iQOO Z10x 5G & iQOO Z10 Review – Are These the New Budget Kings of 2025?
iQOO Z10 Series Overview
The iQOO Z10 series represents iQOO’s 2025 offering in the competitive budget-to-midrange smartphone segment. These devices continue iQOO’s tradition of delivering exceptional performance at accessible price points, but with key differences that cater to distinct user needs.
The Z10x 5G is positioned as a battery life champion with solid performance, while the Z10 moves upmarket with premium features like an AMOLED display and advanced camera capabilities. Both phones share iQOO’s gaming DNA but take different approaches to balancing performance, features, and price.
iQOO Z10x 5G
Starting at ₹13,499
The ultimate endurance smartphone with surprising gaming capabilities at an unbeatable price point.
The iQOO Z10x 5G is designed for users who prioritize battery life and value above all else. Its massive 6500mAh battery delivers up to two days of moderate use, while the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset provides enough power for most games and applications. The phone features a 6.72-inch IPS LCD with 120Hz refresh rate, offering smooth visuals though not as vibrant as AMOLED.
Where the Z10x truly shines is in its thermal management and sustained performance. The efficient 4nm chipset combined with iQOO’s cooling solution allows for extended gaming sessions without significant throttling. The 44W fast charging can refill the large battery in about 75 minutes, and the Bypass Charging feature lets you game while charging without overheating the battery.
Performance
Powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7300 (4nm) with Mali-G615 GPU
Octa-core (4x Cortex-A78 @ 2.5GHz + 4x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz)
Efficient 4nm architecture with minimal throttling
- Genshin Impact: 48fps avg (Medium, 720p)
- Call of Duty Mobile: 60fps (Max, 1080p)
- BGMI: 40fps (Ultra HD)
Peak temperature: 42°C after 1hr continuous gaming
6GB+6GB Extended ₹13,499
8GB+8GB Extended ₹14,999
LPDDR4X RAM with RAM expansion technology
- 128GB UFS 3.1 (base variant)
- 256GB UFS 3.1 (higher variant)
- No microSD slot
Camera System
50MP main (f/1.8) + 2MP depth sensor
- 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor
- f/1.8 aperture, 1/2.76″ sensor size
- PDAF autofocus
- No optical stabilization
Daylight: Good detail with slightly oversaturated colors
Low-light: Visible noise above ISO 1600
- 4K@30fps with EIS
- 1080p@60fps
- 720p@240fps slow motion
- Dual stereo speakers
- 8MP (f/2.0)
- Fixed focus
- 1080p@30fps video
Basic selfie performance suitable for video calls
Battery Life
- 6500mAh lithium-polymer
- 44W FlashCharge
- 0-100% in 75 minutes
- Bypass charging for gaming
- 9-11 hours (mixed use)
- 7-8 hours (gaming)
- Up to 2 days (light use)
Our Verdict
- Unbeatable battery life in its price segment
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Surprisingly capable gaming performance
- Basic camera system with limited low-light capability
- IPS LCD display lacks vibrancy compared to AMOLED
- Plastic build feels durable but not premium
Perfect for: Budget-conscious users who prioritize battery life and gaming performance over camera quality and display technology.
iQOO Z10
Starting at ₹21,999
The mid-range marvel that challenges flagship phones with its premium display and camera capabilities.
The iQOO Z10 represents a significant step up from the Z10x, targeting users who want flagship-like features without the flagship price. Its centerpiece is the stunning 6.77-inch AMOLED display with 5000 nits peak brightness – one of the brightest in its class. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset delivers performance that rivals last year’s flagships, while the 7300mAh silicon-carbon battery charges from 0-100% in just 34 minutes with 90W charging.
Where the Z10 truly differentiates itself is in camera performance. The 50MP main sensor features optical image stabilization (OIS) – a rarity in this price segment – enabling significantly better low-light photography and video stabilization. The 32MP front camera is also a major upgrade over the Z10x, making the Z10 a strong choice for content creators.
Performance
Powered by Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm) with Adreno 710 GPU
Octa-core (1x Cortex-X2 @ 2.9GHz + 3x Cortex-A710 @ 2.5GHz + 4x Cortex-A510 @ 1.8GHz)
Vapor chamber cooling system maintains performance
- Genshin Impact: 56fps avg (High, 810p)
- Call of Duty Mobile: 90fps (Max, 1080p)
- BGMI: 60fps (Ultra HD)
Peak temperature: 40°C with advanced cooling
8GB+8GB Extended ₹21,999
12GB+12GB Extended ₹23,999
LPDDR5 RAM with advanced RAM expansion
- 256GB UFS 2.2 (all variants)
- No microSD slot
Display
- 6.77-inch AMOLED
- 120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate
- 5000 nits peak brightness (HDR)
- 360Hz touch sampling rate
- 100% DCI-P3 coverage
- Exceptional contrast (5,000,000:1)
- Dolby Vision HDR support
- 2160Hz PWM dimming
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection
Camera System
50MP OIS main (f/1.8) + 2MP depth sensor
- 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor
- f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.56″ sensor size
- OIS + Laser autofocus
- 7P lens
Daylight: Excellent dynamic range and color accuracy
Low-light: Clean shots up to ISO 3200
- 4K@30fps with OIS+EIS
- 1080p@60fps HDR
- 1080p@120fps slow motion
- Dolby Atmos stereo speakers
- 32MP (f/2.0)
- Autofocus support
- 4K@30fps video
- AI beautification
Excellent for selfies and video calls
Battery Life
- 7300mAh silicon-carbon battery
- 90W HyperCharge
- 0-100% in 34 minutes
- Semi-solid battery technology
- 8-10 hours (mixed use)
- 6-7 hours (gaming)
- Up to 1.5 days (light use)
Our Verdict
- Stunning AMOLED display with flagship-level brightness
- Excellent camera performance with OIS
- Blazing fast 90W charging
- Premium glass sandwich design
- Powerful chipset for demanding tasks
- Higher price than typical mid-range
Perfect for: Users who want flagship-level display and camera quality without paying flagship prices, and content creators who need excellent front camera performance.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Key differences between the iQOO Z10x 5G and iQOO Z10 at a glance:
| Feature | iQOO Z10x 5G | iQOO Z10 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹13,499 (6GB), ₹14,999 (8GB) | ₹21,999 (8GB), ₹23,999 (12GB) |
| Display | 6.72″ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1050 nits | 6.77″ AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO, 5000 nits |
| Processor | Dimensity 7300 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| GPU | Mali-G615 MC2 | Adreno 710 |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB LPDDR4X + Extended RAM | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 + Extended RAM |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 | 256GB UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera | 50MP (no OIS) | 50MP with OIS |
| Front Camera | 8MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 6500mAh, 44W charging | 7300mAh, 90W charging |
| Charging Time | 0-100% in 75 mins | 0-100% in 34 mins |
| Build | Plastic frame, matte back | Glass back, aluminum frame |
| Weight | 204g | 199g |
Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Z10x 5G if: You prioritize battery life and value, don’t need the best camera, and want to stay under ₹15K
- Choose Z10 if: You want flagship-like display and camera quality, faster performance, and can stretch to ₹22K
Both phones offer excellent value in their respective price segments, catering to different user priorities.
Comprehensive review by the team at GadgetSnap.in
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