iPhone 17 Pro vs iQOO Z10 Gaming Test: A19 Pro vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 3.

It sounds like a joke, right? Comparing a ₹1,34,900 ultra-premium flagship with a ₹21,999 budget mid-ranger. But here we are in 2026, where the gap between “expensive” and “affordable” is getting weirdly narrow in some places and massively wide in others.

The iPhone 17 Pro is the status symbol—the phone with the new A19 Pro chip, 48MP triple cameras, and finally, a Vapor Chamber cooling system.

The iQOO Z10 is the practical rebel—it doesn’t care about titanium or telephoto lenses. Instead, it packs a record-breaking 7300mAh battery that literally laughs at the iPhone’s battery life.

The real truth is, if you have unlimited money, buy the iPhone. But if you hate charging your phone and want to save ₹1 Lakh for a trip to Bali, the iQOO Z10 might actually be the “better” phone for you. Let’s break down this David vs. Goliath battle.

1. QUICK SPECS TABLE

2. DESIGN & BUILD: LUXURY VS. PRACTICALITY

• iPhone 17 Pro: It feels like jewelry. The new Aluminum-Titanium hybrid unibody is smooth, cold to the touch, and feels incredibly dense. It has IP68 water resistance (can survive a swim). It screams “I am rich.”
• iQOO Z10: It feels… surprisingly good. Despite being plastic, it’s only 7.9mm thick, which is shocking considering the massive battery inside. However, it only has IP65 rating (rain is fine, swimming is not).
• The Difference: If you drop the iPhone 17 Pro, your heart stops because repairs cost ₹40,000. If you drop the iQOO Z10, you pick it up, wipe it off, and move on.

3. DISPLAY: IS THE IPHONE SCREEN REALLY 6X BETTER?

Short answer: No.

• iPhone 17 Pro: The Super Retina XDR display is perfection. The colors are calibrated for cinema-grade accuracy. The ProMotion (1-120Hz) is smarter; it drops to 1Hz when reading to save battery. The bezels are razor-thin.
• iQOO Z10: The 6.77-inch AMOLED is actually brighter on paper (5000 nits peak vs iPhone’s 3000 nits). Watching YouTube or Netflix feels 95% as good as the iPhone.
• The Catch: The iQOO Z10 has a slightly thicker “chin” (bottom bezel) and doesn’t support the fancy Dolby Vision formats that Apple shoots in. But for regular users? You won’t notice the difference.

4. PERFORMANCE & GAMING: SPEED VS. ENDURANCE

Here is where the ₹1 Lakh price difference shows up.

• iPhone 17 Pro (Gaming Beast): The A19 Pro chip can run Resident Evil and Assassin’s Creed at console quality. It’s a monster. With the new Vapor Chamber, it doesn’t overheat like the iPhone 15 did. Video editing is instant.
• iQOO Z10 (Casual King): The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is decent. It runs BGMI at 60 FPS (Smooth + Extreme). It cannot do 90 FPS or 120 FPS gaming like the iPhone. However, because the chip is less powerful, it sips battery slowly.
• The Usage Test:
  • iPhone: fast, snappy, handles 4K rendering in seconds.
  • iQOO: slightly slower app opening times (milliseconds difference), but perfectly fine for Instagram, WhatsApp, and normal use.

5. CAMERA: THE DEAL BREAKER

Don’t waste your money if you want professional photos from the iQOO. This is where Apple destroys the competition.

• iPhone 17 Pro:
  • Main: 48MP perfection. Incredible dynamic range.
  • Zoom: Dedicated 5x Telephoto lens. You can zoom in on a bird 100 meters away and see its feathers.
  • Video: It shoots Hollywood-quality ProRes Log video. It is the best video camera on any phone, period.
• iQOO Z10:
  • Main: The 50MP Sony sensor takes great daylight photos. They are sharp and colorful (social media ready).
  • The Problem: It has NO Ultra-wide camera (or a very basic one) and NO Telephoto lens. If you zoom, it’s digital crop (blurry). Night mode is average.
  • Video: Good for Instagram Reels, bad for professional work. Shaky at 4K.

6. BATTERY LIFE: THE iQOO HUMILIATION

This is the only category where the ₹20,000 phone destroys the ₹1,34,900 phone.

• iQOO Z10 (The Winner): The 7300mAh battery is insane.
  • Result: You can use it heavily for 2 full days.
  • Charging: 0-100% in roughly 60 minutes (90W charger included).
• iPhone 17 Pro:
  • Result: It will last 1 day. You will need to charge it every night.
  • Charging: 0-50% in 20 mins, but full charge takes longer. Plus, you have to buy the charger separately (₹4,500 extra!).

7. THE COMPETITION (Auto-Selected Rivals)

iPhone 17 Pro vs iQOO Z10 vs Samsung Galaxy S25 (The Middle Ground)

Analysis:

• iPhone 17 Pro is for creators, professionals, and people who want the absolute best tech regardless of price.
• iQOO Z10 is for students, delivery partners, travelers, or anyone who values Battery Life > Camera Zoom.
• Samsung S25 is the middle ground if you want a good camera but can’t afford the iPhone.

8. FINAL VERDICT: KAUNSA JYADA BEST HAI?

You asked which is “more best”. Here is the brutally honest answer:

The iPhone 17 Pro is the “Better Phone” (Technically).

It has a better screen, faster processor, and a camera system that is 5 years ahead of the iQOO. If you care about video quality, status, and longevity (5-6 years updates), buy the iPhone.

The iQOO Z10 is the “Better Value” (Financially).

Read More : Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

It does 80% of what the iPhone does for 15% of the price. Plus, it has a battery that the iPhone can only dream of.

• Buy the iPhone 17 Pro if:
  • You are a Content Creator / Influencer (Video quality is unmatched).
  • You want a phone that lasts 5+ years without lagging.
  • Budget is not an issue for you.
• Buy the iQOO Z10 if:
  • Your budget is under ₹25k.
  • Battery life is your #1 priority. (e.g., you work long hours outdoors).
  • You mainly use your phone for WhatsApp, YouTube, and light gaming.

Rating:

• iPhone 17 Pro: 4.8/5 Stars (Masterpiece, but expensive).
• iQOO Z10: 4.5/5 Stars (The Budget Battery King).

9. FAQs (People Also Ask)