The smartphone market in India is buzzing with options, especially in the mid-range segment. Two devices that have caught everyone’s attention are the Realme P3 Ultra and the iQOO Neo 10R. Priced around ₹25,000, both phones promise top-notch performance, stylish designs, and features that punch above their price tags. But are they just performance beasts, or do they offer more? In this detailed comparison, we’ll break down their design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, and software to help you decide which one is worth your money.
This article is written for users looking for a powerful yet affordable smartphone. Whether you’re a gamer, a photography enthusiast, or someone who wants a reliable all-rounder, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in!
Design and Build: Which Phone Feels Premium?
When it comes to design, both the Realme P3 Ultra and iQOO Neo 10R are eye-catching, but they cater to slightly different tastes. The Realme P3 Ultra stands out with its sleek and lightweight design. At just 7.4mm thick and weighing 183g, it feels comfortable to hold for long periods. Its quad-curved design and Glowing Lunar White variant, which glows in the dark, add a fun and premium touch. The copper accents around the camera module and power button give it a classy look. However, the glossy back can be a fingerprint magnet and feels a bit slippery, so a case might be necessary.
On the other hand, the iQOO Neo 10R is slightly bulkier at 8mm thick and 196g. Its Moonlight Titanium and Raging Blue color options look professional, with a dual-tone finish inspired by racing tracks. While it’s not as slim as the Realme, its slightly curved edges make it easy to grip. Both phones use plastic back panels, which is expected at this price, but the Realme P3 Ultra feels a bit more refined due to its vegan leather option in some variants.
Durability: Which Phone Can Take a Beating?
Durability is a big factor, especially in India’s unpredictable weather. The Realme P3 Ultra takes the lead with its IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings, making it highly resistant to dust and water, including high-pressure jets. This is a huge plus for users in rainy regions. It also uses Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for better drop resistance.
The iQOO Neo 10R, however, comes with an IP65 rating, which protects against dust and low-pressure water jets but isn’t as robust as the Realme’s rating. It uses Schott Xensation glass, which is decent but not as tough as Gorilla Glass 7i. If durability is your priority, the Realme P3 Ultra is the safer bet.
Both phones feature USB-C 2.0 ports (a USB-C 3.1 would’ve been nice) and IR blasters, which are handy for controlling appliances. Overall, the Realme P3 Ultra wins in design and durability for its slim profile, premium look, and superior water resistance.
Display: Which Screen is Better for You?
The display is one of the most important aspects of a smartphone, especially for media consumption and gaming. The Realme P3 Ultra sports a 6.83-inch quad-curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution (2712×1220 pixels) and a 120Hz refresh rate. The quad-curved design gives it a premium, edge-to-edge look, and it supports HDR content playback. However, its peak brightness of 1500 nits is decent but not the best for outdoor visibility.
The iQOO Neo 10R, on the other hand, has a 6.78-inch flat AMOLED display with the same 1.5K resolution but a higher 144Hz refresh rate and an impressive 4500 nits peak brightness. The higher refresh rate makes scrolling and gaming smoother, especially in supported titles like BGMI, where it can hit 144Hz. The brighter display also ensures better visibility in direct sunlight, and it supports HDR10+, making it ideal for Netflix and YouTube HDR content.
Both phones have 3840Hz PWM dimming, which reduces flicker in low light, and similar touch sampling rates for responsive gaming. However, the Realme P3 Ultra’s O-Haptics provide slightly crisper haptic feedback, while the iQOO Neo 10R’s flat display might appeal to users who dislike curved screens. If you prioritize brightness and smoothness, the iQOO Neo 10R is the winner; for a premium look, the Realme P3 Ultra’s quad-curved display shines.
Audio: Which Phone Sounds Better?
Audio quality matters for music, gaming, and calls. Both phones support stereo speakers, but the iQOO Neo 10R has a slight edge with better bass response and richer sound. The Realme P3 Ultra’s speakers are loud and clear but lack the same depth. For wireless audio, the Realme P3 Ultra supports LHDC and LDAC Bluetooth codecs, while the iQOO Neo 10R supports only LDAC. If you use high-quality wireless earphones, the Realme offers more flexibility.
