iQOO Z10x Review: A Big Battery Budget Smartphone

The premiumisation of the price range smartphone, which began a number of years in the past (and continues at present), meant that everybody would have bought a sub-Rs. 15,000 machine have been then prepared to spend upwards of Rs. 20,000, offered the machine justified its price ticket. It may accomplish this by providing an honest set of cameras with good efficiency, sooner charging, higher shows and extra. And so you can purchase a high quality smartphone just like the Realme 9 Pro+ that checked all of the packing containers on the decrease finish of the mid-range.

The ‘5G Tax’ (the price of including 5G connectivity to a smartphone) additionally compelled the value-for-money price range section to show into bare-bones gadgets, which bought you fewer cameras (in comparison with their 4G counterparts), primary plastic designs and common battery life. These smartphones solely existed to ship 5G connectivity for these on tight budgets and nothing extra. But after years of delivering the identical telephones with the identical technique, issues are lastly beginning to change.

There are a number of gadgets, such because the Poco M7 Pro and the CMF Phone 1, that provide extra than simply primary 5G connectivity beneath Rs. 15,000. After releasing a primary 5G-enabled Z9x final 12 months, iQOO’s Z10x lastly seems to be steering issues in the suitable course. iQOO’s newest Z10x provides much more options to the combo, however does it lower any corners to get there?

iQOO Z10x Design: What’s with that digicam?

• Dimensions – 165.7 x 76.3 x 8.09mm
• Weight – 204 grams
• Durability – IP64

While the iQOO Z9x went with a reasonably primary design, the iQOO Z10x not less than makes some trustworthy makes an attempt to interrupt the mould. It nonetheless makes use of polycarbonate plastic for its rear panel and mid-frame, however the total match and end are so much higher this time.

The mid-frame has flat sides with bevelled edges, whereas the rear panel has curved edges round, making the telephone snug to carry. This is vital as a result of it is a big-battery smartphone that feels a bit heavy at 204 grams. While I’m not a fan of the lavender color of the Ultramarine end, I do like that iQOO has made makes an attempt to offer it a delicate wave-like sample, which is seen at sure angles. It makes this primary price range smartphone really feel a bit particular. I’m additionally completely happy to see that this polycarbonate rear panel doesn’t collect smudges or appeal to mud because of its frosted look and texture.

iQOO’s Z10x has polycarbonate mid-frame and rear panel

 

As identified in my first impressions, the digicam module seems like there’s so much happening, and it is filled with options. Adding to this picture is its chunky look. It protrudes fairly a bit, making the telephone wobble so much when positioned on a flat floor.

Soon after the unboxing, I used to be a bit shocked to find that it had only one user-accessible digicam on the again. The second one is a 2-megapixel depth sensor for the Portrait mode, whereas the third camera-like cavity is an infrared blaster.

Placing the infrared blaster within the digicam module makes little sense. The IR blaster is normally positioned on the highest fringe of the telephone in order that it is pointing in the suitable course when utilizing the built-in app. Anyone trying to make use of the distant management characteristic to manage an equipment will clearly be sitting upright and holding the telephone close to waist degree.

The infrared (IR) blaster is oddly positioned in the back of the telephone

 

Because this IR blaster is positioned on the again, you must maintain the telephone up in a single hand (making certain it is pointed on the proper equipment) after which use your different hand to function the Smart Remote app, making it a two-handed affair. The positioning of the IR blaster is clearly a beauty transfer to make the digicam seem subtle and interesting (like a triple digicam setup).

Another new addition to the digicam module is the Dynamic gentle, which has been borrowed from Vivo’s Y collection. The Dynamic gentle mainly capabilities as a notification LED, alerting customers about incoming calls, messages, music, and even the battery’s charging state. You can select between three preset colors, however you can not customise and select a shade from a color picker. Overall, I did discover the Dynamic gentle characteristic helpful. When charging the telephone you may solely inform when the telephone is charging (blinking inexperienced), absolutely charged (regular color of your alternative) and low battery (crimson), which is beneficial offered you all the time preserve your telephone face down. Oddly, the settings for this characteristic are weirdly buried within the Settings > Shortcuts and Accessibility > Dynamic gentle part of the Settings app.

