iQOO Z10 R 5G Review: Best Phone Under ₹20,000? See How It Beats Redmi, Realme & Samsun

 In India’s competitive mid-range smartphone market, every brand is trying to offer flagship-like features without breaking the bank. One of the latest contenders is the iQOO Z10 R 5G—a phone that promises power-packed performance, premium design, and 5G connectivity. But how does it actually fare when compared to other smartphones in the same price range like the Redmi Note 13 Pro, Realme Narzo 70 Pro 5G, and Samsung Galaxy M14 5G?

iQOO Z10 R 5G Review: Best Phone Under ₹20,000? See How It Beats Redmi, Realme & Samsun

Let’s dive deep into the iQOO Z10 R 5G’s specifications, features, pros & cons, and how it stands against the competition.

iQOO Z10 R 5G Specifications at a Glance

• Display: 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
• RAM & Storage: 8GB/12GB RAM, 128GB/256GB UFS 2.2
• Battery: 5000mAh with 66W FlashCharge
• Rear Camera: 64MP (OIS) + 2MP depth sensor
• Front Camera: 16MP
• Operating System: Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14
• 5G Bands Supported: SA/NSA with dual SIM 5G

Design and Build Quality

The iQOO Z10 R 5G boasts a sleek, matte-finish design with curved edges that offer a comfortable grip. The phone feels lightweight (about 185g), even with a 5000mAh battery inside. The polycarbonate back may not feel ultra-premium like glass, but it looks stylish with color options like Mystic Blue and Carbon Black.

Compared to Competitors:

• The Redmi Note 13 Pro features a glass back and Gorilla Glass Victus, giving it a more premium in-hand feel.
• Realme Narzo 70 Pro 5G offers a dual-glass finish but adds slightly more weight.

Display Quality

A big win for iQOO is its 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. The colors are punchy, the blacks are deep, and the high refresh rate makes scrolling and gaming super smooth. It also supports HDR10+ and gets up to 1300 nits of peak brightness.

Competitor Comparison:

• Redmi Note 13 Pro offers a higher 1.5K resolution display.
• Samsung Galaxy M14 5G, priced similarly, only has a PLS LCD with 90Hz, which feels outdated.
• Realme Narzo 70 Pro 5G has a similar AMOLED panel but slightly lower peak brightness.

Performance: Gaming and Daily Use

Powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, the iQOO Z10 R 5G is one of the few phones under ₹20,000 offering such a strong processor. In benchmarks and real-world use, the phone handles BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and Genshin Impact without any lag. The 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X RAM ensures smooth multitasking.

Competition Check:

• Redmi Note 13 Pro uses Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 – comparable, but Z10 R handles thermals slightly better.
• Realme Narzo 70 Pro 5G uses MediaTek Dimensity 7050 – great for efficiency, but falls short in GPU-intensive tasks.
• Samsung Galaxy M14 5G comes with Exynos 1330 – weaker in both CPU and gaming benchmarks.

Camera Performance

The iQOO Z10 R 5G sports a 64MP primary sensor with OIS, which is rare in this segment. It captures crisp, well-detailed photos in daylight and performs surprisingly well in low-light with night mode. However, the secondary depth sensor is mostly filler. The 16MP selfie shooter is average—not the best, not the worst.

Versus Rivals:

• Redmi Note 13 Pro offers a 200MP main camera – more detail, but inconsistent in low light.
• Realme Narzo 70 Pro features a 50MP Sony IMX890 – arguably the best sensor under ₹20K.
• Samsung Galaxy M14 5G has a 50MP main sensor, decent but lacks OIS

Battery Life and Charging

With a 5000mAh battery, the iQOO Z10 R 5G lasts a full day on heavy usage. The highlight is the 66W fast charging, which charges the phone to 50% in just under 20 minutes.

Comparison:

• Redmi Note 13 Pro offers 67W fast charging – almost same.
• Narzo 70 Pro supports 67W as well.
• Samsung M14 5G only supports 25W, which feels outdated in 2025.

Software and UI

iQOO Z10 R 5G runs on Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14. The UI is clean, fluid, and much improved compared to previous versions. You get 3 years of security updates and 2 major Android upgrades, which is decent for this segment.

Still, some bloatware apps come pre-installed, although most can be removed.

Software Comparison:

• redmi Note 13 Pro (MIUI) still has ads and more bloatware.
• Realme Narzo runs Realme UI 5.0 – minimal ads but occasional bugs.
• Samsung M14 5G has One UI Core – clean, ad-free, and better optimization.

Price and Availability

The iQOO Z10 R 5G starts at ₹16,999 for the base variant (8GB RAM + 128GB storage), making it a great value-for-money device.

Pros and Cons of iQOO Z10 R 5G

 Pros:

• Powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset
• 120Hz AMOLED display with HDR10+
• 64MP OIS camera
• 66W fast charging
• 5G support with multiple bands

Cons:

• Only dual camera (depth sensor not very useful)
• No IP rating
• UI still has some bloatware

Final Verdict: Should You Buy iQOO Z10 R 5G?

If you’re looking for a powerful and stylish mid-range smartphone under ₹20,000, the iQOO Z10 R 5G checks almost all the right boxes—smooth performance, vibrant AMOLED display, capable camera with OIS, and fast charging. While it may not beat the Redmi Note 13 Pro’s camera specs or the Realme Narzo’s Sony sensor, it offers a well-balanced package that prioritizes speed, design, and value.

In short, the iQOO Z10 R 5G is a performance-first 5G phone that stands tall in the crowd of mid-range devices in 2025.

By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy .