<p>The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming industries and society, while simultaneously exposing critical security vulnerabilities that are becoming increasingly urgent with the advent of quantum computing. Conventional cryptographic techniques currently used in IoT systems are expected to be inadequate against quantum-enabled adversaries. This study presents a comprehensive review of the emerging Quantum-IoT (Q-IoT) paradigm, focusing on the practical integration of quantum-resilient security mechanisms within resource-constrained IoT environments. Specifically, it analyzes hybrid cryptographic architectures that combine lightweight post-quantum cryptography (PQC) at the IoT device layer with quantum key distribution (QKD) in communication backbones. The paper further examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enabling adaptive security orchestration, including context-aware cryptographic selection, resource optimization, and anomaly detection tailored to hybrid classical–quantum threat models. Through a critical comparison with recent literature, this review identifies key challenges related to computational overhead, protocol interoperability, deployment feasibility, and standardization. Overall, the paper provides structured insights and design guidance for developing scalable and deployable quantum-resilient IoT architectures, supporting the secure evolution of next-generation connected systems.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>