vivo iQOO Neo 7 review
The vivo iQOO Neo 7 is a solid gaming phone that also delivers a good overall experience in various departments. Powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 8200 chip, it's a beast of a device that offers exceptional performance. The camera setup may seem basic with a single 64MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth camera, but it takes great photos for its class, especially in bright conditions. The battery life is impressive, lasting around seven to eight hours under normal usage, and the fast charging speed of up to 120W makes it convenient to top up. The display is decent, with good color accuracy, although some users may find the warm color tone a bit off-putting. While the camera and speakers are not the strongest aspects of this phone, they're still serviceable. The ultrawide-angle camera's absence is particularly noticeable for those who frequently use it to capture street or landscape photography. Similarly, the speaker output could be improved, with mid and high frequencies lacking detail and clarity. In terms of competition, we can expect exciting new products like the Xiaomi 13 Lite, OnePlus Note 3, and Samsung Galaxy A54 to arrive in the market soon. These devices might not match the iQOO Neo 7's performance but could deliver better value overall, making it a slight miss for this device. Overall, the vivo iQOO Neo 7 is a good option for those looking for a reliable phone under ₹30,000 that can handle gaming and everyday tasks with ease. However, it falls short of perfection due to its basic camera setup and average speakers. With some minor tweaks, it could have been an outstanding device.
Build Quality and Design
The vivo iQOO Neo 7's build quality is a letdown in an otherwise impressive mid-range smartphone. The all-plastic construction feels cheap and flimsy, lacking the premium feel of its competitors. The device's design, while sleek and modern, doesn't quite live up to its visual promise. Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that vivo has cut corners with the Neo 7's build quality. The plastic back panel is prone to scratches and fingerprints, making it a fingerprint magnet. The phone's edges are rounded but not particularly well-finished, giving off a slightly unfinished feel. In terms of design, the Neo 7 is passable at best. The device's dimensions and weight are average, neither impressing nor disappointing in this regard. However, the lack of attention to detail and a more premium build quality make it hard to justify the phone's price point. A minor but annoying issue with the Neo 7's design is the camera bump, which can catch on clothing or other objects when handling the device. This is a small gripe, perhaps, but it adds up over time and detracts from an otherwise solid smartphone experience. While not disastrous by any means, the vivo iQOO Neo 7's build quality and design fail to impress in an era where mid-range smartphones are competing with high-end devices on many fronts. With some tweaks and attention to detail, this could have been a truly great phone – but as it stands, the Neo 7 feels like a missed opportunity. 3/5
Battery Life
The battery life of the vivo iQOO Neo 7 is one of its standout features. During my usage period with this device, I consistently found it to provide around seven to eight hours of screen-on time even under fairly stressful patterns. This includes heavy gaming sessions, video playback, and general smartphone usage. What's impressive about the battery life on the vivo iQOO Neo 7 is that it remains reliable even during prolonged periods of use. The device never seemed to struggle with power consumption, and I was able to get a full day's worth of usage without needing to top up. The phone also benefits from upgraded 120W fast charging capabilities. This means you can quickly refill the battery in just 24 minutes when needed. To activate this feature, simply ensure that you have enabled it within the settings. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the battery life on the vivo iQOO Neo 7. It's a genuine strength of this device and makes it an excellent option for those looking for a reliable smartphone experience without worrying about running out of power.
Display
The Vivo iQOO Neo 7 boasts a slightly larger 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with all the modern conveniences, including Asia 10+ and wide one L1 certification for an immersive viewing experience on Netflix and other streaming platforms. While Dolby Vision playback is missing, the display's factory color calibration was a tad warm in my unit, but this can be adjusted by tweaking the temperature slider within settings. Viewing angles are excellent, and despite being under direct sunlight, I found it possible to view content without straining my eyes. The screen also responds well to touch, making for seamless navigation. While not the sharpest display I've ever encountered, it's certainly decent for a mid-range phone. However, I did notice some minor blemishes around the edges of the screen when viewing dark content. One notable omission is the lack of an auto-adjusting brightness feature, which can make navigating through sunlit areas or dimly lit rooms somewhat challenging. On balance, the display on the Vivo iQOO Neo 7 is solid, if unremarkable. It won't set your eyes ablaze with its quality, but it will serve you well for everyday use and more demanding applications like gaming.
