iQOO Z10x 5G Review: The Specs Steal the Show

In 2025, affordable smartphones priced under ₹15,000 are receiving exciting upgrades, with the recently launched iQOO Z10x 5G standing out as a notable example. This device addresses several persistent issues in its category and features an impressive 6,500 mAh battery, UFS 3.1 storage, and a powerful processor, all housed in a sleek design. Since its introduction in India, there has been considerable discussion about whether it ranks as the best option available in its price segment. After using the iQOO Z10x 5G for about 2 weeks, here are my thoughts.

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iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Unboxing

The iQOO Z10x 5G is bundled inside a black-colored box, which also contains-

• 44W adapter
• USB Type-A to Type-C cable
• Soft TPU clear case
• SIM ejector tool
• Paperwork

iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Design and Build

iQOO has introduced the Z10x within the budget of 15K, and for that price, it boasts an impressive design. The device is available in Titanium and Ultramarine colors; while Titanium is somewhat common among competitors, the Ultramarine variant I received looks stunning in person.

Upon unboxing, I found the iQOO Z10x to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing devices in its category. Its back features an app ZZealing wavy pattern with a matte finish that resists smudges and fingerprints. Now, let’s delve into the design and feel of the iQOO Z10x 5G in detail.

The rear of the iQOO Z10x 5G features a rectangular camera module in a subtly different hue located at the top-left corner. This module houses dual camera sensors, an LED flash, and a dynamic ring LED that illuminates when the device is charging or when you receive a notification. It also signals a low battery by flashing red.

At the bottom, the iQOO logo is displayed in silver-ish lettering, contributing to a sleek and minimalist design of the back panel.

The smartphone features curved edges that provide a secure grip, complemented by a matte finish to prevent slipping. Weighing 204 grams and measuring 8.09mm thick, it may feel somewhat bulky during extended use.

However, the brand has prioritized both aesthetics and durability by incorporating an IP64 rating and MIL-STD-810H military-grade standards for dust and water resistance. It is important to note that iQOO does not guarantee protection against liquid ingress, so caution is advised.

The front features a flat screen with prominent bezels on three sides and a substantial chin. A centrally positioned punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera is located at the top of the display.

Functionally, the right edge includes the volume buttons and power button (also doubles as the fingerprint scanner), while the left edge accommodates the SIM tray. At the bottom, you’ll find the USB-C port and speaker grille. Although the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack could be seen as a drawback, it can be overlooked in light of the robust device that iQOO has created.

Overall, the sleek and harmonious design of the iQOO Z10x 5G enhances its visual appeal, making it one of the most attractive devices in its category.

iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Display

The iQOO Z10x 5G features a standard 6.72-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display. While the term LCD may not evoke a positive response in today’s market, where even budget smartphones are increasingly adopting AMOLED technology, iQOO has enhanced this model with an LCD panel that boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and a brightness of 1050 nits. The presence of an LCD does not necessarily imply poor display quality. In fact, it’s better than using a cheap AMOLED since those tend to cause a lot of flicker.

The distinction between this display and an AMOLED panel is quite apparent, though the colors appear vibrant in standard mode. It provides satisfactory and detailed visuals, although it does not achieve the deepest blacks (obviously).

I watched several Hindi movie songs on it, and the streaming quality was smooth, even when 2160p resolution was activated. Additionally, the phone supports Widevine L1 playback, which is impressive for its price point.

The 120 Hz refresh rate provided an exceptionally smooth scrolling experience for activities such as browsing social media, reading articles, viewing galleries, or playing casual games. Although the outdoor visibility at 1050 nits leaves something to be desired, as the screen can be hard to read in bright sunlight, it performed adequately during overcast conditions.

Finding AOD feature in the settings was surprising as it consumes lots of power on an LCD panel. iQOO’s software allows the AOD to come alive only when there is a new notification or you try to wake the device, so it works.

Audio is something that has to complement the display to offer a good content consumption experience. iQOO Z10x comes with a dual stereo setup that is substantially loud, but the audio quality becomes characterless as the volume levels are increased. Audio booster option can raise volume up to 400% of the original, but that is too just noise.

I won’t say that the display and audio are bad, but if you are willing to stretch your budget a bit, opt for the one with an AMOLED display.

iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Haptics

The iQOO Z10x 5G comes with a basic linear vibration motor delivering standard haptic feedback, which is functional for everyday tasks like typing and notifications. It doesn’t offer a nuanced, refined tactile response found in higher-end devices that come with haptic engines. The vibrations during gaming sessions are less immersive than compared of many gaming-centric mid-range devices. All in all, the haptic feedback can be called a mixed bag. If you want a more tactile experience, looking for other options might be smarter.

iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Software

In terms of software, iQOO Z10x 5G runs Android 15-based Funtouch OS 15 out of the box. Funtouch OS isn’t the best Android skin, but it’s good enough for daily use. Third-party apps like Snapchat, Truecaller, LinkedIn, Amazon, and Netflix come pre-installed, but these can be removed if not needed. The suggestions for Hot Apps and Hot Games still seem irritating, but you can disable them.

