iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Battery Monster That Fits Your Budget

vivo’s sub-brand iQOO ranks among the most popular smartphone brands in India. Recently, the brand has expanded its iQOO Z10 family by introducing a third model. Following the launch of the iQOO Z10 5G and iQOO Z10x 5G, the company has now unveiled the entry-level iQOO Z10 Lite 5G in India. This device is the third in the series and is also the most budget-friendly, providing 5G capabilities for users with a limited budget.

On paper, the iQOO Z10 Lite packs some solid specs, including a large battery, Dimensity 6300 chipset, 256GB of storage, a 50MP camera, and more. However, the question remains: can it hold its own against rivals like the vivo T4 Lite or Redmi A4 5G in the same price range? I have been using the device for a while, and here’s what I think.

iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Design and Build

The iQOO Z10 Lite 5G has been introduced in Titanium Blue and Cyber Green shades, showcasing a multi-layered finish on the back panel with a gradient effect. The rear design is simple, with the iqoo logo placed at the bottom and a capsule-shaped vertical camera module in the top-left corner housing two lenses and an LED flash. The overall look is minimal, reflecting a no-nonsense appeal that aligns well with its budget-friendly positioning.

However, a drawback is that the back panel easily picks up smudges and dust, especially in India’s humid weather. At 8.4mm thick and weighing 194 grams, the phone does feel a bit bulky, but the 6000mAh battery makes that understandable. One minor concern is the weight distribution; the phone feels heavier at the bottom, although it does not slip easily. Made from plastic, the smartphone does feel sturdy and provides a good grip, thanks to its curved edges.

On the front, the display is surrounded by noticeably thick bezels, which is expected in this price range. What stands out, though, is the IP64 rating for water and dust resistance, along with SGS 5-star drop protection and MIL-STD 810H military-grade shock resistance, all of which provide reassurance during use.

The button placement is perfect, making them easy to reach.

• Right edge- power button, volume rockers
• Left edge- SIM Tray
• Bottom edge- 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port
• Top edge- Speaker grille

The design is basic and works for the pricing iqoo is offering.

iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Display

The iQOO Z10 Lite 5G comes with a 6.74-inch HD+ IPS LCD display, which is standard for smartphones in the sub-₹10K segment. While the pixel density isn’t the highest, the display holds up well in day-to-day use. Content looks decent, with natural colors that aren’t overly saturated. Scenes appear clear, and the viewing angles are quite acceptable for the price.

It offers a 90Hz refresh rate, with options for 60Hz, 90Hz, and Auto mode in the settings menu. I generally preferred the 90Hz mode, and to my surprise, most apps ran at 90Hz. YouTube, AI editing in the Gallery, Facebook, Amazon, and YT Music worked smoothly at 90Hz, while a few apps like PhonePe and Snapchat dropped to 60Hz despite the 90Hz setting. Overall, scrolling and casual gaming felt smooth and lag-free. However, while the experience is decent, it might feel underwhelming if you’re used to 120Hz displays on other devices.

iQOO claims a real-world brightness of 836 nits, with HBM peaking at 1000 nits. Indoors, brightness is adequate, but in direct sunlight, the screen turns almost mirror-like, reflecting light without showing much content. I had a hard time reading anything on it outdoors. The phone is TUV Rheinland certified for low blue light, offering added eye comfort during extended use. The waterdrop notch gives the display an outdated look, but that’s expected at this ₹9,999 price point.

All in all, the display does leave a lot to be desired, but it manageable if you aren’t too particular about it.

iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Speakers and Haptics

Regarding audio, the iQOO Z10 Lite 5G features a single top-firing speaker, which is standard for this price segment. The audio quality is satisfactory, and the Dynamic Volume Booster promises up to 200% louder sound. When watching videos or gaming, the sound is both clear and loud, though it lacks depth or distinction. As expected, there’s no premium haptic feedback like in higher-end models, but the device does offer basic vibration feedback, which is more heard than felt.

Competitors like vivo T4 Lite and Redmi A4 5G also get a single speaker with similar haptic feedback.

iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Software

The iQOO Z10 Lite 5G comes pre-installed with Funtouch OS 15, based on Android 15. The interface is simple, user-friendly, and easy to navigate, offering a smooth overall experience. The UI feels responsive, with no noticeable lags or stutters during regular use. iQOO has also promised 2 major OS updates and 3 years of security patches for this device, which is solid software support in the budget segment.

The main drawback is the heavy presence of bloatware, with up to 75 pre-installed apps on the device. While some of these can be uninstalled, they can still feel intrusive and clutter the user experience. That said, this is somewhat expected from a smartphone priced at ₹9,999.

