IQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G Review: Gaming Excellence in Your Hands

Impressive Performance: IQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G

Last year’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 flagship chip has rejuvenated the sub-INR 40,000 mid-range market, and the IQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G is here to prove it. This device, alongside the OnePlus 11R, brings flagship-level performance to a budget-friendly price point.

Stylish Design

The IQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G features a polycarbonate frame with elegantly curved edges. Depending on your color choice – whether it’s the subtle Dark Storm or the eye-catching Fearless Flame – it can either blend in or stand out in a crowd. The device feels robust and well-built in your hand, albeit a bit hefty and thick (8.5 mm, 199.5 g for the Dark Storm variant I tested). It’s worth noting that it boasts an IP52 splash resistance rating, though it falls short of the IP68 dust and water resistance found in some competitors.

Vibrant Display

The front of the device houses a 6.78-inch 120 Hz full HD+ AMOLED display. It supports HDR10+ playback on streaming platforms and delivers an immersive multimedia experience with its vibrant colors, impressive 1,300 nits peak brightness, and powerful dual speakers.

Camera Capabilities

The camera setup, comprising a 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor, excels in capturing images with the primary shooter. However, the ultrawide lens struggles to capture details, especially in less-than-ideal lighting conditions, a shortcoming shared by the macro lens.

Efficient Performance

Running on Android 13-based Funtouch OS 13, the Neo 7 Pro comes with either 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB of storage, both of the faster LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1 varieties. Performance is consistently robust, thanks to the chip’s proven efficiency, which has earned it a spot in numerous phones from the previous year. Gaming on demanding titles like Asphalt 9 and Battlegrounds Mobile is smooth, even at high frame rates with HDR graphics. Additionally, an independent gaming chip enhances performance by interpolating extra frames during gameplay, ensuring a seamless experience. The device’s larger vapor chamber cooling system effectively manages thermals during extended gaming sessions.

Impressive Battery Life

Battery life is commendable, with the 5000 mAh battery easily lasting over six hours of screen time during moderate daily use and gaming. However, the standout feature of the Neo 7 Pro is its blazing-fast 120 W fast charging, which can refuel the battery in under 30 minutes. It’s clear that performance won’t be an issue, making the Neo 7 Pro an excellent choice for gamers.

Final Verdict: 8/10

With its exceptional performance, stylish design, and rapid charging, the IQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G stands as a formidable contender in the mid-range smartphone market. If durability and some pre-installed apps don’t deter you, this device makes for an outstanding gaming companion.