The iQOO Z10 5G has made its mark in the mid-range smartphone segment with its blend of performance, style, and 5G connectivity. iQOO, a sub-brand of Vivo, is known for producing high-performance smartphones tailored for gaming and multitasking, and the Z10 5G follows the same legacy. This phone has become a buzz in the market, especially among users who want flagship-like performance without breaking the bank.
In this article, we will dive deep into the iQOO Z10 5G, analyzing its design, display, performance, camera quality, software experience, battery life, and overall value for money. Whether you’re a gamer, content creator, or everyday user, this comprehensive review will help you determine if the iQOO Z10 5G is the right fit for your needs.
iQOO Z10 5G Design and Build Quality
The iQOO Z10 5G carries a sleek and modern design that instantly catches the eye. With a premium matte finish on the back and glossy frames, the phone feels solid and well-built. The device features a flat frame design, which gives it a more angular and modern look, resembling flagship phones. Available in several colors like Sonic Blue and Graphite Black, it caters to both flashy and minimalist users.
The rear panel houses a rectangular camera module with dual lenses and an LED flash. It’s neatly aligned and doesn’t protrude too much, maintaining the sleekness of the phone. The iQOO branding is subtly placed at the bottom, enhancing the overall minimal aesthetics. The fingerprint scanner is side-mounted and embedded in the power button, offering quick and accurate recognition.
The phone weighs around 190 grams and is about 8.4 mm thick, making it comfortable to hold during prolonged usage. The build is mostly polycarbonate, but the phone does not feel cheap in the hand. In fact, it gives a sturdy and premium in-hand experience for the price range.
iQOO Z10 5G Display Quality
The iQOO Z10 5G features a 6.72-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. While some may prefer an AMOLED panel, the LCD on the Z10 is bright, vivid, and crisp. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures fluid scrolling and a more responsive user experience, particularly beneficial for gaming and general navigation.
The display offers good color reproduction and contrast, even though it’s not an AMOLED panel. Viewing angles are decent, and outdoor visibility is respectable with a peak brightness of around 650 nits. Watching videos on YouTube, streaming Netflix, or browsing through Instagram feels immersive, thanks to the large screen size and narrow bezels.
With Widevine L1 support, the iQOO Z10 5G allows full HD content playback on OTT platforms. However, if you are someone who prefers deep blacks and punchy colors, you might miss the AMOLED vibrance here.
iQOO Z10 5G Performance and Hardware
Performance is where the iQOO Z10 5G truly shines. The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset, a 6nm processor that delivers a balance of performance and power efficiency. It is paired with up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB UFS 2.2 storage, which ensures fast read and write speeds and smooth multitasking.
In real-world usage, the Z10 5G handles everything from regular tasks like browsing, social media, and video playback to demanding tasks like gaming and video editing with ease. Games like BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt 9 run smoothly on high settings without noticeable lag or heating issues.
The extended RAM feature allows users to allocate additional virtual memory, improving multitasking by keeping more apps active in the background. The phone supports 5G connectivity with multiple bands, ensuring future-ready network compatibility.
iQOO Z10 5G Camera Performance
The iQOO Z10 5G comes equipped with a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 64MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it sports a 16MP selfie shooter.
In daylight conditions, the 64MP primary sensor captures detailed and vibrant photos. The dynamic range is impressive, and the colors look natural, especially in well-lit outdoor environments. Portrait shots come out with decent edge detection, thanks to the depth sensor.
Low-light performance is acceptable, with night mode slightly enhancing the brightness and details in darker environments. It’s not the best night photography phone, but it holds its own within the segment. The front camera delivers clear selfies with natural skin tones, and the portrait mode works well for social media sharing.
Video recording maxes out at 4K 30fps on the rear camera, and stabilization is handled decently through EIS. Videos look sharp and smooth in daylight, though low-light footage shows some grain and shakiness.
iQOO Z10 5G Software Experience
Out of the box, the iQOO Z10 5G runs on Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14. Funtouch OS has come a long way and now offers a much cleaner and bloat-free experience compared to earlier versions.
The UI feels fluid, and animations are responsive. It comes with useful features like Ultra Game Mode, Dynamic RAM expansion, and an extensive theme engine. The customization options are plenty, and users can tweak gestures, app layouts, and even animations to suit their preference.
There are a few pre-installed apps, but most of them can be uninstalled or disabled. iQOO has also promised at least two years of software updates and three years of security patches, which is a good move in the budget segment.
iQOO Z10 5G Battery Life and Charging
The iQOO Z10 5G houses a 5000mAh battery that easily lasts a full day under moderate to heavy usage. Whether you’re watching content, playing games, or attending video calls, the battery holds up well and provides good endurance.
Thanks to 44W fast charging support, the phone can go from 0 to 50% in about 25 minutes and a full charge in under 65 minutes. This is a significant advantage for users who are always on the go and don’t want to stay plugged in for long hours.
The battery management in Funtouch OS also ensures minimal drain during standby and background usage, making the phone reliable for daily tasks.
iQOO Z10 5G Audio, Connectivity and Extras
The phone features a single bottom-firing speaker which is loud enough for media consumption but lacks stereo depth. However, with wired earphones or Bluetooth earbuds, the audio quality is crisp and balanced. The device still retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a bonus for many users.
In terms of connectivity, the iQOO Z10 5G supports 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and USB Type-C. Call quality is clear, and network reception is strong, even in areas with weaker signals. The device also comes with all the necessary sensors including gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, and proximity sensor.
Verdict: Is the iQOO Z10 5G Worth Buying?
The iQOO Z10 5G stands out in the budget-midrange segment for offering a great blend of power, design, and software experience. With a strong chipset, large battery, good camera, and smooth display, the phone checks most boxes for an average user, a gamer, or even someone looking to upgrade to 5G without spending too much.
While an AMOLED screen and stereo speakers could have made it a perfect deal, the current offerings are still impressive for the price. The phone also carries iQOO’s brand image of delivering performance-driven smartphones with practical features.
For anyone in the market looking for a reliable, fast, and stylish 5G smartphone under ₹18,000 to ₹20,000, the iQOO Z10 5G is a solid contender that does not disappoint.
Let us know in the comments whether the iQOO Z10 5G fits your expectations or if you’d choose a different phone in this range.
