The Realme GT 7 and iQOO Neo 10 are two of the hottest new launches under ₹40K right now — and on paper, they’ve got a lot in common. Both come with massive 7000mAh batteries, super-fast 120W charging, Android 15 out of the box, and 6.78-inch AMOLED displays. They're also pretty evenly matched when it comes to real-world performance and gaming.
But dig a little deeper and the differences start showing. The GT 7, starting at ₹39,999, feels a bit more premium, offers better build quality with IP69 protection, and packs a beefier GPU. Meanwhile, the Neo 10, priced at ₹31,999, fights back with a brighter display, more natural camera results, and a cleaner, more refined design that’s easy to love.
So the big question is — which one’s the better value for your money? Let’s find out.
iQOO Neo 10 vs Realme GT 7: Design
Design-wise, both phones may have plastic backs, but they feel surprisingly solid.
The GT 7 has a more polished in-hand feel, while the Neo 10 feels bulkier and more rugged. I tested the GT 7 in IceSense Blue, and the bold red power button plus red camera accents give it a slick touch.
That said, I personally prefer the Neo 10’s Titanium Chrome finish — clean and classy, and totally underrated.
On the durability front though, the GT 7 takes the lead. It offers IP69 protection and Gorilla Glass 7i on the front, making it way tougher. The Neo 10, meanwhile, settles for IP65 and uses Xensation Up glass by Schott, which isn’t quite on the same level.
iQOO Neo 10 vs Realme GT 7: Cameras
There’s quite a bit to unpack as far as the cameras are concerned.
Both the Neo 10 and GT 7 come with a 50MP Sony sensor for the main camera. But while the Neo 10 pairs it with just an 8MP ultrawide, the GT 7 adds a 50MP 2x telephoto on top, making it the more versatile shooter on paper. In daylight, both phones snap vibrant, sharp shots, but I found the Neo 10’s photos had a bit more punch and contrast.
Low light is where things got interesting. The Neo 10 actually surprised me with how well it handled night scenes — colours looked natural and better balanced. The GT 7’s low-light shots, in comparison, felt a little washed out. The ultrawide cameras on both are okay. They’re not going to blow your mind, but they’re perfectly usable.
Portraits were a toss-up. Even though the GT 7 has that fancy telephoto lens, I preferred the Neo 10’s portraits. They just looked more natural and cleaner. When it comes to video, the GT 7 is definitely the power user’s pick — with support for 8K at 30fps and even 4K at 120fps. But 8K eats storage fast and stabilisation takes a hit. Neo 10 sticks to 4K60, which is plenty for most people, and it actually felt more stable in day-to-day use.
Front cameras tell a similar story. The GT 7 handled skin tones better, while the Neo 10 gave off a reddish tint that didn’t look too flattering. So overall? The GT 7 is great for video and selfies, but for natural photos and low-light, the Neo 10 takes the win.
Do watch the video for full camera samples!
iQOO Neo 10 vs Realme GT 7: Displays
Now let’s get into the displays — and yeah, both are pretty slick.
You’re looking at 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED panels on both the Neo 10 and GT 7, complete with slim bezels and super responsive in-display fingerprint sensors. They’re fast, reliable, and work without any fuss.
The GT 7 runs at a steady 120Hz refresh rate across the board, which makes scrolling and gaming feel buttery smooth. The Neo 10 steps it up with a 144Hz refresh rate, but it only kicks in during certain apps and games — so it’s not consistent across the system.
On paper, the GT 7 seems like the better pick. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and hits a crazy 6000 nits peak brightness. The Neo 10 caps out at 5500 nits, which still sounds pretty wild. But here’s the twist — in real-world use, I found the Neo 10’s panel looked more vibrant.
We played a 4K60 HDR video on YouTube side by side, and the Neo 10 just popped more. That’s because its High Brightness Mode (HBM) hits 2000 nits, compared to the GT 7’s 1600. So even if the GT 7 wins on paper, the Neo 10 comes out on top when you’re actually watching content.
Clear win for iQOO on this one.
iQOO Neo 10 vs Realme GT 7: Performance
The Realme GT 7 packs the MediaTek Dimensity 9400e chip, backed by 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. On paper, the iQOO Neo 10 sounds stronger, rocking a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X Ultra RAM, and slightly faster UFS 4.1 storage. But things aren’t always as they seem.
In benchmarks, the GT 7 quietly flexes. Both phones crossed 2 million on AnTuTu, but the GT 7 edged ahead by around 4%. The gap gets bigger on the GPU front — it crushed the Neo 10 in 3DMark’s Wild Life Extreme test by nearly 60%. Even storage speeds told the same story, with the GT 7 clocking in 13% faster, despite technically slower storage.
In day-to-day use, both are snappy. App launches feel instant, multitasking is smooth, and there’s no real lag anywhere. Gaming is just as tight. In our tests, both averaged around 118.5fps in BGMI, with minimum frame rates hovering around 93–96fps. No real difference there. However, the Neo 10’s advertised 144Hz performance? Nowhere to be seen. We tried different settings, but couldn’t hit 144fps — and we’ve reached out to iQOO for answers.
Thermals are sorted too. Realme added a graphene layer to help with heat, but both phones levelled off at around 38°C in a 30-minute Call of Duty Mobile session. So, real-world heat handling is pretty much identical.
Both phones run Android 15 out of the box. The Neo 10 ships with Funtouch OS 15, while the GT 7 runs Realme UI 6. Realme’s version felt slightly snappier but came with more bloat. Both offer basic AI features, but Realme adds some extra tools like an AI Planner and Gaming Coach. As for updates, you’re covered with 3 years of Android and 4 years of security patches on both.
iQOO Neo 10 vs Realme GT 7: Battery
Battery life is great on both phones, thanks to their huge 7000mAh cells and 120W fast charging. I easily got a full day of heavy use, sometimes even two. Charging is super quick too — the Neo 10 hits 50% in 20 minutes and fully charges in 35. The GT 7 is just as fast, hitting 50% in 15 minutes and taking around 40 for a full top-up.
iQOO Neo 10 vs Realme GT 7: Verdict
It’s a tough one to be honest. The Realme GT 7, starting at ₹39,999, definitely feels more premium. It has a sleek build, IP69 rating, and a slightly smoother UI experience. On paper, it also leads in benchmarks and throws in a few extra camera and video features.
But for ₹31,999, the iQOO Neo 10 just delivers better value. Day-to-day performance and gaming feel nearly identical, and I kept preferring its brighter display and more vibrant camera output. Despite missing out on a few top-tier specs, it nails the fundamentals and doesn’t feel like a compromise.
If you want all the bells and whistles, go for the GT 7. But if you care more about real-world experience and saving a few bucks, the Neo 10 is the smarter buy.
