel that resists fingerprints quite well, although smudges can still creep in over time. Fortunately, iQOO includes a case in the box to help maintain its pristine appearance. Durability has also been given due attention, with the device boasting an IP65 rating and military-grade MIL-STD-810H certification.
Shield Glass protection and a reinforced internal structure offer some defence against minor drops and shocks. Also read: OPPO K13 5G Review: The phone that keeps going Security is handled by a fast and reliable in-display fingerprint scanner. Practicality is not overlooked either, with a USB-C port for charging and a dedicated microSD slot for expandable storage.
While the lack of stereo speakers might disappoint some, the addition of an IR blaster — cleverly positioned on the rear camera module — is a nice touch for controlling appliances. However, NFC support is absent, which is understandable given the phone’s price point. The display itself is a major highlight.
The Z10 sports a 6.77-inch quad-curved AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 5,000 nits — making it one of the brightest screens at this price. Outdoor visibility is excellent, even under harsh sunlight.
Although HDR playback is supported, streaming platforms currently limit it to FHD resolution; a future software update could potentially unlock higher streaming quality. The visual experience is further enhanced by ultra-slim bezels and good off-axis viewing. Colours can be calibrated to personal taste through settings.
However, the punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera could have been a tad smaller to offer an even more immersive experience. Cameras The iQOO Z10’s camera setup comprises a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor at the rear, with a 32MP front-facing camera housed within the punch-hole. While the camera performance is generally reliable, the absence of an ultrawide lens — offered by rivals like the Redmi Note 14 and Motorola Edge 60 Fusion — limits versatility.
Also read: Google Pixel 9a Review: A great allrounder In daylight, the Z10 captures well-balanced shots with accurate colours and preserved highlights. It maintains natural-looking tones, particularly in selfies. Portrait mode employs a 2x zoom and delivers pleasing bokeh, but tends towards muted colours and slight underexposure.
Low-light photography, even with Night Mode, sharpens details but tends to oversaturate colours, leading to images that are brighter yet less natural. Selfies are a strength for the Z10, offering more realistic skin tones and dynamic range. Low-light selfies, while not flawless, are balanced and well-controlled.
Performance and Software Beneath the surface, the iQOO Z10 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, supported by up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The device punches above its weight in daily performance. In everyday usage scenarios, such as browsing, streaming, editing, and multitasking, the Z10 remained consistently smooth with no noticeable slowdowns.
FunTouch OS 15, layered atop Android 15, runs the show. While the UI is cluttered with 61 pre-installed apps, performance remains snappy and animations fluid. On the bright side, the OS offers a host of AI-powered tools, including AI Super Doc for document scanning, Instant Document Converter for compiling PDFs, and AI Eraser for photo editing.
iQOO promises two years of major Android updates and three years of security patches, which should reassure buyers looking for some longevity. Also read: Samsung Galaxy A56 Review: You might not miss a flagship after this Battery and Charging The Z10’s standout feature is its Silicon Carbon battery — a new type of cell that offers higher energy density compared to traditional Lithium-Ion batteries. Despite the 7,300mAh capacity, the device remains surprisingly light and slim.
Battery life is phenomenal. In real-world use, it barely dropped a percentage point after a half-hour of video streaming and only consumed about four percent battery after an hour and a half of intensive gaming — a class-leading result. Charging is equally impressive.
Thanks to 90W fast charging, the Z10 can be topped up from 20% to 100% in just 42 minutes. Bypass charging is supported as well, which powers the phone directly during heavy use, thus extending the overall lifespan of the battery. Final Verdict The iQOO Z10 offers exceptional value for money.
With its Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, superb battery life, rapid charging, vivid AMOLED display, and reliable day-to-day performance, it hits the sweet spot for students, heavy users, and anyone who values longevity in a smartphone. Starting at ₹ 21,999 in India, the iQOO Z10 firmly positions itself as a top contender in its segment. If battery life, performance, display quality, and fast charging matter more to you than having an extra camera lens, it’s hard to go wrong with this device.
Also read: OPPO F29 Review: Built tough, just like it promises.