What you can’t disable, however, is the vAppStore, vivo Browser, and a few other first-party bloatware apps. You cannot even do that using ADB if you thought you could. Plus, the Jovi assistant icon in the control center cannot be removed either.

iQOO has committed to delivering 2 OS updates for this model, potentially upgrading it to Android 17. Additionally, the company has promised 3 years of security patches. This is the standard in this segment unless we’re talking about Samsung phones.

As for AI features, the iQOO Z10x does not pack much but it packs the necessary stuff. Like Circle to Search, which is quite useful, along with an AI Eraser that allows you to clean-up your photos. Both features performed effectively during my experience.

Overall, the iQOO Z10x does well in the software department for the price you’re paying.

iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Biometrics

The iQOO Z10x comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and face unlock functionality to keep your data safe. The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button on the right side and allows quick and intuitive unlocking. The placement is apt as the users can unlock the device naturally when they take it in hand. The sensor was mostly accurate, fast and responsive, offering a decent performance while everyday usage.

Face Unlock uses the selfie camera to recognize the user’s face and open the device. It is a convenient method, for sure, but I find it less secure than fingerprint authentication, also, its performance varies during different lighting conditions, which affects its speed and response. For a smartphone price under 15k, iQOO Z10x offers a reliable biometric performance.

iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Performance

The iQOO Z10x 5G is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm technology. This device comes with 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, which is quite remarkable for a device priced under ₹15,000. The model I tested came with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The Dimensity 7300 chipset performs well for daily use, efficiently managing tasks such as video playback, calls, casual photography & gaming, and more. The 256GB of storage provides ample capacity for storing photos, videos, documents, audio files, and other data.

The chipset is not designed specifically for gaming, so it struggles with demanding titles over extended periods. It only supports 60 FPS in BGMI, and for COD, users can opt for Very High frame rates with High graphics settings or Low graphics with Ultra Frame rates.

As I primarily enjoy lighter games such as Good’s Sort, Township, Candy Crush, and Tile Match, I did not encounter any problems during lengthy gaming sessions. Additionally, multitasking was efficient, with smooth transitions between applications most of the time.

While the benchmark scores are satisfactory and there were no overheating problems during testing or prolonged use of the camera app, it appears that iQOO has effectively utilized graphite sheets in the absence of a vapor chamber cooling system.

The haptics on the iQOO Z10x are as expected—you hear it more than you feel it. Basically, it does not have a good haptic experience, so much so that you’d want to have them disabled instead. The side mounted fingerprint scanner also performs well.

The iQOO Z10x 5G is compatible with multiple 5G bands (SA & NSA), providing a dependable 5G signal even in challenging environments such as deep underground parking lots and crowded elevators. Below are the benchmark test results for the iQOO Z10x 5G.

iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Cameras

The iQOO Z10x 5G is equipped with a dual-camera system on the rear, consisting of a 50MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies, it has an 8MP front-facing camera. The rear camera is capable of recording 4K video at 30 frames per second, while the front camera can record in 1080p at 30 frames per second.

Daylight Photography: Main Camera

The 50MP primary sensor produces stunning images in favorable lighting conditions. It effectively captures both color and contrast, resulting in highly detailed photos that remain noise-free even when zoomed in. The sensor offers up to 10x in-sensor zoom, which can be easily adjusted using a circular dial when accessing the main camera.

While some detail may diminish at higher zoom levels, images taken at 1x and 2x zoom are still bright, vibrant, and rich in detail, making them perfect for social media sharing. For a clearer understanding, please refer to the outdoor daylight images provided below.

Low-light Photography: Main Camera

The performance of the main sensor in low light or indoor photography was unexpectedly remarkable. The color accuracy and detail in these images are precise, and while it may have difficulty handling light sources, the resulting photos exhibit less noise compared to other smartphone cameras.

Activating night mode does enhance the images somewhat, but it requires 3-4 seconds to capture a photo and prompts you to keep your hand steady during the process. These images convey information more effectively.

Portrait Mode

When activated, the portrait mode of the iQOO Z10x features a narrower focal length, yet it does not produce the lush bokeh effect that is prevalent in modern photography. It effectively captures skin tones with high accuracy while maintaining focus on the subject. The portrait images exhibit impressive detail in both outdoor and indoor settings, as demonstrated by the samples provided below.

Selfie Camera

The 8MP front-facing camera effectively captures facial details with precision. It accurately reproduces skin tones and produces natural selfies without the need for filters or effects. Additionally, the sensor provides a wide field of view, making it advantageous for group photos.

Overall, the iQOO Z10x 5G sports a decent camera setup for those who have a tight budget.

iQOO Z10x 5G Review: Battery Life and Charging

iQOO has equipped its device with an impressive 6500mAh lithium-ion battery, a feature uncommon in smartphones priced below ₹15,000. This substantial battery capacity guarantees that even with extensive activities such as video streaming, making calls, sending messages, gaming, taking photos, conducting benchmarks, reading articles, and listening to music, the battery only depletes to 45%. No matter how one uses the phone, the battery is capable of lasting over a day, and with moderate use, it can extend up to two days.

Included in the package is a 44W adapter that charges this impressive device to 75% in one hour. Fully charging from 0 to 100% takes 1.5 hours with the 44W adapter. If it had a 5000mAh battery, it would charge in under an hour, but due to its larger capacity, the charging time exceeds one hour. Although the charging duration may seem lengthy, the 6500mAh battery provides extended usage, making the wait worthwhile.

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