The iQOO Neo 10R has officially made its entrance into the Indian market as the latest addition to the brand’s mid-range smartphone series. This device stands out with impressive specifications, including the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, a substantial 6,400mAh battery, LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 4.1 storage. It’s not alone in the competitive mid-range segment; the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is also a strong contender, featuring a more advanced processor and superior graphics capabilities. To evaluate which smartphone offers better performance within the price range of Rs 30,000 in India, we conducted a series of synthetic benchmarks and gaming tests.
In our performance evaluation, the two smartphones were put through various tests. The results are presented in the table below, demonstrating how they compare in terms of processing power and gaming capabilities:
| Tests | iQOO Neo 10R | Nothing Phone (3a) Pro |
|——————————————-|—————|————————-|
| Geekbench single-core (CPU test) | 1971 | 1208 |
| Geekbench multi-core (CPU test) | 5139 | 3325 |
| AnTuTu (overall performance) | 14,76,651 | 8,09,554 |
| CPU throttle (Burnout score) | 44.20 percent | 50 percent |
| Gaming (temperature increase after 90 mins)| 16.4°C | 14.5°C |
From the Geekbench results, it’s evident that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in the iQOO Neo 10R outperforms the processor in the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. It shows over 63% greater speed in single-core tasks and 55% faster in multi-core tests, indicating that the iQOO model is better equipped for both everyday and demanding tasks.
In terms of overall performance assessed by the AnTuTu benchmark, the iQOO Neo 10R achieved an impressive score of around 14.5 million points, significantly higher than the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, which scored below 8.1 million. Although the iQOO’s score is lower than the company’s claimed benchmark, it still illustrates the device’s ability to provide a superior user experience compared to its competitor, primarily due to its more powerful processor and faster storage options.
Regarding thermal performance, CPU throttling occurs when a device is pushed to its limits, causing the processor to reduce its frequency to avoid overheating. Using the Burnout app to measure, we found that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 manages heat slightly better than the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, with the iQOO exhibiting a throttle percentage of 44.20 compared to 50% for the Nothing device.
During gaming tests, we played popular titles such as COD: Mobile, BGMI, and Real Racing 3 on both smartphones under the same graphics settings for 30 minutes each. While both phones performed similarly in terms of average frames per second (FPS), the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro experienced less temperature increase during a 90-minute gaming session, reaching only 14.5°C compared to the 16.4°C recorded by the iQOO Neo 10R.
The iQOO Neo 10R’s robust hardware makes it a suitable option for users who engage in intensive activities such as competitive gaming or media editing. Features like Monster Mode, E-sports Mode, and Bypass charging further reinforce its position as a performance-centered device. It is priced at Rs 26,999 for its base model.
On the other hand, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro offers a balanced mix of performance and user experience, making it a great choice for users seeking an all-around smartphone. With its customizable NothingOS, effective thermal management, and reliable performance, it serves as a dependable daily driver, starting at Rs 29,999.