Interestingly, the iQOO Z10 Lite comes with three useful AI features. AI Erase lets you remove unwanted people or objects from your photos, AI Photo Enhance boosts overall image quality, and AI Document Mode turns pictures into scannable documents. These tools work well and can be genuinely helpful, though they require a network connection to function.

iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Biometrics

The iQOO Z10 Lite 5G includes a side-mounted fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button, offering fast, accurate, and convenient access. You can also set up Face Unlock using the 5MP front camera, which works well in well-lit conditions but struggles in low light. For added security, you can opt for a PIN or Pattern lock as well.

iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Performance

Performance is a key factor for budget smartphones, as most users spending around ₹10,000 want a device that handles everyday tasks smoothly. To meet this demand, iQOO has equipped the Z10 Lite 5G with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, a widely used chipset in this segment in India. It’s paired with up to 8GB of RAM, along with an extra 8GB of virtual RAM, to help deliver a smoother overall experience.

Additionally, there’s a 4GB RAM variant with 64GB of onboard storage available as the base model. So, if you’re planning to spend just ₹9,999, this is the configuration you’ll get. For those willing to spend more, higher-end options are available with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

In everyday use, the smartphone performed mostly smoothly and responded quickly. My routine includes video calls, watching videos, listening to music, using the camera, playing casual games, and browsing social media. Apart from occasional stutters, the experience was generally satisfactory. App switching is seamless when only a few apps are running in the background, but with too many apps open at once, some stuttering does occur.

iQOO is not promoting the Z10 Lite 5G as a gaming-focused device, which makes it clear that it’s not built for demanding titles like BGMI, COD, or Asphalt 9. I tried playing BGMI Mobile, and while it ran at lower graphic settings, performance started to drop after around 15–20 minutes. The device also began to heat up, particularly near the camera area, which affected overall gameplay.

However, if you’re a casual gamer like me who enjoys light games such as Goods Sort, Township, Candy Crush, Toy Factory, Supermarket Mania, Tile Match, or Happy Color, the iQOO Z10 Lite won’t disappoint. I played all these titles for several hours without facing any stuttering or overheating issues.

iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Cameras

The camera isn’t the main highlight of the iQOO Z10 Lite 5G, but it still comes with a dual-lens setup on the back, featuring a 50MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there’s a 5MP camera for selfies.

Main Camera

The primary 50MP camera captures satisfactory images in bright lighting. Considering the phone’s price of 10k, the photos are well-balanced, vibrant, sharp, and true to life. Structures, foliage, individuals, and items all appear appealing, and the images exhibit a fair level of detail. There is minimal noise in daylight shots. However, the dynamic range could be improved.

Lowlight photography

When lighting diminishes, the performance of the main camera decreases significantly. The specialized Night Mode for low-light photography does enhance the images somewhat, but these shots require approximately 8 seconds for processing, necessitating steady hands during that duration. The low-light images often lack detail, exhibit considerable noise, and can be grainy at times.

Portrait Mode

The portrait mode performs effectively and offers satisfactory edge detection given its price range. The background blur appears subtle in the majority of the images, although the skin tones do not always appear as naturally as one might hope.

Selfie Camera

I had low expectations for the 5MP selfie camera, and it turned out to be just average. Selfies taken in both daylight and at night are neither especially good nor especially bad. It performs well enough for video calls and meetings, but if you’re hoping to capture selfies that are ready for social media, this camera might fall short.

iQOO Z10 Lite 5G Review: Battery Life and Charging

The battery is a significant selling point for the iQOO Z10 Lite 5G. This budget-friendly smartphone is a powerhouse, featuring a substantial 6000mAh battery. It is in this area that the iQOO Z10 Lite truly excels, and justifiably so. The 6000mAh battery meets expectations, easily lasting nearly two days with moderate use.

With lighter usage, it can even extend beyond that, while on days of heavy use, it still managed to last a full day and more. Moderate usage included running benchmarks, taking photos, browsing Instagram, watching YouTube videos, reading articles, and playing casual games. There are absolutely no complaints regarding battery life.

However, regarding charging, the device is equipped with a 15W adapter, which requires approximately 2.5 hours to fully charge from 0 to 100%. This duration seems quite lengthy and could pose an issue if you forget to connect it before bedtime, resulting in a prolonged wait in the morning.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy the iQOO Z10 Lite 5G?

The iOO Z10 Lite 5G does not claim to be something it is not. The manufacturer promotes it as a straightforward budget smartphone designed to meet users’ daily requirements. It boasts a robust design with an IP rating, a 90Hz display, a 6000mAh battery, Android 15 OS, and practical AI features, all starting at a price of Rs. 9999.

However, it does have some limitations, such as lackluster display brightness, slow charging, bloatware, and an average camera setup. Nevertheless, one cannot expect everything within such a constrained budget.

Overall, the iQOO Z10 Lite 5G is a solid option if you are in search of a smartphone under 10K that can serve as your everyday device. Other alternatives in this price range include the vivo T4 Lite and Infinix Note 50X.

Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 7.5/10

• Design and Build: 8/10
• Display: 7/10
• Speakers: 8/10
• Software: 7/10
• Haptics: 7/10
• Biometrics: 8/10
• Performance: 8/10
• Cameras: 7/10
• Battery Life & Charging: 8.5/10

First reviewed in June 2025.

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