iQOO Z10x Review: A Big Battery Budget Smartphone

Do you remember how budget smartphones used to actually feel like they were budgets? Those days are fast fading away. A few years back, something changed. The buyers willing to spend Rs. 15,000 were suddenly willing to shell out Rs. 5,000 more-if, of course, they saw value. What emptied the purses? Think camera performance that could give pricier models a run for their money, charging speeds that breathe in your face, and crisp displays. Realme’s 9 Pro+ is a prime example. It is a quality device that catapulted expectations in the lower mid-range, showing that one does not necessarily need to pay through the nose for a premium experience.

Remember when the whole idea of a cheap 5G phone meant compromising on almost everything else? The so-called “5G Tax” did seem to drain affordable phones of their identity. We’re talking fewer cameras, cheap plastic body, and one whose battery barely made it through a day’s use. These were, for the most part, 5G gateways and nothing else, really just getting you online. But after so many years of the same old story, the end might finally be in sight.

So much for basic 5G! The budget segment competition is heating up, with iQOO’s Z10x throwing down the gauntlet. Although the Poco M7 Pro and CMF Phone 1 had already dared to delivermoreunder Rs. 15,000, iQOO, after selling a barebones Z9x last year, now seems ready for the dust-off. Yet, does this loaded Z10x really stand the ground, or has iQOO compromised performance in the bid to have it all?

iQOO Z10x Design: What’s with that camera?

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

In design, the iQOO Z9x kept safe. On the other hand, the Z10x dares to be a little different. Sure, it is still polycarbonate, but the feel of the construction seems more fine, heralding a phone that is a step above the ordinary.

The mid-frame’s flat bevel edges melt smoothly into a curved back panel that comfortably fits in one’s palm-a good touch given this big battery beast weighs 204 grams. Although the Ultramarine color doesn’t float my boat, iQOO does get kudos for that subtle shimmer that looks like little waves gliding across the surface when light strikes at an apt angle. It’s a smart optical illusion that places this budget contender a cut above ordinary. Also, the matte finish polycarbonate back is a great friend against all those finger smudges and dust marks.

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

The camera module? It’s a landscape of lenses, offering a veritable playground of photographic possibilities. But, let’s be honest, it is a bit of a beast. That big protrusion makes for a wobbly, off-kilter seesaw when placed on a flat surface.

The unboxing happiness lasted fleetingly, for it dawned upon me that it had to keep with just one of those sonic single rear cameras. The other two “lenses?” Nothing serious: a mere 2MP depth sensor pretending to be a photographic instrument, and an infrared blaster, practically a remote control for your TV rather than being capable of anything near good photography.

Why place the IR blaster tucked away inside the camera bump? It’s as if one designed a remote control that has to be pointed at the belt buckle. Common sense has it that the IR blaster should be up top, ready to blast commands from a natural, upright position. Who really bends over backwards to change the channel?

The infrared (IR) blaster is oddly placed at the back of the phone

Where to put the IR blaster? A baffling choice. The remote is placed on the back of the phone, and it becomes a two-handed trick. One hand holding the phone, angling it like a futuristic wand, while the second taps commands on the Smart Remote app. Functionality died for the sake of beauty. It seems the design team went for that model of camera array instead of the user’s benefit. Sophistication at the cost of convenience.

The dynamic light is the Vivo-inspired feature transforming the camera module into the notification center. No need to tilt your phone toward you now-the gentle pulses and glow changes inform you of an incoming call, an SMS, the current music status, or charging status. Painting your alerts in three preset colors is all you get, though-a custom palette is out of reach. Is it useful? If yes, then flip and see charging progress (blinking green), full charging (solid color-the one you chose), or a warning for low power (red). Remember, this only works with the face down. The only WTF moment is hiding this splendid feature under Settings > Shortcuts and Accessibility > Dynamic Light. Like burying treasure in a digital basement.

