The iQOO Neo 6, which was released in 2022, was a wildly popular smartphone under Rs 30,000, particularly among those looking for a high-performance smartphone. When the brand recently announced its successor the iQOO Neo 7 the company had to ensure that it offered something more than the Neo 6 in order to attract its target audience, the value-conscious consumer. I’ve had the iQOO Neo 7 for over two weeks now, and here’s my take on iQOO’s latest mid-range gaming smartphone.
Specification Table
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 8200 MT68967Z |
| No of cores | 8 (octa core) |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR5 |
| Height-Width | 6.49in-3.03in |
| Weight | 193 grams |
| Colours | Interstellar Black, Frost Blue |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Display Type | AMOLED, HDR 10+ |
| Colour Reproduction | 16M Colours |
| TouchScreen | Yes, Capacitive, Multi-Touch |
| Rear camera setup | Triple |
| Rear Camera | 64MP(Primary), 2MP(Secondary), 2MP(Tertiary) |
| Front camera | 16 MP Resolution |
| Flash | LED Rear flash |
| Video Resolution | 1920×1080 @ 30 fps |
| Camera Features | Auto FlashAuto FocusFace detectionTouch to focus |
| Battery Type and capacity | Li-ion, 5000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, Flash, 120W |
| Internal memory type | 128 GB, UFS 3.1 |
| Operating System | Android v13 |
| Custom UI | Funtouch OS |
| SIM Configuration | Dual SIM |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.3 |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes, On-Screen |
| Face Unlock | Yes |
| Other Sensor | Light SensorProximity SensorAccelerometerCompassGyroscope |
Design
When compared to the Neo 7, the iQOO Neo 7’s design is identical. However, most users are unlikely to be swayed by this lack of design innovation. Coming from a flagship phone like the iQOO 11 or the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the 193-gram weight of the iQOO Neo 7 feels light. The device rests comfortably when held vertically or horizontally due to the even weight distribution.
This weight savings comes at a price, as the smartphone has a plastic back panel and frame. The device, like its predecessor, lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack; however, a USB Type-C to 3.5mm dongle is included in the retail box. While the overall design of the smartphone appears to be built with utility in mind, the main difference here is the camera bump.
Display
While a 120Hz AMOLED display is no longer considered a luxury, the iQOO Neo 7 has a slightly better 6.78-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and an in-display fingerprint sensor. The display is sufficiently bright that the phone can be used in direct sunlight. While I prefer a curved display like the one on the Realme 10 Pro+, I know that the flat panel on the iQOO Neo 7 Neo is appealing to many people.
A screen protector is simple to install on a flat panel display, and the phone includes one. Furthermore, a flat display reduces accidental touches while gaming and provides a better gaming experience. While HDR 10+ is supported, the brand should have included Dolby Vision to ensure compatibility with OTT platforms such as Disney+ Hotstar. A stereo speaker setup also improves multimedia consumption; however, there is no Dolby Atmos support.
Camera
The iQOO Neo 7 has a triple camera setup, but it’s best to think of it as a single camera with 64 MP resolution and OIS, plus a 2MP macro lens and a 2MP bokeh lens. In addition, there is a 16MP selfie camera on the front. Except for the fact that the colour science is a little flat, most of the pictures I took with this phone came out really sharp, even in low-lighting conditions. The phone has a fast shutter speed and takes 16MP photos by default, providing plenty of pixels for a detailed image. Again, there is the option of shooting a native 64MP image. The 16MP selfie camera is the same.
Performance
As India’s first phone with the Mediatek Dimensity 8200 SoC, it provides adequate performance for multitasking and gaming. After running the benchmark for 15 minutes, the CPU stress test performance dropped to 82%. Similarly, the device scored over 8 lakhs on the AnTuTu benchmark. The phone did, however, get 10 degrees warmer while running the benchmark.
While I had no problems with normal usage, the phone did get hot while benchmarking and gaming. Again, as we’ve seen with the throttling app, the clock speed gradually decreases, and I didn’t notice any stuttering or lag even during heavy usage, which includes background downloading while running multiple social media apps.
Connectivity and Battery Life
Even in terms of connectivity, the iQOO Neo 7 has you covered. Bluetooth 5.3 and 5GHz Wi-Fi are supported by the device. I was also able to connect to the Jio 5G network without issue. However, the 5G network reception is not as strong as that of more premium devices such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra or even the iQOO 11. Overall, the iQOO Neo 7 has good connectivity.
The phone has a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 120W fast charging, giving it flagship-level charging speed. Order a coffee, and by the time you finish it, your phone will be fully charged, as it takes approximately 26 minutes to power up. In terms of battery life, even with heavy usage, the phone can easily deliver over 6 hours of screen-on-time, and gamers can always quickly recharge using the included 120W charger.
Verdict
Anyone looking for the best phone under Rs 30,000 should look into the iQOO Neo 7. There’s a Pixel 6a, which is mostly focused on software and cameras, and the Nothing Phone (1) is also a great option under Rs 30,000, especially with its premium build. However, in terms of functionality, the iQOO Neo 7 comes out on top with a flagship processor, 120Hz display, 120W fast charging, an above-average camera, and all of the bells and whistles that one would expect from a phone in this class.
The iQOO Neo 7 is a phone that, while it may not appear to be much on the outside, has been designed to perfection and focuses on the key features: performance, display, and battery.
