iQOO has launched the Neo10 and Neo10 Pro in China, succeeding the Neo9 series that debuted in India in February this year. The new devices feature a similar design but come with some notable improvements, such as slimmer bezels and a larger battery. The Neo10 series is expected to launch in India sometime in Q1 2025.
In this article, we’ll explore whether the improvements are worth the wait.
Key improvements
First and foremost, the Neo10 series offers higher raw performance thanks to more capable chipsets. The Neo10 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, an upgrade from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Neo9, while the Neo10 Pro boasts the latest Dimensity 9400 (upgraded from the Dimensity 9300 in the Neo9 Pro). It’s important to note that iQOO launched the base model as the “Pro” in India last year, so we can expect the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered model to be branded as the Neo10 Pro in India.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 indeed offers a significant improvement in raw CPU and GPU power over its predecessor. This is paired with iQOO’s second-generation SuperComputing chip, which is said to be more efficient at handling the frame interpolation tech, promising a better gaming experience for those waiting for the Neo10 Pro.
Another standout improvement is the larger battery. iQOO has replaced the 5160mAh dual-cell battery with a 6100mAh one, which also supports iQOO’s proprietary 120W FlashCharge. Despite the larger battery, the Neo10 series is 0.3mm thinner than its predecessor and weighs just 9 grams more (199g or 206g, depending on the battery cover material). This is made possible by the use of Si/C battery technology.
Aspects that aren’t that impressive
On the design front, the Neo10 Pro has 1.4mm side bezels, which are narrower than its predecessor. However, the bottom chin remains relatively unchanged, which might make the bezels look a bit asymmetrical to some.
The rear camera modules now rest inside a single island design, which, by the looks, may offer better protection to the lens cover glass when dropped on a flat surface. Other than that, the design is very similar to the Neo9 series.
As for the cameras itself, the main sensor is now slightly smaller on both models (1/1.56″ as opposed to 1/1.49″) and the ultrawide still has 8MP resolution. An improvement in computational photography front can be rolled out to last year’s models as well.
So, should you wait?
Unfortunately, there’s no concrete information on the pricing for the Indian market yet. The Neo10 Pro is expected to be priced around 40,000 in India, whereas the 8GB+256GB version of the Neo9 Pro is available for Rs 35,999 on Amazon as of writing.
If you’re looking for the best available performance, it might be worth waiting for the Neo10 Pro. However, if you’re someone who is not particularly excited to try the heaviest titles and is just looking for a good combination of camera and performance, the Neo9 Pro is still a great option, and you may even find it at a lower price.
That said, I have shared my long-term experience with the Neo9 Pro, which you can check out here.
