iQOO Neo 7 Pro Review: Fit for Mobile Gaming Enthusiasts

iQOO has made a grand entrance back into action as they’ve added a new Pro smartphone to their portfolio, just in the nick of time to be showcased in Amazon’s Prime Day sale. The iQOO Neo 7 Pro is a commendable successor to its predecessor, the Neo 7 (review). The iQOO Neo series of phones focuses on delivering top-notch performance while remaining gentle on your wallet. In line with this philosophy, the Neo 7 Pro boasts impressive specifications that make it a champion on paper, but as we all know, sometimes those paper champions fall short of their glory in the real world. Will it truly live up to its promised potential, you ask? Well, fret not, we shall uncover the truth in our comprehensive review of the iQOO Neo 7 Pro.

iQOO Neo 7 Pro review: Design and Build Quality

In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, the trend of offering a multitude of colors and finishes has caught on, and iQOO is no stranger to this phenomenon. Enter the iQOO Neo 7 Pro Fearless Flame variant which has a faux leather finish that looks luxurious and feels premium in hand. It’s all about that classy touch, you see. But if you prefer a smoother affair, then the Dark Storm model with its sleek finish on the rear panel is right up your alley. It’s all about finding the perfect texture to match your style, my friends.

Now, let us turn our attention to the captivating hues of the Neo 7 Pro. Behold the Fearless Flame color variant, an embodiment of vibrant spirit and fiery passion. This variant, with its weight measuring around 194.5g, delights the discerning connoisseur with its curved textured rear panel and frame, granting a pleasing in-hand feel that caresses the palm with a gentle whisper of sophistication. On the other end of the chromatic spectrum, we encounter the dark blue color variant, boasting an AG Glass back that bears a weight of approximately 200g. It is akin to carrying a fragment of the night sky within the confines of one’s pocket, an enchanting companion for the journey ahead.

A closer examination of the camera modules reveals that the Neo 7 Pro follows the design ethos established by previous Neo lineup devices. It proudly showcases a sizable square camera module adorning the left side with the same camera layout as its predecessor. The camera island design features three cameras two of which are placed inside a captivating black circular ring. Just below this arrangement, a square camera housing gracefully accommodates another lens, completing a symphony of photographic possibilities. Not to be overlooked, the presence of the Neo branding lends a distinct identity to this photographic ensemble.

Greeting us at the front is a 6.78-inch display, framed by discernible bezels at the bottom. At the top center of the display, you can easily spot a selfie camera. The display and the rear panel are held together by a sturdy polycarbonate chassis, adorned with a metallic paint job that adds a touch of sophistication. However, it is worth noting that the phone may exhibit a slight wobble when placed directly on a table, owing to the presence of the camera island. You can address that by simply applying the protective case that comes bundled with the phone, ensuring a stable and secure placement. Despite housing a larger battery, the smartphone manages to maintain a commendable level of ergonomic grace, defying any notions of bulkiness when cradled in hand.

iQOO Neo 7 Pro Review: Display

In terms of display, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro stays true to its predecessor’s winning formula. It packs a 6.78 inches AMOLED screen which takes center stage, ensuring a good viewing experience. The display has FHD+ resolution and supports a 120Hz refresh rate. Users have option to choose between 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate. Users can also select Smart Switch option which dynamically toggles the refresh rate between 60Hz and 120Hz based on the content on the screen.

iQOO has loaded the phone with three color profiles Standard, Pro, and Bright. Out of these three Standard is set by default but Pro mode has the better colour accuracy. Moreover, this device has HDR10+ certification which is essential for streaming DRM-protected content on Netflix, Prime Videos, YouTube, and other streaming platforms. HDR-supported content looks vibrant colors with good dynamic range as it manages to highlight and shadows well.

But that’s not all – the iQOO Neo 7 Pro exhibits an optimal touch sampling rate of 300Hz, ensuring smooth and responsive interactions with the screen. Additionally, peak brightness won’t be a concern with this phone. Though the brand claims to hit a peak brightness level of 1300nit, I can not verify that claim. However, I tried using it outdoors and it was legible in the monsoon sun. The in-display fingerprint sensor of the iQOO Neo 7 Pro functions flawlessly, providing reliable and responsive authentication without any issues.

iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G Review: Software and Performance

The iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G operates on Fun Touch OS 13 which is based on Android 13. This software combination brings a host of performance and battery optimization as well as personalization options. One can customize the UI and app icons with an array of colors, change themes, add lighting effects for notifications, and more. The software also includes useful features such as app pinning, weather updates, and an AQI card, enhancing the overall user experience.

However, amidst the positives, it’s important to acknowledge that the software experience does suffer from an abundance of preinstalled apps, hindering the otherwise smooth ride. While apps like Netflix, Amazon, Byjus, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Facebook are included, they can be easily removed, if desired. On the other hand, some iQOO apps come preinstalled like browser, iQOO e-store cannot be uninstalled, slightly dampening the user’s control over the device. However, while most brands offer three years of OS updates, iQOO takes a different approach, promising only 2 OS updates.

It’s worth noting that the phone does feature ads in the UI, which can be disabled to some extent by going to the settings. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the complete removal of ads is not guaranteed. To disable ads on the iQOO Neo 7 Pro:

1. Long press on the Home screen and go to the settings.
2. Scroll down and disable Hot Games and Hot Apps.
3. Additionally, long press on the iQOO’s official Browser, tap on App Information and disable all notifications for the Browser to further reduce ads.

