An in-depth look at the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro, featuring a 7,000 mAh battery and flagship-level performance. We examine its strengths and weaknesses.
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Introducing the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro
The smartphone market is constantly evolving, with manufacturers pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of performance, battery life, and design. One such device that has recently caught the attention of tech enthusiasts is the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro, which will be sold as the Icon Neo 10 in India. This phone offers a compelling package with some standout features, but it’s not without its drawbacks. Let’s dive into a comprehensive review of this intriguing device.
Unboxing Experience
Right from the start, Iqoo impresses with a well-thought-out unboxing experience. Inside the box, you’ll find:
- The Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro smartphone
- A quick start guide
- A soft protective case
- A SIM ejector tool
- A USB Type-C to Type-C cable
- A 120-watt Vivo Flash charger
The inclusion of a high-wattage charger is particularly noteworthy. This 120W charger supports 100W PPS (Programmable Power Supply), making it versatile enough to charge not just your phone but also other devices like laptops. For travelers or those looking to minimize the number of chargers they carry, this is a significant convenience.
Design and Build Quality
The Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro makes a strong first impression with its design, particularly in the striking orange color variant. The back panel features a unique pattern that resembles a burning flame when viewed from certain angles, giving the device a distinctive and eye-catching appearance.
Despite housing a massive 7,000 mAh battery, the phone maintains a surprisingly slim profile. At just over 8mm thick, it’s quite remarkable how Iqoo has managed to pack such a large battery into a relatively thin device. The use of silicon carbon technology in the battery has played a crucial role in achieving this feat.
The phone’s ergonomics are well-considered. The display is flat, but the back curves at the edges, and the frame features chamfered edges. These design choices contribute to a comfortable in-hand feel, making the device seem even slimmer than its actual dimensions suggest.
However, there are some compromises in the build materials. Both the back panel and the frame are made of plastic, likely a decision made to keep the weight manageable (just over 200g) and the price competitive. On the positive side, the matte finish on these plastic components does a good job of resisting fingerprints and smudges.
Despite the use of plastic, the phone doesn’t feel cheap, and it even boasts an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. This level of protection is commendable, especially considering the price point of the device.
The camera module on the back adopts a design reminiscent of flagship Iqoo phones, with a distinctive porthole-style layout. However, it’s worth noting that only two of the circles actually house cameras, with one being the flash and another purely cosmetic.
Display
The Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro features a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution. This screen is one of the standout features of the device, offering excellent quality and brightness.
Key display specifications include:
- 144Hz refresh rate
- HDR support with a claimed peak brightness of 4,400 nits
- Measured peak brightness of around 2,000 nits in auto mode
The high refresh rate contributes to a smooth and responsive user experience, although it’s worth noting that Iqoo hasn’t provided options for 90Hz or 120Hz, which some users might have preferred for better battery efficiency.
The display’s brightness is particularly impressive. With a measured output of about 2,000 nits under auto mode, this screen is easily visible even in bright outdoor conditions. This level of brightness puts the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro in the company of much more expensive flagship devices.
For users sensitive to OLED flicker, Iqoo has implemented some thoughtful features. The phone comes with 2160Hz PWM dimming out of the box, but users can access additional options through the developer settings. These include 4320Hz PWM dimming or a DC-like dimming mode, allowing users to customize the display to their comfort level.
Performance
At the heart of the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. This processor represents a step down from Qualcomm’s top-tier offerings but still promises flagship-level performance.
In day-to-day use, the phone feels snappy and responsive. The combination of the powerful chipset with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage ensures that apps open quickly and multitasking is smooth.
However, sustained performance under heavy loads reveals some limitations. In stress tests, the phone showed significant throttling, losing over 60% of its peak performance after 20 minutes of intensive use. This behavior seems to be a deliberate choice by Iqoo to prioritize thermal management over sustained peak performance.
Interestingly, the phone manages to maintain relatively cool temperatures even under stress, maxing out at around 43°C. This is in contrast to some other devices using similar chipsets that run hotter but maintain more consistent performance.
For users who need sustained high performance, Iqoo has implemented a solution in the form of bypass charging. This feature allows the phone to run directly off the charger, bypassing the battery and potentially reducing heat generation. However, in testing, this feature didn’t significantly impact performance scores.
To truly unlock the potential of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, users might need to consider using an external cooling solution. When tested with such a cooler, the phone’s stability scores improved dramatically, showcasing the raw power of the chipset when thermal constraints are mitigated.
Battery Life and Charging
One of the most impressive features of the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro is its massive 7,000 mAh battery. This capacity is a standout feature in the current smartphone landscape, where even 5,000 mAh batteries are considered large.
The use of silicon carbon technology has allowed Iqoo to pack this large battery into a relatively slim device. It’s a testament to how quickly battery technology is advancing in the mobile space.
Complementing the large battery is the phone’s fast charging capability. The included 120W charger can:
- Charge the battery to 40% in just 15 minutes
- Provide a full charge in approximately 35 minutes
These charging speeds are impressive, especially considering the large battery capacity. The ability to quickly top up the battery adds significant convenience for users who might be worried about the phone’s weight or size due to the large battery.