The wave-like pattern on the Ultramarine finish is visible only at certain angles

Dusty and splashy with an IP64 rating, the iQOO Z10x really battles the elements. Think desert trekking and splashes brought by sudden drizzles-the Z10x is the guy! Of course, splashing away is alright, but do not go on and submerge that badly; warranty denial is forthcoming with all liquid damage. This smartphone is MIL-STD-810H certified for you adventurers. The iQOO Z10x creeps its way through scorching deserts and freezing mountaintops-whether the temperature and climates sow heavy or chillfar away.

iQOO Z10x Display: Gets the job done

• Display size – 6.72-inch, 2,408 x 1,080 pixels, full-HD+
• Display type – LCD, 60-90-120Hz
• Display protection – Panda glass

Bright enough for outdoor use, the phone screen of the iQOO Z10x is a fingerprint magnet, attracting frequent wipe-downs. Colors pop with a vengeance in default mode, but thankfully, the ‘Professional’ setting offers a more realistic palette. Being an LCD, blacks lack the inky depth offered by AMOLED anniversaries. On the brighter side, Widevine L1 certification assures that you can stream your favorite shows in crisp, full HD.

The iQOO Z10x’s display has noticeably thick borders, especially at the bottom

The shock was palpable: Always-On Display on an LCD? That would be like equipping a gas guzzler with a tiny fuel tank. AMOLED screens consume less power, illuminating only those pixels that need to show something. The LCD, however, keeps the whole backlight illuminated. An AOD on LCD would be a killer for battery life if properly implemented. Luckily, iQOO managed to give it an elegant twist: The actual AOD on the phone only pulses light on arrival of notifications or when the device is awakened by a wake gesture or by a keypress-a smart compromise away from turning power apocalypse.

iQOO Z10x Software: Standard stuff

• Android version – 15
• Software – Funtouch OS 15
• Software commitment – 2 years software, 3 years security

The Funtouch OS is a known face; but perhaps this newer iteration is something below the surface? Funtouch OS 15 arrives with a clamor for attention, embellishing the whole show with newer AI-powered features and customization options that were missing till now. However, these implementations, though promising a smarter and more personalized experience, don’t quite excel in editing photos. Do they show us a little promise for the future, or are they just another coat of paint?

The phone, though not fully devoid of bloatware, does offer a quick uninstall feature, allowing one to eradicate unwanted third-party apps with ease. I was shocked at how silent it remained during my review period, with very few interruptions from spammy notifications. Usually, that little shameful noise came sneaking from the Browser app-notifications, even if you have never opened it. Consider V-Appstore as a notification siren; the surest way to tranquility is to completely disregard it.

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

iQOO and Vivo shine when it comes to updates on their higher-end phones, but budget buyers might feel a twinge of update envy. While promised updates eventually arrive, patience is key. iQOO’s pledge of only two OS updates raises eyebrows for long-term users. The silver lining? Launching with Android 15 gives owners a solid shot at upgrading to Android 16, and perhaps even Android 17.

iQOO Z10x Performance: As good as it gets

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

If Funtouch OS 15 on the flagships is a singing performance, with the Z10x, it is more like a forced karaoke one. Enabling the adaptive refresh rate did nothing to smooth out stutters while scrolling, not to mention sluggish app launches. This feels like a software-hardware disconnect, with the gestures doing their bit to make the hardware throw up its hands in despair. That being said, it’s 2025, and these compromises can still be made on bargain devices, but iQOO really needs to work some software magic on the 8GB Z10x variant.

The iQOO Z10x’s display is a smudgy mess

The highs are piercing in the stereo speakers but the volume falls short in a whisper. The much-acclaimed Audio Booster should have upped the volume by 400%, but only offered tinny noises beyond the 100% target. Shall we try to restore sanity in the sound? Wired earphones would be an option; however, being extra wise this time, iQOO has eliminated the 3.5mm jack. So go TWS or go home.

Even while filming, it simply remained cool as a cucumber. The price point, and theabsenceof some fancy vapor chamber, really does speak volumes about how worthy an engineering consideration iQOO’s graphite sheet solution is. Say goodbye to sweaty palms!

The iQOO Z10x has the leverage in its price range. The benchmark scores carved out below give its rivals a taste of dust. Get ready for a performance that packs a punch beyond its weight.

