iQOO’s Neo series has long been a go-to for gamers on a budget, and with the new iQOO Neo 10, the brand is making serious claims again. It is powered by the brand-new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset this time. And the big question? Can it deliver flagship-like performance, keep cool under pressure, and give gamers a lag-free BGMI experience? We got our hands on the iQOO Neo 10 and ran it through intense gameplay, benchmark testing, and stress simulations to see if it lives up to the hype. And here’s what our testing says.
Smooth Gameplay, with Minor FPS Dips
We fired up BGMI with the settings maxed to ‘Smooth’ graphics and ‘Ultra Extreme’ (120 FPS) frame rate. And right out of the gate, the gameplay felt smooth and snappy. Just what you would expect from a gaming-focused phone.
But a wise person said, ‘No performance is without a pause.’ During our 30-minute gaming session, FPS dropped occasionally to 90 FPS, and at one point, it went as low as 50 FPS. The maximum recorded frame rate touched was 121 FPS, which shows the phone is capable but not always consistent.
Still, the average FPS came in at 102, and that’s impressive. We used the ‘Scene’ app to test BGMI on this smartphone, and it rated the gameplay at 98.4% smooth, which matches our experience. So yes, even with minor lags, it’s still a fantastic phone for extended gaming sessions.
Thermals: Warm, But Not Hot
After 30 minutes of BGMI, the surface temperature reached 43.3°C, which is slightly warm but nothing alarming for this level of sustained load. This heating does lead to some performance throttling, though.
Our 30-minute CPU Throttling test showed noticeable thermal dips midway, which means that the phone tries to manage heat by toning down performance. This explains the frame rate fluctuations we noticed during gameplay.
Battery Life: Big Numbers, Real Stamina
The iQOO Neo 10 packs a massive 7000mAh battery, and it’s not just for show. In the PCMark Battery Life test, the phone lasted 22 hours and 39 minutes, which is excellent.
Even during gaming, battery drain was controlled, and thanks to fast charging, it doesn’t take long to juice it back up either. We charged it up from 0-100% in just 40 minutes.
Benchmarks: Flagship-Level… Almost
In AnTuTu, the iQOO Neo 10 scored over 1.7 million, which is a solid improvement over its predecessor, the Neo 9 Pro. It also performed well in Geekbench, though slightly behind the Realme GT 7.
The GT 7 did edge ahead in both AnTuTu and Geekbench scores in our lab tests. But the difference isn’t too big and certainly not something that you’d feel in daily usage.
Final Thoughts
So, is the iQOO Neo 10 the new budget gaming champion? For its price (Rs 31,999), the answer is a strong yes.
It runs BGMI at up to 120 FPS, handles heat reasonably well, packs a 7000mAh battery, and delivers near-flagship benchmark scores, all at a much lower price than rivals like the Realme GT 7, which is expected to be priced closer to Rs 40,000.
Of course, there are some trade-offs: some FPS fluctuation, mild heating, and slight throttling under load. But none of these are deal-breakers.
If you’re a mobile gamer or a power user looking for performance without burning a hole in your pocket, the iQOO Neo 10 definitely deserves your attention.
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Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is a young tech journalist who tells it like it is, cutting through buzzwords to deliver straightforward smartphone reviews. He’s the office go-to for insider tips and quick demos, and his video content doesn’t waste anyone’s time. When he’s off the clock, he geeks out over cars, photography, and hunting down the best spot for Indian food. View Full Profile