Both phones have optical in-display fingerprint scanners that are fast and reliable. There’s no noticeable difference in unlocking speed, so both perform well here.
Performance: Which Phone is the Gaming Beast?
Performance is where both phones shine, thanks to their powerful chipsets. The Realme P3 Ultra is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultra, paired with the Mali G615-MC6 GPU, 8GB or 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 3.1 storage (128GB or 256GB). The iQOO Neo 10R, meanwhile, uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 with the Adreno 735 GPU, the same RAM options, and UFS 3.1 storage for the 128GB variant or UFS 4.1 for the 256GB variant (pricier, above ₹25,000).
In synthetic benchmarks like AnTuTu and Geekbench, the iQOO Neo 10R scores higher, with over 1.5 million on AnTuTu compared to the Realme’s 1.4 million. It also performs better in single-core and multi-core tests, making it snappier for daily tasks and heavy gaming. However, the Realme P3 Ultra has slightly better CPU stability and thermal management, retaining 50% of its performance under stress compared to the iQOO’s 44.2%. Both phones have large 6,050mm² vapor cooling chambers, ensuring they don’t overheat during long gaming sessions.
In real-world gaming, the iQOO Neo 10R takes the lead. It supports 120fps in BGMI (vs. 90fps on Realme) and delivers higher average frame rates in Genshin Impact (59.8fps vs. Realme’s ~58fps) at max settings. The iQOO stays cooler at 42°C compared to the Realme’s 36°C, but neither phone throttles or feels uncomfortably hot. Both support ray tracing, with nearly identical scores, and offer excellent 5G reception, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.4. However, the lack of NFC on both is a letdown for contactless payments.
For gamers and power users, the iQOO Neo 10R is the better choice, but the Realme P3 Ultra is no slouch and handles most tasks with ease.
Camera: Which Phone Takes Better Photos?
While performance is the focus, cameras are crucial for social media and memories. Both phones have similar setups:
- Realme P3 Ultra: 50MP primary (Sony IMX896, 1/1.56”, OIS), 8MP ultrawide, 16MP selfie.
- iQOO Neo 10R: 50MP primary (Sony IMX882, 1/1.95”, OIS), 8MP ultrawide, 32MP selfie.
Daylight Photography
In daylight, the iQOO Neo 10R produces more natural colors and better details, especially at 2x, 5x, and 10x digital zoom. The Realme P3 Ultra tends to oversharpen images, making them look less natural, and its colors are overly vibrant. For HDR, both phones perform well, but the iQOO offers a more balanced look, while the Realme excels in shadow details.
Portrait and Selfies
The iQOO Neo 10R shines in portrait shots, with accurate edge detection and natural bokeh at 2x. Its 32MP selfie camera captures more details, especially in HDR scenarios, though it can overexpose lighter skin tones. The Realme P3 Ultra’s 16MP selfie camera struggles with bloom in backlit shots and makes skin tones reddish. However, it performs slightly better in low-light selfies.
Ultrawide and Low Light
Both phones disappoint with their 8MP ultrawide cameras, which lack detail and look soft. The iQOO maintains consistent colors between its primary and ultrawide lenses, unlike the Realme. In low light, the iQOO Neo 10R captures more accurate colors without night mode, but with night mode on, the Realme P3 Ultra delivers sharper images with better light source management.
Video Recording
For videos, the iQOO Neo 10R is better, offering 4K 60fps from the primary camera with more details and slightly better stabilization. The Realme P3 Ultra matches the resolution but falls short in quality. For selfie videos, the iQOO supports 4K 30fps, while the Realme is limited to 1080p 60fps. The ultrawide cameras on both are restricted to 1080p 30fps and aren’t impressive.
If photography is important, the iQOO Neo 10R is the clear winner for its natural colors, better portraits, and superior video quality. The Realme P3 Ultra is decent but falls behind due to oversharpening and inconsistent tuning.
Battery Life: Which Phone Lasts Longer?
Battery life is a key consideration for heavy users. The iQOO Neo 10R has a 6,400mAh battery, while the Realme P3 Ultra has a 6,000mAh battery. In real-world tests, the iQOO lasts longer, offering 10-11 hours of screen-on time and up to 2 days on moderate usage. The Realme P3 Ultra delivers 8.5-9 hours, which is still impressive but doesn’t match the iQOO.