Camera
The camera is one area where brands usually compromise when it comes to gaming phones. However, the iQOO Neo 7 bucks this trend by offering a well-rounded camera setup that's more than capable of handling your daily photography needs. At the heart of the camera system is a 64-megapixel primary sensor that takes excellent photos for its class. The image processing is particularly impressive, with punchy contrast and playful colors adding a lot of character to your shots. Low-light performance is equally good, if not great, thanks to the onboard Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) that ensures sharp and well-detailed photos even in dimly lit conditions. One area where the iQOO Neo 7 shines is in its portrait mode capabilities. The phone digitally zooms in on subjects, mimicking a telephoto camera, and delivers noticeably pleasing photos with great background separation. Skin tones can be a bit off at times, but overall, the results are impressive. However, the ultrawide-angle sensor is where the iQOO Neo 7 falls short. Replacing it with a 2-megapixel depth camera seems like an odd choice for a phone that's supposed to cater to gamers and photography enthusiasts alike. The lack of an ultrawide-angle camera means you'll have to rely on the primary sensor for all your wide shots, which can be limiting. Selfies are another area where the iQOO Neo 7 excels, with excellent dynamic range and stabilization. However, facial skin tones could be better, and the overall image quality is not as polished as some other phones in this segment. Video recording capabilities on the iQOO Neo 7 are decent, with support for up to 4K 60fps resolution. However, OIS doesn't work at higher frame rates, which means you'll have to opt for lower resolutions or compromise on image quality if you want to record smooth videos. Overall, while the camera on the iQOO Neo 7 is not perfect, it's certainly a notable improvement over previous iterations of this phone. The lack of an ultrawide-angle sensor and mediocre selfie performance are drawbacks, but the primary camera remains one of the standout features of this device. If you're someone who values photography capabilities on your smartphone, the iQOO Neo 7 is worth considering. While it may not be the best camera phone in its class, it's certainly a solid option for those looking for a reliable camera experience on a budget.
Price and Value
In today's market, mid-range smartphones have become increasingly competitive, but the Vivo iQOO Neo 7 stands out as a gaming phone that offers exceptional value for its price. Priced around ₹29,999 in India, this device delivers impressive performance, features, and battery life, making it an attractive option for those seeking a reliable smartphone. While some may argue that the absence of certain features, such as an ultra-wide-angle camera and improved stereo speakers, detract from the overall experience, these omissions don't significantly impact the phone's value proposition. The iQOO Neo 7's main 64MP sensor takes great photos for its class, with punchy contrast and well-balanced exposure. The phone also boasts a reliable battery life, offering around 7-8 hours of screen time under moderate usage patterns. With fast charging capabilities, you can refill the battery in just 24 minutes. Although not exceptional, these features contribute to the phone's overall value. While other upcoming devices like the Xiaomi 13 Lite, OnePlus Note 3, and Samsung Galaxy A54 might offer better value, the iQOO Neo 7 remains an excellent option for those seeking a reliable gaming phone under ₹30,000. If Vivo had included the ultra-wide-angle camera and improved stereo speakers, this device would have been almost perfect. In conclusion, the Vivo iQOO Neo 7 offers exceptional value for its price, making it a solid choice for anyone seeking a mid-range smartphone with impressive performance, features, and battery life. Despite some minor omissions, the phone's overall package is hard to beat in its segment.
Performance
The iQOO Neo 7 is a beast when it comes to performance, thanks to the Mediatek Dimensity 8200 chip that powers it. In our tests, the phone delivered seamless performance, handling demanding tasks and games with ease. One of the standout features of the Neo 7's performance is its ability to handle graphic-intensive games without breaking a sweat. The phone's processor is fast enough to render detailed graphics, making for a smooth gaming experience. The phone also handled multitasking with aplomb, switching between apps quickly and efficiently. We were able to run multiple demanding apps simultaneously without noticing any lag or slowdown. Battery life was also impressive, with the Neo 7 lasting around 7-8 hours under moderate usage. Fast charging is also supported, and we managed to refill the battery from 0-100% in just 24 minutes. The phone's performance is further enhanced by its UFS 3.1 storage, which provides fast read and write speeds. This results in quicker app loading times and overall smoother system performance. Overall, the iQOO Neo 7's performance is among the best we've seen in this price segment. It's a great option for those who want a powerful phone that can handle demanding tasks with ease.
Pros
1. The iQOO Neo 7 has a powerful performance, making it easily the best gaming phone you can buy in the Midfield segment.
2. It has a fantastic battery life, consistently giving around seven to eight hours of screen on time even under stressful usage patterns.
3. The phone's main 64MP sensor takes really good photos for its class, with great image processing and punchy contrast.
4. The onboard OIS makes sure you get sharp and well-detailed photos, with good contrast level and highlight control.
5. The iQOO Neo 7 has a fantastic display, with Asia 10+ and wide one L1 certification for a rich viewing experience on Netflix and other streaming platforms.
6. The phone's fast charging is upgraded to 120W, allowing you to completely refill the battery in just 24 minutes.
7. It has great video recording capabilities, with up to 4K 60fps, even exposure handling, and stable footage with a bit of cropping.
8. The iQOO Neo 7 has a reliable battery backup that can last throughout the day.
Cons
1. The phone's ultrawide angle camera is missing, which is a significant drawback for a 30,000 rupee phone.
2. The speakers are not great, struggling to meet in proper detail and clarity in either low or high frequencies, and sounding muffled at full volume.
3. The facial skin tone and dynamic range of the front camera could be improved.
4. Dolby Vision playback is missing from the display.