As far as hardware is concerned, the iQOO Neo7 Pro proudly houses last year’s flagship silicon from Qualcomm – Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This powerhouse of a chipset needs no introduction, as its performance prowess has been extensively showcased in numerous smartphones from the previous year, and even finds its place in several notable devices this year.

The iQOO Neo7 Pro leaves no stone unturned. It offers an ample capacity of up to 12GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM, providing a solid foundation for multitasking and resource-intensive applications. The device leverages extended virtual RAM, utilizing the 256GB UFS 3.1 internal storage to augment the memory capacity by an additional 8GB.

Day-to-day tasks glide effortlessly on the phone’s interface, thanks to the buttery-smooth performance delivered by the omnipresent 120Hz refresh rate. The iQOO Neo7 Pro also exhibits exceptional stamina under sustained load, managing to maintain up to 77 percent of its peak performance on the CPU Throttle benchmark. This impressive feat ensures that the device remains responsive and capable, even when tackling resource-intensive tasks.

The iQOO Neo7 Pro takes gaming seriously incorporating a dedicated gaming chip that collaborates with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 to deliver a seamless gaming experience. This chip serves a dual purpose, employing frame rate interpolation to enhance FPS count by introducing additional frames and enhancing the color profile. While testing Gensin Impact and PUBG New State, I achieved a consistent 90fps on Ultra graphics, though the coveted 120fps mark remained elusive. Notably, the 4,013mm² VC cooling system proved instrumental in maintaining optimal thermals during extended gaming sessions, ensuring sustained frame rates.

The phone’s performance credentials shine through in its impressive benchmark results. On the Antutu benchmark, the iQOO Neo7 Pro notches an impressive score of 12,90,314, firmly securing its place at the summit of the under Rs 40,000 segment. Similarly, on the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, it achieves a noteworthy result of 4,518. These figures set the bar high, leaving competitors in the segment struggling to catch up. Its benchmark scores are testimonials to its sustained performance capabilities as it can effortlessly handle every task you throw its way.

iQOO has equipped the Neo7 Pro with 8 5G bands, including n1, n3, n5, n8, n28A, n40, n77, and n78, ensuring comprehensive 5G coverage throughout India. I used the Neo 7 Pro with both AirTel and Jio 5G sims and it performed aptly within Noida circle.

iQOO NEo 7 Pro Review: Cameras

The iQOO Neo7 Pro brings notable improvements in its image processing capabilities compared to its regular counterpart. It upgrades to a superior 50MP GN5 shooter, replaces the 2MP bokeh sensor with an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and enhances the selfie camera to capture 16MP shots. The primary rear camera also gets Optical Image stabilization (OIS) which works well to address shakes and capture stable stills and videos.

Under the sunlit skies, the primary sensor of the iQOO Neo7 Pro captures impressive results. The camera has good exposure metering and slightly boosted colors ensuring that the captured images look appealing to the eye. The primary camera has a respectable dynamic range, effectively preserving details in both bright highlights and deep shadows. However, it does exhibit a slight inclination to artificially brighten up shadows in certain scenarios.

The 8MP ultra-wide sensor on the iQOO Neo7 Pro delivers satisfactory performance under favorable lighting conditions, capturing good images. However, it struggles significantly in low-light situations, where its limitations become apparent, leading to compromised image quality.

As for the 16MP selfie shooter, it tends to exhibit excessive color enhancement, resulting in boosted and exaggerated colors. This can be particularly noticeable when taking selfies, as the sensor has a tendency to add overly saturated red tones, leading to an unnatural appearance.

iQOO Neo 7 Pro Review: Battery life and Charing

quipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro offers a full day of usage without any concerns for most users. However, for those who engage in heavy usage, such as extensive gaming, constant social media app usage, frequent voice and video calls, and continuous music playback, the battery may require charging twice a day to sustain such demanding activities. On the other hand, for normal users who do not engage in gaming, the battery life extends to around 1.5 days, providing ample usage before requiring a recharge.

What truly sets the iQOO Neo 7 Pro apart is its incredibly fast charging capability. With a blazing 120W charging solution, the device can charge the battery at an astonishing speed. In fact, half the battery capacity can be replenished in less than 10 minutes, and the remaining charge can be achieved in approximately 20 minutes, resulting in a total charging time of under 30 minutes for a full charge. This impressive feature proves especially convenient for users who prefer topping up their phone just before heading out for work or other engagements. With such rapid charging capabilities, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro ensures that you spend less time waiting and more time enjoying your device.

Review Verdict: Should you buy iQOO Neo 7 Pro?

The iQOO Neo7 Pro positions itself as a performance-centric smartphone, tailored to cater to gaming enthusiasts. Its sturdy design ensures durability, while the 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support delivers an immersive visual experience. The camera setup of the Neo7 Pro also offers satisfying results for potential consumers.

However, it’s worth noting that the device carries substantial weight, and its overall aesthetic may appear somewhat unremarkable compared to other options in its price range. Additionally, the presence of numerous pre-installed apps on the interface can potentially hinder the user experience.

Nevertheless, for mobile gaming enthusiasts seeking a device that excels in gaming capabilities, the iQOO Neo7 Pro presents an appealing choice. Its performance-oriented features and optimized gaming functionalities make it a worthy contender in the market.