iQOO Z10R Review: A Budget Powerhouse That Punches Above Its Price

If you’re looking for a feature-rich smartphone under Rs 20,000, the iQOO Z10R might be bound to grab your attention. As a “Fully Loaded” 4K vlogging phone, it combines premium design qualities with sensible hardware options such as 12GB RAM, an AMOLED quad-curved screen, and 50MP Sony main camera. But how is it like in real-world usage? After several days of using the iQOO Z10R, here’s an in-depth rundown of what it brings to the table.

Before we continue with the review, here are its specifications:

iQOO Z10R Design & Build

First impressions, the iQOO Z10R exudes serious premium phone material – particularly the Moonstone colourway, which appears classy with its smooth matte finish. Though the phone uses a plastic frame and a plastic-composite back, it doesn’t feel cheap. That said, the back panel does attract smudges easily and can be a bit slippery, so the included transparent case is a must.

You get a familiar Vivo V50 series-inspired design, complete with a large pill-shaped camera module. The power button and volume rockers are on the right, the SIM tray and USB-C port sit at the bottom, and there are microphones at both ends. The build also boasts IP68 and IP69 ratings along with military-grade shock resistance, which is rare at this price.

iQOO Z10R Display

The 6.77-inch Quad-Curved AMOLED display is one of the Z10R’s biggest highlights. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate, FHD+ resolution (2392 x 1080), and hits 1800 nits peak local brightness – more than enough for outdoor use. The phone also comes with HDR10+ certification and supports Netflix HDR content. The colour reproduction is excellent, and the screen also holds SGS certification for low blue light emission, protecting your eyes as well.

Sharpness could’ve been slightly better on the iQOO Z10R, but that’s a minor pick. With SCHOTT Alpha glass protection and 2160Hz PWM dimming, the screen feels like a flagship, particularly while scrolling or watching videos.

iQOO Z10R Performance

The iQOO Z10R is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chip, fabricated on a 4nm process, supported by 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage. You also have up to 12GB extended RAM, which comes in handy for multitasking. The phone handles daily use effortlessly – whether it’s switching between apps, video streaming, or browsing.

Gaming is a breeze too. The usual favourite Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) runs up to 120 frames per second (FPS) on Smooth graphics, and Asphalt Legends plays well, though default frame rate settings need manual tweaking as it is limited to low quality and 30 FPS at the startup. The iQOO Z10R also brings a bunch of tools under the Ultra Game Mode like 4D vibration, bypass charging, and a performance panel to switch between Balanced, Battery Saver, and Monster modes. It even lets you adjust refresh rates and touch sampling on the fly.

On benchmarks, the Z10R impresses with an AnTuTu score of 709,625 and Geekbench 6 scores of 1059 (single-core) and 3015 (multi-core). In a CPU throttling test, the phone dipped to just 95% of its maximum performance, indicating adequate heat management, aided by a 13,690mm² graphite cooling system.

iQOO Z10R Software

The phone is powered by Funtouch OS 15, based on Android 15, which provides a largely smooth experience. There are some usual iQOO bloatware like the iQOO Store, iQOO Cloud, V-Appstore alongside other pre-installed apps such as Netflix, PhonePe, Facebook, and Snapchat, but the majority can be uninstalled. Multitasking on the iQOO Z10R feels smooth with no or minimum lags, and app transitions and UI animations are seamless.

Although Funtouch OS still does not have the refinement of some stock Android options, it does not hamper performance to any notable degree.

iQOO Z10R Cameras

Marketed as a vlogger’s phone, the iQOO Z10R offers 4K video recording from both front and rear cameras, a rare feat in this segment. The rear setup includes a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary sensor with OIS and a 2MP depth sensor. The omission of an ultra-wide lens is a letdown, especially when capturing landscapes.

Still, daylight images look vibrant and well-exposed, though some noise creeps in during low-light conditions. The AURA Light works well in low light, and you get features like Supermoon mode, dual-view video, and Live Photo. Portraits come out sharp, with decent background separation. You can even shoot at 26mm, 39mm, and 52mm focal lengths for portrait photography.

The 32MP selfie camera captures decent shots but could use improvement in sharpness. Both front and rear shooters can record up to 4K videos at 30fps, and the Micro Movie mode is a fun addition for social media creators. You also get AI tools like Photo Enhance, which repairs shaky portraits, and AI Erase to remove unwanted objects and people – at least from your images.

Above that, the iQOO Z10R also supports Underwater shooting – given its IP68/IP69 rating – which I didn’t test (for obvious reasons!).

iQOO Z10R Battery Life & Charging

With a 5,700mAh battery, the Z10R easily lasts a full day and then some. Whether you’re gaming, binge-watching, or vlogging, the phone manages its power efficiently. It supports 44W fast charging, which isn’t class-leading but gets the job done reasonably fast.

Even on extended 4K recording or gaming sessions, there is minimal heating, courtesy of the graphite cooling system.

iQOO Z10R Audio & Connectivity

The iQOO Z10R boasts two stereo speakers, which provide decent loudness and clarity for media consumption. Whether you’re streaming Netflix or YouTube watching, the sound is never disappointing.

Connectivity-wise, there’s 5G support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and dual SIMs. There weren’t any call drops or connectivity issues during my testing.

What I Loved:

• Quad-Curved AMOLED Display with good brightness levels
• 4K video from rear and front cameras
• Solid performance
• Large battery with great heat management
• Military-grade durability and IP68/IP69 ratings

What Could Be Better:

• No ultra-wide camera
• Selfie sharpness and low-light shots can be better
• Plastic build (although premium-feeling)

iQOO Z10R Verdict

The iQOO Z10R offers a flagship-like experience in so many aspects – whether the quad-curved screen, dependable performance, excellent battery life, or feature-packed camera setup. While it has its flaws (like the absence of an ultra-wide lens and average selfie camera), these are forgivable at a price point under Rs 20,000.

If you’re looking for a powerful, stylish smartphone for gaming, content creation, or everyday use without breaking the bank, the iQOO Z10R should be high on your list. It may just be the most well-rounded phone in its segment right now.