iQOO has always been that kind of brand. It sticks to its principles and never follows trends blindly. They just do what they believe is right for the user, and that is exactly what they have done with the new iQOO 15. They do not call it the 15 Pro. It is not the Pro Max. It has not changed its design drastically over the past years. These are hardly its weaknesses; this is iQOO’s essence.
It does not call it the 15 Pro. It does not name it the Pro Max. It did not change its design drastically just a couple of years ago. And those things are not its weaknesses. Quite the contrary. Many of iQOO’s competitors are now copying the iPhone’s design. That is why the originally unremarkable iQOO 15 has become remarkably unordinary.
This year has produced the strongest line of iQOO phones ever. Solving its own pain point—the camera—has brought iQOO record sales. After trying out the iQOO 15 and testing it for ourselves, it has become clear that this model has the potential to swallow the leader of the segment if iQOO only understood what they had in their hands. It is just that great. It is not that flashy, though. It does not have over-the-top hype. It just quietly, slowly, does everything as intended.
Design and Build
This is where the iQOO 15 feels the most polished. We have used the Legend White. Yes, there is the classic tricolor stripe. But this year, that is not the most stunning option. The main configuration is called Lingyun—”Dawn Breaker” in some languages—and it has a red ink pattern that shows up in the material colors whenever you look at the device in a particular way. There is also a black version offered for those who prefer a lighter decor. This one uses a fiberglass back. This is why this unit is a wee bit thinner and lighter than the glass units.
Regarding the camera module image: well, all the colors have some version of the RGB light strip. It is just that on the iQOO 15, they made it a lot subtler. We barely noticed that it was turned on, as it does so with such ease. Given that this is the only light that your device (or probably Logo) uses, you might want to turn on the LED indicators.
Haptics and Audio
The vibration motor in the iQOO 15 is good. It uses a 0916 motor type. This motor can travel in the X or Y direction. The vibration intensity is clearly richer than in many iQOO phones.
The aural experience is just as lightning-fast. Both top and bottom speakers are loaded with 1115P drivers. This configuration gives a true Stereo Out, which is great for gaming and movie viewing.
Display Technology
The iQOO 15 has a top-shelf display. It is equipped with Samsung’s new M14 panel. It is the same high-quality panel you get in the iPhone 17 series and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
iQOO made a bold choice here. They removed the polarizer layer. This makes the screen much brighter.
Smart Sensor Integration
You may also see a tiny hole at the top of the frame. This is not an IR emitter. The IR emitter is placed beside the flash. The hole is actually an extra ambient light sensor.
In total, the iQOO 15 is equipped with three ambient light sensors. This also means the phone can adjust brightness more quickly. It offers greater precision in various lighting conditions as well.
Handling Reflections
There are some trade-offs. The chin is just a hair thicker, and the polarizer layer is another part of that equation. The blacks are not as deep as your average OLED panel.
However, iQOO solved this cleverly. The screen protector fitted on the screen has an AR coating. This operates much like the coating on modern iPhones. It lowers contrast fade while reflecting those unwanted glares on a dark background. The screen appears bright and easy to read in most situations.
Performance and Gaming
iQOO has never described itself as a “gaming phone” flagship. It lacks physical trigger buttons. But for the most part, it is a gaming beast. This is different from the Vivo X300 series, which excels in raw speed.
The iQOO 15 is boosted by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 SoC. The tuning for performance is really aggressive. It is intended to wring out every last drop of power from the chip.
Thermal Management
The phone does a really good job of keeping cool. We pitted it against the Redmi K90 Pro Max. Thermal throttling begins around the 10-minute point on both phones. But the iQOO 15 is more reserved.
It brings performance down gradually. The framerate settles down to about 45 FPS. That is due to a 1-layer motherboard design. It also includes an oversized vapor chamber. This maintains the temperature and level of power used at manageable levels.
The Q3 Gaming Chip
Does the Q3 display chip really make a difference? Yes, it does. In games like Honkai: Star Rail, it can matter. You cannot turn on frame interpolation at maximum resolution, but you can use super-resolution with high graphics settings.
The Q3 chip is also ray-tracing enabled. It is a benefit that the competing D2 chip does not include. Ray tracing creates realistic reflections on surfaces. Not many games offer active support for this yet, but the hardware feels like a big plus.
Camera Upgrades
The biggest surprise on this new iQOO phone is its camera. The primary weakness of existing models has been corrected.
Telephoto Excellence
The telephoto lens is the biggest upgrade. It uses the IMX882 sensor. This is a great telephoto shooter. It outperforms the telephoto system of many Pro Max models from rival brands.
The clarity is outstanding. In portrait shots, every hair is clearly captured. This is a camera we very much like.
Main and Ultra-Wide Cameras
The primary and ultra-wide cameras are the same as in the iQOO 13. They work fairly well in general. The standard Vivid mode can sometimes be tricky. It has the habit of overexposing photos to give them a bright appearance. This can sometimes lead to blown-out highlights.
There is one small drawback. The minimum focusing distance is a bit long, but not out of range. If your target is within a meter, the lens will simply refuse to lock focus. The phone will snap a crop from the main camera instead.
Battery and Charging
The 7000mAh battery in the iQOO 15 is huge. This is a massive capacity. But the high-definition screen has to be powered. The battery life is good, but not a game-changer. The battery will easily get you through a full day of hard usage.
Wired vs. Wireless Charging
The wired charging offers speeds of up to 100W. It is incredibly fast. It is efficient whether you are charging from 0 percent or topping up the final 20 percent.
Wireless charging is a whole other story. Disappointingly, it is limited to 40W of proprietary wireless charging. Third-party chargers will deliver just 45W of fast charging. This is probably passable, but brands such as Xiaomi will provide a faster wireless option.
Market Position and Availability
iQOO is expanding rapidly. iQOO India is drawing more attention than other markets. The iQOO Z10 Turbo Pro and the iQOO Neo 11 cater to different budgets altogether.
For value seekers, the iQOO 13 cost might have gone down. But the iQOO 15 brings big improvements for both screen and battery technology. If you are looking for quality mobile phones or quality mobile facilities, iQOO is a good choice.
Is the iQOO Brand Good? A Comprehensive FAQ
A lot of people using the iQOO mobile are new to the ecosystem. Below are responses to common questions about the brand.
Is the iQOO brand good?
What are the downsides of iQOO?
Is iQOO better than Samsung?
Is the motherboard of the iQOO having problems?
Final Verdict
The iQOO 15 is an amazing phone. It does not rely on gimmicks. It has a gorgeous screen, blazing performance, and an amazing camera.
Gamers should love the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 and Q3 chip combo. Other than that, the 7000mAh battery should give general users peace of mind. It may not be the most glamorous phone of the year, but it is one of the best-equipped.
It is a great choice if you are in the market for an iQOO phone in India or anywhere outside. It shows that you don’t have to mimic the iPhone to be successful. You just need to be good at all of them.
