iQOO Z10x Evaluation: A Huge Battery Price range Smartphone

The premiumisation of the finances smartphone, which began a couple of years in the past (and continues as we speak), meant that everybody would have bought a sub-Rs. 15,000 gadget had been then prepared to spend upwards of Rs. 20,000, offered the gadget justified its price ticket. It might accomplish this by providing a good set of cameras with good efficiency, quicker charging, higher shows and extra. And so you can purchase a top quality smartphone just like the Realme 9 Professional+ 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 finances phase to show into bare-bones gadgets, which obtained 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. However after years of delivering the identical telephones with the identical technique, issues are lastly beginning to change.

There are a couple of gadgets, such because the Poco M7 Professional and the CMF Telephone 1, that supply extra than simply primary 5G connectivity beneath Rs. 15,000. After releasing a primary 5G-enabled Z9x final yr, iQOO’s Z10x lastly seems to be steering issues in the proper route. iQOO’s newest Z10x provides much more options to the combo, however does it reduce any corners to get there?

iQOO Z10x Design: What’s with that digital camera?

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

Whereas the iQOO Z9x went with a fairly primary design, the iQOO Z10x at the very least makes some sincere makes an attempt to interrupt the mould. It nonetheless makes use of polycarbonate plastic for its rear panel and mid-frame, however the general 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 comfy to carry. That is vital as a result of it is a big-battery smartphone that feels a bit heavy at 204 grams. Whereas I am 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 finances smartphone really feel a bit particular. I am additionally blissful 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 digital camera module appears like there’s so much occurring, and it is full of options. Including to this picture is its chunky look. It protrudes fairly a bit, making the telephone wobble so much when positioned on a flat floor.

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

Putting the infrared blaster within the digital camera module makes little sense. The IR blaster is often positioned on the highest fringe of the telephone in order that it is pointing in the proper route when utilizing the built-in app. Anybody making an attempt to make use of the distant management function to manage an equipment will clearly be sitting upright and holding the telephone close to waist stage.

The infrared (IR) blaster is oddly positioned behind the telephone

 

As a result of this IR blaster is positioned on the again, it’s important to maintain the telephone up in a single hand (guaranteeing it is pointed on the proper equipment) after which use your different hand to function the Good Distant app, making it a two-handed affair. The positioning of the IR blaster is clearly a beauty transfer to make the digital camera seem subtle and interesting (like a triple digital camera setup).

One other new addition to the digital camera 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 possibly can select between three preset colors, however you can not customise and select a shade from a color picker. Total, I did discover the Dynamic gentle function helpful. When charging the telephone you may solely inform when the telephone is charging (blinking inexperienced), totally charged (regular color of your alternative) and low battery (purple), which is beneficial offered you at all times hold your telephone face down. Oddly, the settings for this function 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 ranking for mud and water resistance. This ranking offers full safety in opposition to mud and sand however is just splash-proof with regards to water. Nonetheless, iQOO’s guarantee doesn’t cowl harm brought on by liquid ingress, so it is smart to be a bit cautious. The iQOO Z10x is MIL-STD-810H licensed, that means that this gadget can operate usually in excessive climates and temperatures.

iQOO Z10x Show: Will get the job achieved

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

Similar to its predecessor, the protecting show glass on the iQOO Z10x will get smudged simply. The show’s colors seem saturated when utilizing the default Commonplace color mode, however seem extra pure with the ‘Skilled’ preset. It will get sufficiently vivid when used outside, each when shopping by apps or viewing video content material. Nonetheless, being an LCD, it doesn’t supply the deepest blacks like some AMOLED shows (accessible on competing smartphones) can. You possibly can nonetheless take pleasure in your streaming exhibits at full-HD decision in normal definition, because the telephone helps Widevine L1 playback specification.

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

 

Discovering an At all times-on-display (AOD) function within the personalisation setting was a little bit of a shock. It is because the function will eat a whole lot of energy on an LCD panel, which, in contrast to an AMOLED panel, can’t shut off its unused pixels however has to maintain its whole backlight on. Fortunately, iQOO’s software program solely permits the AOD function to come back alive when a brand new notification arrives or upon waking up the gadget.

iQOO Z10x Software program: Commonplace stuff

• Android model – 15
• Software program – Funtouch OS 15
• Software program 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 latest AI instruments among the many many new customisation options which had been lacking in previous variations. The brand 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 will be uninstalled if not required. Unusually, there, I acquired only a few spammy notifications through the overview interval. These had been primarily from the Browser app, which is able to push notifications even when you’ve got by no means opened the app. Avoiding opening the V-Appstore (or ignoring it altogether) can also 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 first rate observe file with delivering updates primarily applies to its premium and mid-range gadgets. Price range gadgets do take extra time to obtain their updates and, so customers is likely to 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 nice factor is that the telephone already ships with Android 15, so with two years of updates, there’s a good probability it can get upgraded to Android 16 and possibly Android 17.

