The iQOO Z series was introduced in India in mid-2021. The brand has released multiple models in the lineup since then.

These budget smartphones are priced between ₹15,000-₹25,000 (~$180-$300). Recently, the company took wraps off the iQOO Z7 in India, which carries a retail price of ₹18,999 (~$230).

This sub-₹20,000 (~$250) device tries to be the best 5G smartphone in its price segment. It offers almost all the features that people look for, such as an AMOLED display, an OIS-enabled camera, fast charging, and more.

The product sounds so good that even I bought one for my father on the first day of the sale. At the same time, iQOO India also loaned me a unit to try the phone myself.

After using the device for weeks, I came across things that you won’t find on the spec sheet. These are probably one of the few reasons that might have helped the brand to price this handset very competitively.

You may have read multiple reviews or watched videos on iQOO Z7 by now. Hence, I have expressed my thoughts as simply as possible. I hope this helps you to decide whether this handset is meant for you.

iQOO Z7 Review

Performance

The iQOO Z7 is different from other phones in its price segment. Though it is mostly targeted at youth looking for an affordable smartphone for gaming, I believe it is also an ideal device for elders at the same time.

The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset. Thus, it is more powerful than any smartphone under ₹20,000 (~$250) in India.

Further, the Android 13-based FuntouchOS 13 software for this device is well-optimized. All I can say is that it is smooth and I did not encounter stutters. There are no visible frame drops in animations and any annoying bugs.

I don’t game much, except for Pokemon Unite every now and then. It is not a resource-hungry game like Genshin Impact but it does require a stable internet connection and a good touch sampling rate.

The handset does not disappoint as I could play the game at 60fps in the ‘High’ graphics setting. There are minute frame drops but that will not affect anyone’s gaming sessions.

Since I have Jio 5G coverage in my area, I was on 5G most of the time. The phone does not heat up and provided me stable 5G download speeds of up to 1.8Gbps.

iQOO Z7 Review

Display

The front of the handset is fitted with a 6.38-inch AMOLED display sporting a dewdrop notch. The panel offers a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+) and a 90Hz refresh rate.

The screen outputs punchy colors and deep blacks. It is rated to provide up to 1300 nits peak brightness but that’s just a local-level maximum brightness level during HDR playback. In normal usage, it is bright enough both indoors and outdoors under direct sunlight.

All in all, the display is good for the asking price, however, I did not like the default ‘Smart Switch’ refresh rate implementation. The screen switches to 60Hz in most of the apps. Thankfully, you get an option to force 90Hz.

The most complained thing about iQOO Z7’s display on the internet is its thick bezels and waterdrop notch in 2023. But however, I did not mind them at all. These little things did not hinder me in my day-to-day usage.

Cameras

I am a bit disappointed with the device’s cameras. The rear 64MP camera delivers good shots during the daytime and average shots under good indoor lights as well.

But once the sun sets, the camera struggles, which is common among budget smartphones. I could say the same for the selfie camera and video recording.

There’s no ultra-wide camera, which is sometimes useful while fitting more people in a group shot or clicking pictures of landscapes. However, I have to add phone’s portrait mode is excellent.

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Other Features

The speaker on the iQOO Z7 is below average as I have seen better speakers on smartphones priced under ₹20,000 (~$250). That said, the speakers do get loud, but the sound quality isn’t great. The haptics is also average, which is passable as it is typical on inexpensive handsets. But, you get a 3.5mm headphone jack, a hybrid MicroSD card slot, and a reliable in-screen fingerprint sensor on the device.

The best as well as the worst thing about this phone is its design and build. It is lightweight at 173g and thinner at 7.8mm despite housing a 4,500mAh battery, which can last a full day (and even more) and charges fully within an hour with the included 44W charger. It is very comfortable to hold for a longer period of time.

However, the camera island is quite large. Thus, it is very difficult to keep your fingers away from it. It is more attracted to smudges than any handset in the segment. You will have to wipe the glass clean almost every time while using the camera. Not a deal breaker, but personally, I would have preferred a better camera design.

The transparent case included in the box does very little to protect the camera module since it comes with a big cutout for the island. Personally, I would suggest getting a third-party case that offers protection for the camera island.

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Funtouch OS 13 Ads Can Be Annoying

Talking about the elephant in the room, though I praised the software earlier, let’s see some of its drawbacks.

Before I talk about the negatives, let me clear one thing first, I have no problem with the functionality and design of Funtouch OS 13. 

What annoys me is the poor implementation of promotions (ads). I love to try, use, and even recommend certain first-party applications provided by OEMs, especially their app stores. But on iQOO Z7, I would not recommend doing this.

This is the first time I haven’t used a first-party app store on a smartphone in a long while. Because the first-party app store is the reason why you will always see a full-page app recommendations screen every time you install an application from Google Play Store.

The only way to fix it is by clearing the cache and data of ‘V-Appstore’ and never opening it again. Similarly, I would recommend turning off notifications on all first-party system apps, like Browser, iQOO.com, and others. In fact, don’t even use them as they spam you with notifications throughout the day.

Promotions (commonly known as ads) enable brands to price their smartphones very cheaply. I don’t mind them but only until a point. A company would want its customers to use its first-party apps but there’s no way you can use them on iQOO Z7 without having to go through unnecessary spam.

As I mentioned earlier, I have always been a strong advocate of OEM’s first-party applications. But not for this device, at least in its current state. I hope iQOO finds a solution to implement promotions in the right way.

iQOO Z7 Review

Verdict

Despite its shortcomings, the iQOO Z7 is a solid package for under ₹20,000 (~$250). It is suitable for all types of users, whether they be youth or adults.

It is probably the best bang for the buck budget 5G smartphone in India right now. If you could forego the drawbacks discussed above, you won’t be disappointed with your purchase.

Unfortunately, you cannot try the phone at your nearby stores since it is sold exclusively online via Amazon and iQOO.com. Also, there’s no Vivo version of this handset so far, unlike last year’s iQOO Z6 series and Vivo T1 series.

If you still have doubts or queries, feel free to drop them in the comment section below. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

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