Camera System
Unfortunately, the camera system is one area where the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro falls short of expectations. The phone features a dual-camera setup on the rear:
- Primary camera: 50MP Sony IMX800 sensor (1/1.49″) with f/1.8 aperture and OIS
- Ultra-wide camera: 8MP sensor (no autofocus)
The primary camera performs adequately in most situations. Images from this sensor show good detail and dynamic range, although Iqoo’s processing tends to boost saturation levels, resulting in colors that may appear overly vibrant to some users.
The ultra-wide camera, however, is decidedly average. The lack of autofocus means it can’t be used for macro shots, and the image quality is noticeably inferior to that of the main sensor. The difference in color processing between the main and ultra-wide cameras is also quite apparent, with the ultra-wide producing less saturated images.
In low light conditions, the primary camera performs reasonably well, capturing usable images with decent detail retention. However, it’s not class-leading in this regard.
Video capabilities are where the camera system really disappoints. While the phone can shoot 4K video at 60 fps, the footage suffers from noticeable EIS jitter and occasional focus hunting. The overall video quality falls short of what one might expect from a device in this price range.
The front-facing camera is a 16MP unit, but it’s limited to 1080p video recording without stabilization. Selfies and video calls are usable, but the camera tends to over-sharpen images, resulting in somewhat unnatural-looking results.
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Software and User Experience
The Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro runs on Origin OS 5, which is the company’s custom Android skin. It’s worth noting that in some markets, the phone may launch with Funtouch OS instead.
Origin OS 5 offers a clean and responsive user interface. The software takes advantage of the phone’s powerful hardware to deliver a smooth experience with quick app launches and seamless multitasking.
Some notable software features include:
- Customizable always-on display
- Comprehensive theme engine
- Game mode for optimized gaming performance
- Privacy and security features
The 144Hz refresh rate of the display complements the software well, contributing to the overall feeling of responsiveness. However, as mentioned earlier, the lack of 90Hz or 120Hz options might be a drawback for some users who prefer to balance smoothness with battery efficiency.
Iqoo has also included its Q1 chip for super resolution and frame generation. This hardware is designed to enhance visual quality in supported apps and games, potentially improving the overall user experience.
Audio
The Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro comes equipped with stereo speakers, providing a decent audio experience for a device in its price range. The speakers offer clear sound with reasonable volume levels, making them suitable for casual media consumption.
However, it’s worth noting that the phone does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack. Users will need to rely on USB-C audio or Bluetooth headphones for private listening.
Connectivity
As expected from a modern smartphone, the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro offers a comprehensive set of connectivity options:
- 5G support
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth 5.2
- NFC for contactless payments
- USB-C port
The inclusion of 5G support ensures that the phone is future-proof in terms of cellular connectivity, while Wi-Fi 6 provides fast and stable wireless internet connections.
Price and Value Proposition
One of the most compelling aspects of the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro is its price point. Launched in China at 1999 RMB (with international pricing varying by region), this phone offers a lot of hardware for the money.
When considering the value proposition, it’s important to weigh the phone’s strengths against its weaknesses:
Strengths:
- Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset
- Massive 7,000 mAh battery with 120W fast charging
- Excellent 144Hz AMOLED display
- Attractive design, especially in the orange color variant
- Competitive pricing
Weaknesses:
- Underwhelming camera performance, especially for video
- Significant performance throttling under sustained loads
- Plastic build (though well-executed)
For users who prioritize raw performance, battery life, and display quality over camera capabilities, the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro presents an attractive package at its price point.
Conclusion
The Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro is a smartphone that excels in certain areas while falling short in others. Its standout features include the massive battery, fast charging capabilities, excellent display, and powerful (if thermally constrained) processor. These attributes, combined with its competitive pricing, make it an intriguing option for users who prioritize these aspects.
However, the device is not without its flaws. The camera system, particularly its video capabilities, is a notable weakness. The performance throttling under sustained loads may also be a concern for power users, although this can be mitigated to some extent with external cooling.
Ultimately, the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro represents an interesting value proposition in the smartphone market. It offers flagship-level features in certain areas at a much more accessible price point. For users who can live with its limitations, particularly in the camera department, this phone could be a compelling choice.
As with any smartphone purchase, potential buyers should carefully consider their priorities and use cases. If raw performance, battery life, and display quality are at the top of your list, and you’re willing to compromise on camera quality, the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro could be an excellent choice. However, if you’re a photography or videography enthusiast, you might want to look at other options in this price range that prioritize camera performance.
In the ever-evolving smartphone market, the Iqoo Z10 Turbo Pro stands out as a device that pushes boundaries in some areas while making compromises in others. It’s a testament to the increasing competitiveness of the mid-range smartphone segment, where consumers can now find devices with certain flagship-level features at more affordable price points.
Image Credit: Iqoo