For the past three years, iQOO has managed to redefine the value-for-money performance phones segment with its "Neo" series smartphones. Last year's iQOO Neo 10 and iQOO Neo 10R are a perfect example of that. I even chose the Neo 10R as my pick for the Beebom Gadgets team's smartphone pick of 2025. Now, in 2026, the brand is apparently pulling the plug on future Neo-branded phones, at least in India.
No New iQOO Neo Series Phone for 2026 in India?
Based on an exclusive report shared by Gadgets360, we have come to know that iQOO is pausing its Neo series in India. This decision is seemingly taken thanks to the rising component costs, which have affected every major smartphone brand in the past few months.
With smartphones getting more expensive due to the ongoing RAM crisis, it makes sense for iQOO to adjust its market strategy to better meet the brand's vision and consumer preferences. The report states that iQOO will focus on the premiumisation of its 2026 launches to adjust its offering based on the hiked MSPs.
We saw this recently with the iQOO 15R, which launched in India for Rs 44,999. This launch window was taken up by the iQOO Neo 10R last year with its Rs 26,999 price tag. Also, the iQOO Z11x 5G is coming soon to India and is expected to start from Rs 23,000.
Hence, clearly, with the Z series phones creeping inside the Rs 20,000 territory and the iQOO 15R covering the upper mid-range segment, it will be hard for iQOO to launch a new Neo-branded smartphone which doesn't collide with the other two phones in its pricing.
That said, while we await an official brand confirmation, it seems like this decision has been taken for India only. The iQOO Neo 11 launched way back in China in October 2025. Now, while fans have been waiting for the phone's arrival to India, it looks like that will not happen anymore.
