Xiaomi Poco F7 vs. Vivo iQOO Neo 10: Which Budget Flagship Smartphone Should You Buy?

The sub-₹35K ($~350) smartphone space in India is starting to feel like a battle royale and the newest showdown is between the Xiaomi Poco F7 and the Vivo iQOO Neo 10.

Both phones come armed with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, bright AMOLED displays, and massive batteries. But while Poco leans into longevity and size, iQOO comes back swinging with smoother visuals and faster charging.

So, which one should you go for if you want premium specs without paying flagship prices? Let’s break it down.

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/1. Design & Display

The Poco F7 is slightly taller and heavier, coming in at 216g with a 6.83-inch AMOLED display. But it's not just big; it’s bright. With a peak brightness of 3200 nits, this device laughs in the face of sunlight. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 120Hz refresh rate.

iQOO Neo 10, though smaller at 6.78 inches, beats it in refresh rate at 144Hz for ultra-smooth swiping. It also takes brightness to the next level with a crazy 5000 nits peak. Design-wise, both phones are sleek, but the Neo 10 has a more curved aesthetic, while the F7 feels a little more rugged, especially with its IP68 rating.

Verdict: iQOO Neo 10 wins on smoothness and extreme brightness. Poco takes the crown for outdoor durability.

/2. Performance & Software

Both phones run the same Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset and support UFS 4.1 storage with LPDDR5X RAM, so you’re getting similar real-world power for gaming and multitasking. The Neo 10 gets an edge though with options going up to 16GB RAM, while Poco maxes out at 12GB + Turbo RAM.

But the software story is where Poco wins big. It offers 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches, compared to iQOO’s 3 years of OS and 4 years of security.

Verdict: Performance is a draw, but Poco wins the long game with better software support.

/3. Cameras

The rear camera setup on both phones is nearly identical—50MP Sony IMX882 main sensor with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide. But it’s the selfie cam that separates them. iQOO’s 32MP front shooter clearly beats Poco’s 20MP sensor in sharpness and detail.

Still, Poco can shoot 4K at 60fps on the rear, while the front cam maxes out at 1080p. iQOO delivers similar video quality, but the front cam is just better for vlogs or high-quality selfies.

Verdict: iQOO wins on selfies. Rear cameras are largely a draw.

/4. Battery & Charging

Poco wins the numbers game with a massive 7550mAh battery and 90W wired charging, plus 22.5W reverse charging if you need to top up your buds. But iQOO isn’t far behind with a 7000mAh battery and 120W fast charging, which means it powers up quicker even with a slightly smaller cell.

Verdict: Poco wins on battery life. iQOO takes it on charge speed.

/5. Pricing & Value

The Poco F7 starts at ₹31,999 ($372) for 12GB/256GB and ₹33,999 ($395) for 12GB/512GB—great value for the specs, especially with IP68 and software promises.

The iQOO Neo 10 starts at the same ₹31,999 ($372), but pricing scales higher if you want more RAM and storage: ₹40,999 ($476) for 16GB/512GB.

Verdict: Poco gives you more value out of the box. iQOO offers more top-end flexibility, but at a price.

Conclusion

If you want brighter visuals, better selfies, and faster charging, the iQOO Neo 10 is your phone. But if you care more about battery life, software support, and rugged durability, the Poco F7 is impossible to ignore.

Winner (Overall): Poco F7. Its longer battery life, longer support, and solid all-around performance make it the better buy for most people, unless you’re really care about refresh rate and selfies.

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