You’ve seen the teasers. You’ve probably scrolled through a dozen "leaks" on X or Weibo that all seem to contradict each other. Honestly, the buzz around the iQOO Neo 10 launch date has been a bit of a mess, mostly because iQOO likes to play this game where they release different versions for different regions at totally different times.
Let’s set the record straight right now. The iQOO Neo 10 made its first big splash in China on November 29, 2024. But if you're reading this from India, that wasn't your date. For the Indian market, the official iQOO Neo 10 launch date was May 26, 2025. It’s basically been out for a while now, though some people are still waiting for the rumored "S" or "Pro Plus" refreshes that usually pop up mid-cycle.
Why the iQOO Neo 10 Launch Date Mattered So Much
People weren't just excited because it’s a new phone. They were excited because this was the device that finally brought that massive 7,000mAh battery into a frame that didn't feel like a literal brick. For years, if you wanted a "big battery phone," you had to settle for something chunky and ugly.
iQOO changed that.
The May 2025 launch in India was a huge deal because it debuted the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset here. It’s a beast. It’s basically built for the person who spends four hours a day on Genshin Impact or BGMI but still needs their phone to look professional at a dinner table.
The China vs. India Confusion
Here is where most people get tripped up. The Chinese version that dropped in late 2024 isn't identical to what we got.
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- The China Model: Launched Nov 29, 2024. Featured the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
- The India Model: Launched May 26, 2025. Rocked the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and a beefier selfie camera.
Why do they do this? Kinda annoying, right? It's mostly about local competition and component pricing at the time of the specific regional launch.
What’s Under the Hood (The Real Specs)
Forget the rumors you read six months ago. Since the phone is actually out, we know exactly what it’s packing. It’s a weirdly perfect mix of flagship power and mid-range pricing.
The screen is a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel. It hits a 144Hz refresh rate, which is sort of the gold standard for gaming phones these days. If you’re just scrolling Instagram, it scales down to save juice, but the second you fire up a game, it’s buttery smooth. Peak brightness hits 5,500 nits. That’s bright. Like, "using your phone in the middle of a desert at noon" bright.
Power is the main event.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is paired with a dedicated Q1 Supercomputing chip. Basically, the Q1 chip handles the heavy lifting for frame rates and resolution so the main processor doesn't overheat. It’s why this phone can actually hit 144fps in games that usually cap at 60 or 90.
The Battery Magic
This is the part that sounds fake but isn't. It has a 7,000mAh battery.
Most flagships from Samsung or Apple are still hovering around 4,500 to 5,000mAh. iQOO used a Silicon-Carbon "BlueVolt" tech to cram more energy into the same physical space. The phone is only 8.09mm thick.
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It’s thin.
It shouldn't have a 7,000mAh battery, but it does.
And it charges at 120W. You can get a 50% charge in about 15 minutes. It’s sort of life-changing when you realize you don't have to plug your phone in overnight anymore.
The Cameras: Better Than Expected?
Neo series phones usually cut corners on cameras to keep the price down. Honestly, the Neo 10 is better than the Neo 9 was, but it's still not going to beat a Vivo X-series or a Pixel.
The primary sensor is a 50MP Sony IMX882 with OIS. It’s solid. It takes great daytime photos and surprisingly decent "SuperMoon" shots if you’re into that. The secondary is just an 8MP ultrawide. It’s... fine. You’ll use it for group shots, but don't expect it to win any awards.
The Indian version actually got a 32MP selfie camera, which was a nice upgrade over the 16MP version they sold in China.
Pricing and Where We Are Now
When the iQOO Neo 10 launch date finally hit in May 2025, the price started at ₹31,999 for the 8GB/128GB base model.
If you wanted the top-tier 16GB/512GB version, it went up to about ₹40,999.
Right now, in early 2026, you can usually find these on sale during Amazon's "Republic Day" or "Great Indian Festival" events for even less. It’s currently competing with the newer Realme GT 7 and the OnePlus 15R, but the battery life on the iQOO still makes it the better choice for heavy users.
Is It Still Worth Buying?
Look, technology moves fast. There are already whispers about an iQOO Neo 11 with a Snapdragon 8 Elite or 8 Gen 5. But the Neo 10 isn't "old" by any means.
If you care about:
- Extreme Battery Life: 7,000mAh is still the king.
- Gaming: The 144fps support and Q1 chip are legit.
- Fast Charging: 120W is hard to go back from once you've had it.
Then yeah, it’s a great buy. If you’re a professional photographer? Maybe look elsewhere. The ultrawide camera is definitely the weak link here.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're hunting for one, don't pay the full launch price. Check Amazon India or the iQOO official store specifically on weekends; they’ve been running frequent bank discounts with ICICI and HDFC that knock another ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 off. Also, make sure you're getting the Indian retail unit if you're in India; importing the Chinese November 2024 model will leave you with a different processor and potential 5G band issues.