The wave-like sample on the Ultramarine end is seen solely at sure angles

 

The iQOO Z10x, similar to the iQOO Z9x, will get an IP64 score for mud and water resistance. This score gives full safety towards mud and sand however is barely splash-proof with regards to water. However, iQOO’s guarantee doesn’t cowl harm attributable to liquid ingress, so it is smart to be a bit cautious. The iQOO Z10x is MIL-STD-810H licensed, that means that this machine can perform usually in excessive climates and temperatures.

iQOO Z10x Display: Gets the job carried out

• Display dimension – 6.72-inch, 2,408 x 1,080 pixels, full-HD+
• Display kind – LCD, 60-90-120Hz
• Display safety – Panda glass

Just like its predecessor, the protecting show glass on the iQOO Z10x will get smudged simply. The show’s colors seem saturated when utilizing the default Standard color mode, however seem extra pure with the ‘Professional’ preset. It will get sufficiently vibrant when used outdoor, each when searching by way of apps or viewing video content material. However, being an LCD, it doesn’t supply the deepest blacks like some AMOLED shows (out there on competing smartphones) can. You can nonetheless take pleasure in your streaming exhibits at full-HD decision in commonplace definition, because the telephone helps Widevine L1 playback specification.

The iQOO Z10x’s show has noticeably thick borders, particularly on the backside

 

Finding an Always-on-display (AOD) characteristic within the personalisation setting was a little bit of a shock. This is as a result of the characteristic will eat plenty of energy on an LCD panel, which, not like an AMOLED panel, can not shut off its unused pixels however has to maintain its whole backlight on. Thankfully, iQOO’s software program solely permits the AOD characteristic to return alive when a brand new notification arrives or upon waking up the machine.

iQOO Z10x Software: Standard stuff

• Android model – 15
• Software – Funtouch OS 15
• Software dedication – 2 years software program, 3 years safety

Funtouch OS has been round for some time and wishes no particular introduction. With Funtouch OS 15, Vivo added a bunch of recent AI instruments among the many many new customisation options which have been lacking in previous variations. The new AI instruments are sensible however not precisely succesful with regards to picture modifying.

The telephone does include some bloatware and third-party apps, however the latter could be uninstalled if not required. Strangely, there, I acquired only a few spammy notifications in the course of the overview interval. These have been primarily from the Browser app, which is able to push notifications even if in case you have by no means opened the app. Avoiding opening the V-Appstore (or ignoring it altogether) can be a great way to keep away from getting pointless notifications from it.

iQOO’s Funtouch OS 15 brings some AI instruments to Android 15

 

iQOO and Vivo’s respectable monitor file with delivering updates primarily applies to its premium and mid-range gadgets. Budget gadgets do take further time to obtain their updates and, so customers could be left wanting for extra, as promised updates arrive a bit later than anticipated. With this in thoughts, iQOO providing simply two years of OS updates is worrisome for many who maintain on to their gadgets for a few years. The good factor is that the telephone already ships with Android 15, so with two years of updates, there’s a good probability it should get upgraded to Android 16 and possibly Android 17.

iQOO Z10x Performance: As good because it will get

• Processor – MediaTek Dimensity 7300, 2.5GHz, 4nm
• RAM – 6/8GB (LPDDR4X)
• Storage – 128/256GB (UFS 3.1)

Funtouch OS 15 runs easily on mid-range and premium gadgets, it is not the case with a price range smartphone just like the Z10x. With the display screen’s refresh fee set to Auto, I observed fairly a number of hiccups occasionally, the place the telephone stuttered whereas scrolling by way of feeds or lagged a bit when launching apps. There seems to be a scarcity of software program optimisation, as, at instances, it felt just like the {hardware} was struggling to maintain up with the software program’s gestures. It’s 2025, and whereas all of that is acceptable on entry-level gadgets with barebones {hardware}, iQOO wants to shine the Z10x’s software program, as I’m reviewing the 8GB RAM variant.

The iQOO Z10x’s show is a smudgy mess

 

The stereo audio system present a really treble-heavy sound, but it surely’s simply not loud sufficient. The telephone has an Audio Booster mode which bumps up the amount to 400 %, but it surely solely sounds worse (learn tinny) when you cross one hundred pc. One is certainly higher off connecting a pair of wired earphones. But iQOO selected to take away the three.5mm headphone jack this 12 months. So, TWS it’s!

The telephone has no noticeable heating points even when utilizing the digicam app. iQOO appears to have made good use of the graphite sheets as this telephone doesn’t pack any vapour chamber cooling system (given its worth level).

As for uncooked efficiency, the iQOO Z10x carried out effectively in comparison with its rivals on this section, as is seen within the desk under.

