iQoo Z10 review: The phone that never quits (almost)

Time of India

6 days ago

Imagine a phone that doesn't just survive a day, but practically laughs in the face of battery anxiety. I'm talking about the
iQoo Z10
, a phone that has a 7,300mAh battery. Yes, I get you, I also rolled my eyes once. That's like having two phones, but you have one that can last you almost two full days, and no matter what you'd be doing, gaming, streaming, or doomscrolling social media, you'd still have juice left to charge another device.
Now, I know a big battery is something people really want in their phone, but it can only be just one piece of the puzzle. What makes this phone tick beyond its massive battery? Well, on paper, the
iQoo
Z10 packs in some intriguing specs: a quad-curved AMOLED display, the
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
processor, and a 50MP camera. A very customary combination, but how good of a package does the Z10 make for the price of Rs 21,999? Does it live up to the promise of being a battery champion, or are there compromises being made to fit in this big of a battery? I've been using the iQoo Z10 for the past two weeks, and let me answer your questions as I dive deep into every aspect of this phone.
Who said bulk can't be sleek?
Here's the thing about big battery phones – they've traditionally been absolute units. Remember those thick, chunky power banks with screens that manufacturers used to call smartphones? The iQoo Z10 throws that stereotype out the window. At 7.89mm thick and weighing just 199 grams, this phone feels surprisingly normal in hand. I had to double-check the specs because it genuinely doesn't feel like it's packing nearly double the battery capacity of most phones.
The secret sauce is iQoo's BlueVolt 3rd-Gen Silicon Anode Technology, which achieves an impressive 838 Wh/L energy density. But enough with the technical jargon, what matters is that you're holding a phone that feels premium without the bulk. The quad-curved edges aren't just for show either. They create a natural grip that makes one-handed use comfortable, even during extended gaming sessions where the phone sits in your palms for hours.
Coming in Glacier Silver and Stellar Black, the Z10 opts for understated elegance over flashy designs (which is very unlike iQoo). The Glacier Silver variant I tested has a matte finish that's surprisingly resistant to fingerprints, though the plastic back does give away its mid-range positioning.
Smooth as butter
The 6.77-inch quad-curved AMOLED screen is where the Z10 starts to show its premium aspirations. With a 120Hz refresh rate and 5000 nits of local peak brightness, this screen punches well above its weight class. Colours pop without being oversaturated, and the brightness levels mean you can actually use this phone under direct sunlight, a small miracle for anyone who's struggled with dim displays outdoors.
What impressed me most was the display's consistency. Whether I was watching Netflix, scrolling through Instagram, or playing games, the 120Hz refresh rate remained smooth without the jarring stutters you sometimes see on budget phones trying to manage variable refresh rates. The P3 wide colour gamut support means content looks vibrant, and HDR support for both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video ensures your binge-watching sessions look properly cinematic.
The in-display fingerprint sensor deserves a mention too, it's fast and accurate, though not quite as instantaneous as flagship phones. The 3840Hz PWM dimming is a thoughtful addition that reduces eye strain during late-night scrolling sessions. My only gripe? The haptic feedback feels a bit mushy compared to more premium devices, lacking the crisp tactile response that makes interactions feel satisfying.
The sweet spot between power and efficiency
The
Snapdragon
7s Gen 3 processor sits in an interesting sweet spot, powerful enough for daily tasks and moderate gaming, but not so powerful that it drains the massive battery unnecessarily.
Multitasking feels seamless with 8GB or 12GB of RAM options, plus iQoo's extended RAM feature that can virtually boost memory by up to 12GB more. Apps stay in memory longer, and switching between them feels fluid.
Gaming performance is where things get interesting. BGMI runs smoothly at 60fps, though you're capped at that frame rate, don't expect 90fps gaming here. The new
Ultra Game Mode
and 4D Game Vibration features add some nice touches for mobile gamers, though they're currently limited to specific adapted games.
The phone barely gets warm during extended gaming sessions, staying around 35°C even after 30 minutes of intensive gameplay. This thermal management is crucial for maintaining the battery life that the Z10 promises.
FunTouchOS 15, based on Android 15, feels clean and responsive, though it lacks some of the polish you'd find on more established custom ROMs.
Two days? Easy, no sweat
Let's address the elephant in the room, or should I say, the mammoth battery in the phone. The 7,300mAh battery isn't genuinely impressive in daily use, and if you wondering how did they fit in such a big battery in phone that doesn't look a big battery phone, silicon-carbon battery is why. I consistently got over 10 hours of screen-on time with heavy usage, including gaming, video streaming, and social media. With moderate use, the phone easily lasted two full days, sometimes stretching into a third.
But here's what makes this battery setup truly special, the 90W fast charging. Despite the massive capacity, the phone charges from 0 to 100% in just 53 minutes. That means even if you somehow manage to drain this beast, you're not stuck waiting around for hours. The phone reaches 50% in just over 30 minutes, which is perfect for those quick top-ups between meetings or classes.
The reverse charging feature is a nice bonus, essentially turning your phone into a power bank for other devices. While it's limited to 7.5W output, it's handy for charging earbuds or even giving a friend's phone a quick boost.
Competent, not spectacular
The camera setup on the Z10 is straightforward – a 50MP Sony IMX882 main sensor, a 2MP bokeh camera, and a 32MP front camera. In good lighting conditions, the main camera produces sharp, well-detailed photos with accurate colours. The 50MP camera can also do crop in 2x zoom, and the zoomed in shots come out fine. The 2MP is here to better portraits, and it do so but nothing else. The bokeh effect looks somewhat convincing, you'll occasionally notice some fringing around complex edges like hair.
Low-light performance is just fine, images get noticeably softer and noisier as light decreases, though they remain usable for social media posting. The 32MP front camera is decent for selfies, though it tends toward aggressive skin smoothing that can make photos look artificial.
Video recording capabilities are solid across all cameras, with 4K support at 30fps. For a phone at this price point, the camera system is competent rather than exceptional, it'll handle your social media needs without making you the photographer in your friend group.
Worth it if you hate daily charging
The iQoo Z10 succeeds at its primary mission, delivering exceptional battery life without significant compromises elsewhere. The phone boasts an all-day (and then some) battery life, solid performance, and a good display. So that's the yay — now, what's the nay?
The cameras aren't the best, and you're only getting one wide-angle lens. Also, mobile gaming purists, long considered iQoo's target users, won't be much impressed with the Z10 either. Then there's FunTouchOS. While it's feature-rich, it lacks the refinement of more polished custom ROMs.
For Rs 21,999, however, the iQoo Z10 offers considerable value for money, especially for users who've grown tired of daily charging anxiety. It's a straightforward recommendation for anyone who wants their phone to just keep going. And if you can live with the limitations, the Z10 is also a compelling package even for those whose priority isn't just a big battery.
It's not trying to be everything to everyone, it's just trying to be the best battery phone you can buy without spending a fortune on the likes of Ultras. And in that mission, it succeeds admirably.
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