iQOO Neo 7 review: A high-performance mid-ranger

• The iQOO Neo 7 is the latest mid-range smartphone from iQOO in India.
• The device has been priced starting at ₹29,999 and is available in two variants.
• Here’s my review of the iQOO Neo 7 that will help you decide whether to buy the device or not.

iQOO recently launched its latest mid-range smartphone, the iQOO Neo 7, in India. The device is the successor of the Neo 6 that was launched in India last year and came with several improvements.

The iQOO Neo 7 is a gaming-centric smartphone with a new processor, bigger battery, faster charging, and more. Design is one area where not much has changed, and the device looks identical to its predecessor.

I have been using the iQOO Neo 7 for a few weeks now, and here is my detailed review of the latest mid-range affordable offering from the Chinese smartphone maker.

iQOO Neo 7 price and availability

The iQOO Neo 7 has been priced at ₹29,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and ₹33,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. It is available from Amazon India and iQOO online store in Frost Blue and Interstellar Black color options.

iQOO Neo 7 specifications

iQOO Neo 7 pros and cons

Pros

• Battery and fast charging
• Good performance
• Good gaming experience

Cons

• Boring design
• Average cameras

Design and display

Starting with the design, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro is similar to its predecessor in terms of design, and apart from a slight change in the camera module, the devices look the same.


The iQOO Neo 7 has a curved back and a polycarbonate body. While a glass back would have been better, the device looks good and does not feel cheap.

I received the Frost Blue color variant that comes with a matte finish. The device feels good to hold in hand, but the tall display may trouble people with small hands. The device weighs under 200 grams, and you can easily use it for a long time.


On the back, the device comes with iQOO branding. At the top, the device features the camera module, which has a noticeable bump. It is necessary to use a case with the device due to the bump.


The volume rockers and the power button have been placed on the right side and are easy to use. You can easily use the device even with one hand.

At the bottom, the device features the SIM tray, USB Type-C slot, and speaker grille.


Coming to the display, the iQOO Neo 7 features a large 6.78-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 360 Hz touch sampling rate. One thing I liked about the device is that the bezels are evenly distributed.

The tall display is great for watching content and gaming and is quite bright, even in direct sunlight. I liked the display; my only issue was the lack of protection.

Software and performance

If you have used a Vivo or iQOO smartphone in the past, you will find the UI has not changed much. The iQOO Neo 7 runs on Android 13 out of the box with the company’s Funtouch OS 13 on top.

Funtouch OS 13 is a highly customized Android version with several features.

The iQOO Neo 7 has its fair share regarding bloatware, like BYJU’s, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and more. In addition to this, it also comes with two folders – Hot Apps and Hot Games.


While other pre-installed applications can be removed, these two folders are permanent.

The user interface (UI) is highly customizable, and while many may like this, if you are a fan of a clean UI, which is close to stock, the iQOO Neo 7 may not be your cup of tea.

Coming to performance, the iQOO Neo 7 is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chipset coupled with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. I tested the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant.

The Dimensity 8200 is a powerful chipset and can easily handle whatever tasks you throw at it. I did not face any issues while multitasking, despite opening several apps.

The main highlight of the device is its gaming experience. In addition to the powerful chipset, the device is equipped with a vapor chamber and a 3D graphite structure for cooling.

I used the Neo 7 to play popular titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9. I enjoyed playing both games on the device, and they performed really well.

iQOO has added a “Monster Mode” that juices up the device to get the best performance from the processor, but it does take a toll on the battery life. Both COD: Mobile and Asphalt 9 performed well in the Balanced and Monster modes.


iQOO has also added a neat feature, Motion Control, to give you an edge over enemies. When enabled, it allows you to customize motions such as tilt left, tilt right, raise left, and more to particular buttons, for example, using your scope in COD: Mobile. This makes it easier to aim and kill your enemies.

The iQOO Neo 7 is a great option for gamers looking for a powerful device without burning a hole in their pocket.

Another area where the iQOO Neo 7 excels is the battery department. It is equipped with a large 5,000mAh battery with 120W fast charging support. The device can be charged from 0 to 50% in 10 minutes; a full charge takes 25 minutes.

The device lasted a day during my testing with some gaming and YouTube usage. If you play many games with “Monster Mode,” you may have to charge your device more than once.

Camera

After many positives, the iQOO Neo 7 falls short in the camera department. The device has a 64MP primary camera, a 2MP depth camera, and a 2MP macro camera.


At this price point, the lack of an ultra-wide camera may be a big issue for many buyers. The company during the launch, had claimed that during its survey, the company found that the target group for this phone was not interested in an ultra-wide camera. To me, this just looks like a cost-cutting measure.


The 64MP primary camera can take decent daylight images with good details and colors. The device can capture vibrant shots, but sometimes the subject gets underexposed.


The camera’s portrait shots were average, with decent edge detection and blur. The images captured using the do not capture as many details.


In terms of video, the device performed decently in daylight conditions but the performance in low light conditions is less than desirable. The microphone is able to record audio with good noise isolation.

The device comes with a 16MP selfie camera, and it performs well. It can capture images with good details, and portrait images have good edge detection and blur.

Verdict

The iQOO Neo 7 is a feature-packed device with a competitive price tag. While it ticks most boxes, such as a good display, powerful chipset, and large battery, the UI and the average cameras may be an issue for some.

If you are a gamer who does not care much about cameras, the iQOO Neo 7 is a great option. If you are a balanced user who likes to capture images frequently, the lack of an ultra-wide sensor and average portrait images is an issue.

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