 

 

Gaming efficiency is sweet, maintaining in thoughts different gadgets out there on this section. Of course, the telephone struggles to take care of a gentle body fee, but it surely’s potential to play Call of Duty: Mobile at Very High graphics settings. Touch sampling is nearly enough. You can take pleasure in smoother gameplay at Low graphics and Ultra body fee, however the body fee hovers round 60 fps and nothing past.

iQOO Z10x Cameras: Same outdated, usual

• Primary digicam – 50-megapixel, f/1.8, AF
• Depth digicam – 2-megapixel
• Selfie digicam – 8-megapixel, f/2.05, FF

Since there is just one accessible digicam on the again, it has to tackle the roles of a number of lenses and, subsequently, have to be adaptable to varied conditions. Indeed, not a lot has modified by way of imaging in comparison with the iQOO Z9x, and it is because the iQOO Z10x additionally makes use of the identical {hardware} as its predecessor.

iQOO Z10x main digicam samples (faucet photographs to increase)

 

In daylight, the first digicam, at its default magnification, captures common images for a smartphone at this worth level. The images will look positive in your telephone, however zoom in even a bit bit, and the pictures begin to tear up. Dynamic vary is respectable, however there’s loads of noise seen, particularly within the shadows, even in daylight. You will even come throughout random patches with garbled particulars (dangerous noise processing), as is seen from the pattern exhibiting a fundamental street above. Anything that strikes will get blurred, and so the foliage and finer particulars are sometimes misplaced.

Under dim or low gentle with road lighting, photographs seem tender and have a water-colour impact with blurred particulars

 

Using the 2X zoom (under) shouldn’t be beneficial, because the telephone struggles to seize respectable photographs at its default taking pictures decision. The 10cm focussing vary did permit me to get shut sufficient for close-up photographs (above).

 

The selfie digicam provides good edge detection, however the picture high quality is strictly common.

 

Selfies have common element and seem barely tender, relying on the out there gentle. The digicam additionally has bother exposing the topic in very vibrant environments, as could be seen within the first selfie pattern. In low gentle, it is not price pulling out this telephone for a selfie, even with the display screen flash turned on.

Given that it is a price range smartphone, my expectations with video recording weren’t very excessive. The rear digicam form of proved this level by capturing very primary video high quality (you may inform what’s taking place in a scene) with dangerous dynamic vary (clipped shadows). The telephone additionally struggles to maintain the body in focus whereas panning, and the EIS leads to a really cropped view. In low gentle, the small print simply aren’t there. It’s arduous to determine individuals even when taking pictures a brightly lit road from an in depth distance. The video recording additionally seems jerky when strolling as a result of the digicam lacks OIS.

iQOO Z10x Battery: Impressive!

• Battery capability – 6,500mAh
• Wired charging – 44W
• Charger within the field – Yes

In our PC Mark Work Battery take a look at, which runs a bunch of functions on a loop until the telephone’s battery drains to twenty %, the iQOO Z10x managed a decent 24 hours and 10 minutes. In our video loop take a look at, which performs an HD video on loop until the battery runs out, it managed a strong 37 hours and 46 minutes. Last 12 months’s iQOO Z9x lasted 22 hours and 35 minutes in the identical take a look at, which matches to indicate that the upper capability battery does result in enhancements in battery life.

iQOO’s Z10x packs a high-capacity 6,500mAh battery

 

During the testing interval, regardless of heavy utilization with the telephone getting used constantly (social media apps, mail, messaging and many others., video streaming, 3D gaming), I solely managed to empty the telephone’s battery to 40 %. So, it is protected to imagine that no matter your utilization, it ought to final you greater than a day of heavy use and about two days with informal utilization.

Charging is one space that has not bought any upgrades. The charger is not precisely sluggish, however when paired with a battery with such a excessive capability, charging takes some time. It’s nonetheless tolerable, with the telephone managing a 38 % cost in half-hour, 74 % in an hour and finishing the charging course of in 1 hour and 36 minutes.

iQOO Z10x Verdict

After spending time with the iQOO Z10x, it is clear that the model has not lower any corners for its new Z collection smartphone. iQOO has tried to repair the failings of the earlier mannequin however got here up wanting the competitors in some areas. There is a silver lining to iQOO’s efforts to face out (greater battery delivers higher standby), but it surely may have centered its efforts on better-optimised software program and a greater set of cameras, even when it simply delivers the fundamentals.

Poco’s M7 Pro (Review) could not supply the very best efficiency in its section, but it surely will get you an AMOLED panel with deep blacks that many will admire and an OIS-stabilised digicam that may get you sharper images. It’s nonetheless the telephone to beat on this section, with costs ranging from as little as Rs. 13,700 for the bottom 6GB RAM variant. CMF’s Phone 1 (Review), other than its Super AMOLED show and barely higher cameras (in comparison with the Z10x), additionally provides one thing thrilling with its modular strategy for the DIY crowd at this worth level.