The mid-range smartphone market in India is super competitive, with brands like iQOO and OnePlus offering feature-packed phones at affordable prices. Two popular options in the sub-₹25,000 segment are the iQOO Neo 10R and the OnePlus Nord 4. Both phones promise great performance, good cameras, and premium designs, but which one is the better choice for you? In this detailed comparison, we’ll break down their design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, and software to help you decide. By the end, you’ll know whether the iQOO Neo 10R or the OnePlus Nord 4 is worth your money.
Design and Build Quality: Premium Feel or Practical Choice?
When it comes to design, both phones have their own strengths. The OnePlus Nord 4 stands out with its metal unibody design, which combines glass and aluminum for a premium look and feel. Its dual-tone finish in colors like Obsidian Midnight, Oasis Green, and Mercurial Silver makes it a head-turner. The Nord 4 feels solid in hand, but there’s a catch—it’s prone to dents and scratches if you drop it. So, using a case is a good idea to keep it looking pristine.
On the other hand, the iQOO Neo 10R uses a plastic frame and back, which doesn’t feel as premium as the Nord 4’s metal build. It comes in Raging Blue and MoonKnight Titanium colors, which look sporty and modern but attract smudges easily. The plastic build makes the Neo 10R slightly lighter at 196g compared to the Nord 4’s 199.5g, but the difference is barely noticeable.
Both phones are about 8mm thick and come with an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, so they can handle light splashes. The iQOO Neo 10R has a slight edge in durability with its Schott Xensation Up glass, which offers better tensile strength than the Nord 4’s Panda Glass. Both phones also feature USB-C 2.0 ports and infrared blasters, but the Nord 4 includes NFC for contactless payments, which the Neo 10R lacks.
Verdict: If you want a phone that looks and feels premium, the OnePlus Nord 4 is the winner. But if durability matters more, the iQOO Neo 10R’s glass protection gives it a slight advantage.
Display: Bright and Smooth Viewing Experience
The display is a key factor when choosing a smartphone, and both the iQOO Neo 10R and OnePlus Nord 4 deliver vibrant AMOLED panels. The Neo 10R sports a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and a peak brightness of 4500 nits (1800 nits HBM). This makes it ideal for gaming, especially titles like Brawl Stars that support higher refresh rates. The Neo 10R also has a high PWM dimming rate of 3840Hz, which reduces flicker in low-light conditions, making it easier on the eyes.
The OnePlus Nord 4, meanwhile, has a slightly smaller 6.74-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and a peak brightness of 2150 nits (1100 nits HBM). While it’s bright enough for outdoor use, it falls short of the Neo 10R’s brightness levels. Its PWM dimming is lower at 250Hz, but this shouldn’t be an issue for most users since both displays are flicker-free in low light.
Both phones offer similar 1.5K resolutions (~450 ppi), so text and images look sharp. The Neo 10R’s HDR performance is better, especially when streaming on YouTube or Netflix, thanks to its higher brightness. However, the Nord 4 has better haptic feedback, which makes typing and scrolling feel more responsive.
Verdict: The iQOO Neo 10R takes the lead with its brighter, faster, and more vibrant display, making it the better choice for media consumption and gaming.
Performance: Power-Packed for Gaming and More
Performance is where both phones shine, thanks to their powerful Snapdragon chipsets. The iQOO Neo 10R is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a 4nm chip with an octa-core CPU (up to 3.0GHz) and Adreno 735 GPU. The OnePlus Nord 4 uses the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, also a 4nm chip, with a slightly slower CPU (up to 2.8GHz) and Adreno 732 GPU. Both phones come in 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, and 12GB/256GB variants, with LPDDR5X RAM for fast multitasking.
The Neo 10R’s 256GB variant uses UFS 4.1 storage, which has faster sequential write speeds, while the Nord 4’s 256GB variant uses UFS 4.0. However, the Nord 4 has slightly faster read speeds, leading to quicker app opening times and smoother animations. The 128GB variants of both phones use UFS 3.1 storage, which is slower but still decent.
In benchmarks, the Neo 10R outperforms the Nord 4 in AnTuTu and CPU stability tests, while the Nord 4 has better GPU stability. For gamers, the Neo 10R is the clear winner. It supports ray tracing and 120 FPS in games like BGMI, compared to 90 FPS on the Nord 4. The Neo 10R also runs Genshin Impact at higher average FPS and stays cooler during long gaming sessions, thanks to its VC cooling system and Monster Mode. The Nord 4, however, has a robust cooling system that prevents overheating during extended use.
Both phones offer excellent network performance with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 support. The Nord 4’s NFC support is a bonus for contactless payments, which the Neo 10R misses out on.
Verdict: The iQOO Neo 10R is the better choice for gamers and power users, while the OnePlus Nord 4 offers smoother day-to-day performance.