iQOO Z10x Efficiency: Pretty much 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 isn’t the case with a finances smartphone just like the Z10x. With the display screen’s refresh charge set to Auto, I seen fairly a couple of hiccups infrequently, the place the telephone stuttered whereas scrolling by 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 is 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 100%. One is certainly higher off connecting a pair of wired earphones. However iQOO selected to take away the three.5mm headphone jack this yr. So, TWS it’s!

The telephone has no noticeable heating points even when utilizing the digital camera 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 phase, as is seen within the desk under.

 

 

Gaming efficiency is sweet, preserving in thoughts different gadgets accessible on this phase. In fact, the telephone struggles to keep up a gentle body charge, but it surely’s attainable to play Name of Responsibility: Cellular at Very Excessive graphics settings. Contact sampling is nearly ample. You possibly can take pleasure in smoother gameplay at Low graphics and Extremely body charge, however the body charge hovers round 60 fps and nothing past.

iQOO Z10x Cameras: Usual, standard

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

Since there is just one accessible digital camera on the again, it has to tackle the roles of a number of lenses and, due to this fact, have to be adaptable to numerous conditions. Certainly, 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 major digital camera samples (faucet photographs to increase)

 

In daylight, the first digital camera, at its default magnification, captures common images for a smartphone at this worth level. The images will look tremendous in your telephone, however zoom in even just a little bit, and the photographs begin to tear up. Dynamic vary is first rate, however there’s loads of noise seen, particularly within the shadows, even in daylight. Additionally, you will come throughout random patches with garbled particulars (unhealthy noise processing), as is seen from the pattern exhibiting a important highway above. Something that strikes will get blurred, and so the foliage and finer particulars are sometimes misplaced.

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

 

Utilizing the 2X zoom (under) isn’t advisable, because the telephone struggles to seize first rate photographs at its default capturing decision. The 10cm focussing vary did enable me to get shut sufficient for close-up photographs (above).

 

The selfie digital camera presents good edge detection, however the picture high quality is strictly common.

 

Selfies have common element and seem barely smooth, relying on the accessible gentle. The digital camera additionally has bother exposing the topic in very vivid environments, as will be seen within the first selfie pattern. In low gentle, it isn’t price pulling out this telephone for a selfie, even with the display screen flash turned on.

Provided that it is a finances smartphone, my expectations with video recording weren’t very excessive. The rear digital camera sort of proved this level by capturing very primary video high quality (you may inform what’s occurring in a scene) with unhealthy 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 main points simply aren’t there. It is laborious to determine individuals even when capturing a brightly lit road from an in depth distance. The video recording additionally seems jerky when strolling as a result of the digital camera lacks OIS.

iQOO Z10x Battery: Spectacular!

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

In our PC Mark Work Battery check, which runs a bunch of functions on a loop until the telephone’s battery drains to twenty %, the iQOO Z10x managed a good 24 hours and 10 minutes. In our video loop check, which performs an HD video on loop until the battery runs out, it managed a strong 37 hours and 46 minutes. Final yr’s iQOO Z9x lasted 22 hours and 35 minutes in the identical check, 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

 

Throughout the testing interval, regardless of heavy utilization with the telephone getting used repeatedly (social media apps, mail, messaging and so on., 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 obtained any upgrades. The charger is not precisely sluggish, however when paired with a battery with such a excessive capability, charging takes some time. It is 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 reduce any corners for its new Z collection smartphone. iQOO has tried to repair the failings of the earlier mannequin however got here up in need of the competitors in some areas. There’s a silver lining to iQOO’s efforts to face out (greater battery delivers higher standby), but it surely might 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 Professional (Evaluation) could not supply the perfect efficiency in its phase, but it surely will get you an AMOLED panel with deep blacks that many will respect and an OIS-stabilised digital camera that may get you sharper images. It is nonetheless the telephone to beat on this phase, with costs ranging from as little as Rs. 13,700 for the bottom 6GB RAM variant. CMF’s Telephone 1 (Evaluation), aside from its Tremendous AMOLED show and barely higher cameras (in comparison with the Z10x), additionally presents one thing thrilling with its modular strategy for the DIY crowd at this worth level.