iQOO Z7 5G Review: A Feature-Packed Midrange Contender for 2025
iQOO Z7 5G comes at a time when the midrange smartphone market demands innovation at a competitive price. For students, mobile gamers, and content creators wanting a balance of performance and value, iQOO’s latest Z-series entrant promises strong hardware, a vivid display, fast charging, and a camera with optical image stabilization—all for under ₹20,000. Is this device truly the best budget phone of 2025?
Design & Build Quality
The iQOO Z7 5G feels like a premium device despite its budget roots. It features a sleek 7.8mm slim profile and weighs only 173g, which allows for easy one-handed usage—even during gaming or long scrolling sessions. The plastic back offers a matte finish, minimizing fingerprints and providing a sturdy, comfortable grip.
With an IP54 rating, the phone is protected from dust and minor splashes, setting it apart from most rivals at this price. Available in standout colorways like Pacific Night and Norway Blue, the Z7 5G is both practical and stylish.
Display: Vivid AMOLED Meets 120Hz Smoothness
A true highlight on the Z7 5G is the 6.38-inch AMOLED display boasting 1080 x 2408 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ certification. Visuals are sharp and vivid, and peak brightness (up to 1300 nits) ensures comfortable outdoor viewing, even under sunlight.
Rich color reproduction enhances video streaming, gaming, and social feeds. While the waterdrop notch looks a bit dated next to punch-hole screens, minimal bezels maximize screen real estate and immersion.
Performance & Software: Gaming Muscle Under ₹20,000
The Z7 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset, paired with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. Day-to-day performance is snappy—apps launch quickly, multitasking is fluid, and the phone remains responsive throughout heavy gaming sessions.
Casual and pro gamers will appreciate the Mali-G68 MC4 GPU and Ultra Game Mode enhancements, which ensure smooth framerates in demanding titles like CODM and BGMI. Extended RAM 3.0 lets users boost virtual memory, keeping performance consistent during longer gaming or video editing sessions.
Thermal control is excellent, with a robust cooling system minimizing heat buildup—even after extensive benchmark tests. The Z7 5G runs Funtouch OS 13 based on Android 13, providing a clutter-free UI, frequent security updates, and customizable features like dynamic animations.
Camera: Class-Leading 64MP OIS Performance
Image Credit: https://www.gadgets360.com/
The iQOO Z7 5G packs a dual rear camera setup with a 64MP main sensor (OIS) and 2MP depth lens. On the front, a 16MP selfie camera offers solid clarity.
Daylight & Portraits
Daytime images are crisp, colorful, and balanced, displaying impressive dynamic range and natural skin tones. Portrait mode delivers smooth background blur and accurate edge detection—great for social media content and creative photography.
Night & Low Light
Optical image stabilization and night mode combine to produce good results after sunset. Low-light images retain sharpness and detail with minimal noise, a rare achievement in this price segment.
Video
The rear camera records up to 4K at 30fps. Footage is stable and clear, suited for vlogging and short-form content creation. The front camera reliably captures detailed 1080p videos for reels, video calls, and stories.
Battery & Charging: Reliable Endurance
Despite its competitive specs, the Z7 5G’s 4,500mAh battery consistently delivers a full day’s usage—averaging around 6-7 hours screen-on time in mixed conditions (gaming, streaming, browsing). The real star is 44W FlashCharge, which tops up 50% battery in just under 30 minutes and fills up in a little over an hour. It’s ideal for students and creators who can’t afford downtime.
Connectivity & Extras
The Z7 5G offers dual nano-SIM slots (with full 5G band support), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, microSD card slot (expandable up to 1TB), USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Widevine L1 is supported for HD streaming on Netflix and Prime Video.
The bottom-firing speaker is loud but lacks stereo output. Security is handled by an in-display fingerprint sensor and fast face unlock.
Verdict: Should You Buy the iQOO Z7 5G?
The iQOO Z7 5G stands out as one of India’s smartest budget buys for 2025. It offers a superior AMOLED display, robust processor, excellent camera with OIS, and fast charging wrapped in a premium package—all at a price students and gamers can afford. While a secondary ultrawide camera and stereo speakers would make it even stronger, these omissions aren’t deal breakers at its price point.
If smooth gaming, sharp photography, and reliable battery life top your checklist, the Z7 5G is easy to recommend. It’s the ideal device for content creators, students, and anyone seeking modern features without stretching their budget.
Pros
- 120Hz AMOLED display
- OIS-equipped 64MP camera
- Dimensity 920 for reliable performance
- 44W fast charging
- IP54-rated build and minimalist design
Cons
In conclusion, the iQOO Z7 5G is a superb choice for the budget segment in 2025, balancing features and affordability better than most rivals.
Also read
Best Gaming Phones Under ₹15,000
iQOO Z7 5G Worth buying?
Thank you for guiding me buying best mobile phone under my budget and you reply very fast on email. thank you for your support