Mobile gaming with this device? Surprisingly, a quite decent experience in view of the competition. Call of Duty: Mobile on Very High settings might have its moments when framerates wobble, but it is generally very much playable. Touch response? Acceptable, but nothing really worth mentioning. If you want butter-smooth action, you should put the graphics to Low and frame rate to Ultra: this will assure a full 60fps to give a great feeling dominating the digital battlefield, even if it doesn’t break records for refresh rate.

iQOO Z10x Cameras: Same old, same old

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

With one rear camera, it becomes the burden-bearer for many, very much a chameleon in different shooting scenarios. The imaging DNA is almost the same as that of the iQOO Z9x, so think of the Z10x as a familiar face donning a slightly new outfit.

iQOO Z10x primary camera samples (tap images to expand)

Sunlight revealed the truth about the primary camera: it is enough but barely inspiring. Photos look passable on your phone’s screen. Dare to zoom in and the illusion is shattered by pixelated blemishes. Dynamic range is okay but there is this dusty layer of noise hanging in the dark even in the bright sun. There will be some random patches where detail melts into digital mush-a testament to haphazard noise reduction. Moving subjects are rendered as blurry streaks while the exquisite details of the foliage are lost to blur. Hence, in daylight, this camera displays its true limitations.

Under dim or low light with street lighting, images appear soft and have a water-colour effect with blurred details

Zoom in at 2x, will you? Please beware. The imagery gets a little hazy, with slight dips in image resolution and quality at standard. But all is not lost! There’s also the charm of working just 10 cm away while clicking, thereby allowing one to produce some really close macro-angled photos.

The selfie camera offers good edge detection, but the image quality is strictly average.

Selfies, you say? Buckle up. In good light, you get pictures leaning towards being all soft with no crisp detail. Then being out in full sun trouble eyes of the camera; sometimes it just washes your face out. Forget low-light selfies; the screen flash may as well not exist with its grainy, mediocre results. Honestly, during those times, better to enjoy the moment instead.

Forget cinematic masterpieces. This budget phone’s video recording is in the category of “barely functioning.” It is like security camerawork, except with even worse dynamic range-shadows crushed into oblivion. Want to pan? Blurry mess, as autofocus cannot keep up. EIS chops away at a significant amount of the frame, leaving you feeling like you are watching through a peephole. And low light? Forget it. Details vanish faster than free office doughnuts. Face recording on a well-lit street soon turns into a pixelated guessing game. Video walking is a shaky, nausea-inducing experience courtesy of missing OIS. Summarizing, video is not one of the phone’s fortes.

iQOO Z10x Battery: Impressive!

• Battery capacity – 6,500mAh
• Wired charging – 44W
• Charger in the box – Yes

The iQOO Z10x is a bonafide battery marathonier. In our PC Mark Work Battery test, which is an exhaustive battery test simulating app usage for an entire day, the battery plummeted down to 20% almost after 24 hours and 10 minutes. But the supreme deterrent to sustained endurance? The HD video loop. The Z10x belted out 37 hours and 46 minutes of pure playback. To impart some perspective, the Z9x of 2021 wistfully crashed after 22 hours and 35 minutes on the same test. The Z10x proves how a larger battery directionally means everlasting powers.

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

I put this phone through testing. Social scrolling? Non-stop. Email bombardment? On. Messaging mayhem? Off. Video binge-watching? That too. And a few rounds of graphic-heavy 3D games. After a whole day of that treatment, it still retained 40% of its juice. In other words, if you are a power user, expect this battery to last for well over a day. Light usage? Two days for sure.

Achilles’ heel of that crowning glory is charging. It is not glacial per se; however, a massive battery seems to take forever to charge. A half-hour pit stop will see a boost to 38%, good for a sprint. One hour will bring you to 74%, which is quite a good chunk. The full marathon, however, means a wait of an hour and thirty-six minutes for 100%.

iQOO Z10x Verdict

The iQOO Z10x is not a revolution: It is a refinement. The brand clearly sweated the details to make good the errors of its predecessor. While it couldn’t quite leapfrog the competition, a big battery gives it lots of staying power. In the end, one is left feeling that the Z10x missed the mark just a little bit. Imagine if that focus on battery life had been funneled into providing a smooth and intuitive software experience or excellent camera performance. There was a clear shot for a knockout, but for now, the Z10x stands victorious with a rather uninspired points win.

The Poco M6 Pro may not be a top-performing device, but it has the AMOLED display that many beauty enthusiasts will cherish with its feature of perfect blacks. Also, the OIS camera is above average, delivering good-quality pictures. It comes at a bargain price of only Rs. 13,700! But hold on, entering the arena is CMF’s Phone 1. Beyond its colorful Super AMOLED screen and slightly enhanced cameras, it almost laughed at the idea of modular design. If you’re into a bit of DIY and craving something personal, Phone 1 ticks the window in its price range for a truly unique tinkering experience.

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