The iQOO line of smartphones was launched by BBK Electronics in 2019. To be part of Vivo’s affordable performance smartphone series. Including mid-range and flagship Android devices. Their latest offering Vivo iQOO Neo 7 was launched on October 20, 2022. It is the successor of iQOO Neo 6 Here’s a detailed take on the Neo 7 so you can decide if the device is worth it
Design and build quality
From a strict design perspective, a lot remains the same from the Neo 6 to the Neo 7. You still get that squared-off camera housing on the back with an overall plastic build. But the main difference this year will be the return of leather texture.
Although the device is entirely made of plastic, the use of vegetable. Tan leather brings a premium hand feel, at least for those who will be using it without a cover. Except for the back, everything looks the same as it did on the Neo 6.
Another unique feature is the front camera. The Neo 6 boasts of a colored ring around the punch-hole camera on the front. Many users complained that since the ring is a physical object. It was a bit confusing when viewing content. iQOO seems to have heard the complaints as there is no ring around the Neo 7. Overall screen dimensions have also increased, as has the chin. And the side bezels look significantly smaller than before.
Neo 7 has no headphone jack and expandable storage. But the model comes in a host of storage options up to 521 GB.
Overall the design is a markup on an already great device. What was lacking in the previous iteration
is definitely made better this time.
Display
On paper, the iQOO Neo 7 has the same display as its predecessor. Yet, there is a slight increase in size due to chin reduction. Specs-wise, the display includes an AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution. 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR 10+ support. It’s the perfect upper mid-range panel with crisp and sharp contrast. And vibrant color reproduction.
Although it is completely identical to the Neo 6, everything seems. To be slightly better than the previous iteration. This is because iQOO uses a dedicated display chip in the Neo 7. That works to make the content on the panel brighter and sharper.
Viewing angles on the panel are also great. We didn’t notice any color shifting or flickering issues. The high refresh rate combined with fast animations make. The Neo 7 impressive for everyday use.
The camera
The iQOO Neo 7 uses a 50MP primary sensor along with an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro shooter. The camera on paper is a bit of a downgrade from the Neo 6 as it comes with a 64 MO main shooter. But that’s about it. Although the main lens has a lower megapixel count, it doesn’t fall short in terms of performance.
In our tests, the main camera performed quite well. Daylight photos came out great with great contrast and sharpness. Detail was also there, especially in portrait mode with edge detection. The dynamic range seemed to be a hit or miss at times. As it captured great detail at times and was completely washed out at others.
But like other Android devices, performance falls short indoors. Or in artificial light conditions. Pictures don’t look grainy because iQOO’s. Camera app has a variable shutter speed built into it. But it sometimes overexposes the subject. As a result, the images look artificial.
On the videography end, the Neo 7 is capable of shooting up to 4K at 30 fps. The front camera has a generic 16MP shooter that produces passable results. Videography on the front camera is limited to 1080P at 30 fps.
Processor and performance
The processor is where the iQOO Neo 7 outshines all its competitors. The devices are equipped with MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ based on 4 Nm architecture. The octa-core processor has a chip design of 1 3.2 GHz Cortex-X2 and 3 2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 and 4 1.80 GHz Cortex-A510. The balanced design between high and low power chips makes it a very efficient processor.
In daily use, it is almost impossible to slow down the device. We tried playing Call of Duty, PUBG, and Asphalt 9 on the Neo 7. Needless to say, the device was able to crunch every game at largest. Graphics settings without any hiccups. Although the device gets a bit warm after about 30 odd minutes.
Anyone looking for a powerful device in a mid-range budget will find this device a perfect pick. It will easily provide all your processing needs and then some.
Battery and charge time
The Neo 7 comes with a 5000 mAh battery on board. The battery coupled with the highly efficient chip. Can easily last for around 8 to 9 hours of continuous use. But that’s not even the best bit about the Neo 7. The box includes a 120W fast charger that can charge the device from 0 to 50% in just 9 minutes.
iQOO Neo 7 Price
The iQOO Neo 7 comes in four different storage options – 8/128 GB, 8/256 GB, 12/256 GB, and a largest of 12/512 GB. Each variant is priced at INR 27,540, INR 31,140, INR 34,140 and INR 35,940 respectively. This brings prices around 35,469 BDT, 40,105 BDT, 43,969 BDT and 46,287 BDT (1 INR = 1.29 BDT) respectively. Yet, the official price of Vivo iQOO Neo 7 may vary due to tax and other issues.
The final word
The iQOO Neo 7 is the perfect mid-range smartphone. That will deliver a near-flagship-level experience at half the price. And not to mention the premium build quality that this brings. The phone has improved significantly over the Neo 6 in the display. Battery and performance departments. But the camera is still not up to the mark when compared to competitors. Overall, the Vivo iQOO Neo 7 is an easy recommendation. For anyone looking to pick up an all-round performance smartphone.