Camera: Similar Sensors, Different Results
The iQOO Neo 10R and OnePlus Nord 4 have similar rear camera setups, featuring a 50MP primary sensor (Sony LYT600/IMX882 with OIS) and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The Neo 10R has a 32MP front camera, while the Nord 4 has a 16MP selfie shooter.
Primary Camera
The Neo 10R’s primary camera tends to oversharpen images, which can make details look slightly artificial. The Nord 4 captures more natural details, especially in low light, but the Neo 10R produces brighter images that some users might prefer. At 2x, 5x, and 10x zoom, the Nord 4 retains more details. The Neo 10R’s Natural Mode offers better color accuracy for reds and greens, but it struggles with lighter skin tones. The Nord 4 handles skin tones better, though both phones falter with darker skin tones.
Ultra-Wide and Selfie Cameras
The 8MP ultra-wide cameras on both phones lack detail and produce soft images, especially in low light. However, the Neo 10R maintains better color consistency between the primary and ultra-wide lenses. For selfies, the Nord 4 delivers sharper details in daylight and low light, while the Neo 10R’s 32MP camera excels in HDR selfies and portrait shots with better bokeh.
Video Recording
Video stabilization is average on both phones, but the Neo 10R captures slightly better details in primary camera videos. Its ultra-wide videos are sharper than the Nord 4’s, which appear soft. The Neo 10R also supports 4K 30fps selfie videos, while the Nord 4 is limited to 1080p 30fps.
Verdict: The cameras are neck-and-neck. Choose the Neo 10R for better video quality and selfies, or the Nord 4 for sharper primary camera shots.
Battery Life and Charging: Long-Lasting Power
Battery life is a strong suit for both phones. The iQOO Neo 10R has a massive 6400mAh battery that lasts 10-12 hours of screen-on time, depending on usage. The OnePlus Nord 4’s 5500mAh battery delivers 8.5-9 hours of screen-on time, which is still impressive. The Nord 4 charges faster with 100W fast charging (0-100% in 30 minutes) compared to the Neo 10R’s 80W charging (0-100% in 50 minutes).
Verdict: The iQOO Neo 10R wins for battery life, but the OnePlus Nord 4 is better for quick charging.
Software: Clean vs. Functional
The OnePlus Nord 4 runs OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, offering a clean, customizable interface with minimal bloatware. It promises 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches, ensuring long-term support. The iQOO Neo 10R runs Funtouch OS 15 on Android 15, with 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches. Funtouch OS has more bloatware and a less refined experience compared to OxygenOS.
The Neo 10R includes features like Circle to Search, which the Nord 4 lacks, but OxygenOS offers more AI features and a smoother overall experience.
Verdict: The OnePlus Nord 4 is the better choice for software, thanks to its cleaner interface and longer update support.
Specification Comparison Table
| Feature | iQOO Neo 10R | OnePlus Nord 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.78-inch AMOLED, 1.5K, 144Hz, 4500 nits | 6.74-inch AMOLED, 1.5K, 120Hz, 2150 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB | 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB |
| Storage Type | UFS 3.1 (128GB), UFS 4.1 (256GB) | UFS 3.1 (128GB), UFS 4.0 (256GB) |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (OIS) + 8MP ultra-wide | 50MP (OIS) + 8MP ultra-wide |
| Front Camera | 32MP | 16MP |
| Battery | 6400mAh, 80W fast charging | 5500mAh, 100W fast charging |
| Software | Funtouch OS 15 (Android 15) | OxygenOS 15 (Android 15) |
| Build | Plastic frame, Schott Xensation Up | Aluminum frame, Panda Glass |
| Weight | 196g | 199.5g |
| IP Rating | IP65 | IP65 |
| Price (Starting) | ₹26,999 | ₹26,999 |
Should You Buy the iQOO Neo 10R or OnePlus Nord 4?
Both the iQOO Neo 10R and OnePlus Nord 4 are excellent choices under ₹25,000, but they cater to slightly different needs. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
- Choose the iQOO Neo 10R if:
- You’re a gamer who wants ray tracing, 120 FPS support, and a powerful chipset.
- You need a brighter display for outdoor use and HDR content.
- You want longer battery life (10-12 hours of screen-on time).
- You prioritize video recording and high-resolution selfies.
- Choose the OnePlus Nord 4 if:
- You want a premium metal design that stands out.
- You prefer a cleaner software experience with OxygenOS.
- You need NFC for contactless payments.
- You want faster charging and slightly better primary camera performance.
Is It Worth It?
At a starting price of ₹26,999, both phones offer great value for money. The iQOO Neo 10R is a powerhouse for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts, with its superior display and battery life. The OnePlus Nord 4, on the other hand, is a well-rounded option with a premium design and smooth software, making it ideal for everyday use. If you can wait, rumors suggest the OnePlus Nord 5 might launch soon, but as of now, both phones hold their own in this price range.
Ultimately, your choice depends on what matters most to you—gaming and battery life (Neo 10R) or design and software (Nord 4). Whichever you pick, you’re getting a solid mid-range phone that’s worth every rupee.