Both phones support 80W fast charging, but the Realme charges slightly faster due to its smaller battery, taking around 40 minutes to go from 20% to 100%. The iQOO is close behind but takes a few extra minutes. In gaming tests, the iQOO is more efficient, losing 11% battery after 60 minutes of BGMI compared to the Realme’s 13%.
For battery life, the iQOO Neo 10R is the champion, but the Realme P3 Ultra is no slouch and offers fast charging to keep you going.
Software: Which UI is Better?
Both phones run Android 15, but their user interfaces differ. The Realme P3 Ultra uses Realme UI 6.0, which is smooth, modern, and similar to Oxygen OS and Color OS. It offers flux themes, live activities, and fast animations, making it feel premium. The iQOO Neo 10R runs Funtouch OS 15, which is feature-rich but less polished, with quirky UI elements that might not appeal to everyone.
The iQOO has a big advantage in software support, promising 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches, compared to Realme’s 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches. Both offer AI features like Circle to Search, AI Erase, and AI Translation, as well as practical features like app cloning and call recording. However, Realme UI 6.0 has fewer pre-installed apps and a cleaner experience.
If you prefer a modern, fluid UI, Realme UI 6.0 is better. For longer software support, the iQOO Neo 10R is the way to go.
Specifications Table
| Feature | Realme P3 Ultra | iQOO Neo 10R |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.83” Quad-Curved AMOLED, 1.5K, 120Hz, 1500 nits | 6.78” Flat AMOLED, 1.5K, 144Hz, 4500 nits |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultra | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| GPU | Mali G615-MC6 | Adreno 735 |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 | 128GB UFS 3.1 / 256GB UFS 4.1 |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP (Sony IMX896, OIS) + 8MP ultrawide | 50MP (Sony IMX882, OIS) + 8MP ultrawide |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 6,000mAh, 80W fast charging | 6,400mAh, 80W fast charging |
| OS | Android 15, Realme UI 6.0 | Android 15, Funtouch OS 15 |
| Software Updates | 2 years OS + 3 years security | 3 years OS + 4 years security |
| Durability | IP66/IP68/IP69, Gorilla Glass 7i | IP65, Schott Xensation glass |
| Weight & Thickness | 183g, 7.4mm | 196g, 8mm |
| Price (8GB/128GB) | ₹24,000 (with discounts) | ₹25,000 |
Price and Value: Is It Worth It?
The Realme P3 Ultra starts at ₹26,999 for the 8GB/128GB variant but can be grabbed for as low as ₹24,000 with bank discounts and cashback offers on Flipkart and Realme.com. The iQOO Neo 10R is priced at ₹26,999 for the same variant, with the 8GB/256GB model costing ₹28,999 and the 12GB/256GB at ₹30,999 on Amazon and iQOO’s store. The iQOO is slightly pricier, especially for higher variants, but offers better performance and cameras.
Should You Buy the Realme P3 Ultra?
The Realme P3 Ultra is perfect if you want a stylish, durable phone with a premium quad-curved display and a clean software experience. It’s great for casual gamers, media consumers, and users who prioritize design. At ₹24,000, it’s a steal for its features, making it the better value option.
Should You Buy the iQOO Neo 10R?
The iQOO Neo 10R is the go-to choice for gamers and performance enthusiasts. Its brighter display, longer battery life, and superior cameras make it worth the extra ₹1,000. If you want a future-proof phone with longer software support, the iQOO is the smarter pick.
Verdict: Which Phone Should You Choose?
Choosing between the Realme P3 Ultra and iQOO Neo 10R depends on your priorities:
- Pick the Realme P3 Ultra if: You want a slim, stylish phone with excellent durability (IP69), a premium quad-curved display, and a modern UI. It’s ideal for users who want a balanced phone at a lower price.
- Pick the iQOO Neo 10R if: You’re a gamer or power user who needs top performance, a brighter 144Hz display, better cameras, and longer battery life. The extra software support is a bonus.
Both phones are fantastic for the price, but the iQOO Neo 10R edges out slightly for its performance and camera prowess. However, if you’re on a tighter budget, the Realme P3 Ultra offers incredible value. Let us know in the comments which one you’d pick!
