New Delhi: iQOO 15 Ultra is one of those phones that reminds users just how much consumers shape the market in several years. It is the third variant in the iQOO 15 series, launched exclusively in China, and it makes a pretty compelling argument for why gaming-focused smartphones deserve to be taken seriously. This phone was imported directly from China for review, and right from the moment users pick it up, it is clear that this is not a device trying to please everyone. It is built for one thing performance.
Design
The iQOO 15 Ultra is chunky, heavy, and unapologetically so. Weighing in at around 222–230 grams with an 8.5mm profile, it is one of the heavier phones around. The camera module at the rear is covered entirely in glass, which gives it a premium, distinctive look even if it adds to the overall bulk. The phone comes with an opaque protective case in the box.
What stands out is the inclusion of a built-in cooling fan. On the left side, there is a visible inlet and outlet for airflow. The fan kicks in automatically during heavy gaming or benchmarking sessions to keep temperatures in check. It is a practical solution, and interestingly, the fan itself carries an IPX8/X9 rating, meaning it can handle water exposure without any issue. The phone overall holds an IP68/69 certification, which is impressive for a gaming-focused device. On the right side, physical shoulder triggers with a 600Hz polling rate add another layer of gaming utility.
Display
The display is one of the strongest highlights. It features a 6.85-inch 2K AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. This is the same M14 panel expected to appear in upcoming Samsung flagship devices. Peak brightness hits 8,000 nits, with 2,600 nits in HBM mode. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and covers 118% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it both vivid and color-accurate. Bezels are extremely thin, and the overall viewing experience whether gaming or streaming is genuinely top-tier. Even Netflix’s Dolby Vision content plays without any issue.
Performance
This is where the iQOO 15 Ultra truly sets itself apart. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset paired with LPDDR5X Ultra Pro RAM the fastest RAM available on any smartphone currently and UFS 4.1 storage, it achieves AnTuTu scores exceeding 4.2 million. No other phone tested has come close to that number.
The base variant starts at 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, with options going up to 24GB RAM and 1TB storage. A dedicated Q3 gaming chip handles additional processing for gaming-specific tasks, and an enhanced gyroscope rounds out the hardware setup. Popular mobile titles in China can be run at up to 144 FPS, while heavier games are playable at 2K resolution and 144Hz. Even titles like Call of Duty Mobile run smoothly at 144Hz, and BGMI supports 90 FPS. Haptic feedback is another area where this phone sets a new standard, surpassing even the original iQOO 15. Battery capacity is 7,400mAh with 100W wired charging and 40W wireless charging support. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, all 5G bands, NFC, and an IR blaster. There is no eSIM, but two nano SIM card slots are available. A USB 3.2 Gen 1 port makes high-quality live streaming straightforward. The phone runs Android 16, though the Chinese variant comes with a number of third-party applications pre-installed.
Camera
The camera setup consists of three 50-megapixel sensors at the rear and a 32-megapixel front camera the same configuration found on the standard iQOO 15. This is clearly not where the phone invests its energy. For the price range, other options like the Vivo X300 series offer noticeably better camera performance. That said, the intended audience for this device is not particularly focused on photography, and the brand knows it. In China, the iQOO 15 Ultra starts at 5,499 yuan, which converts to roughly Rs 72,000–Rs 73,000. If it were to launch in India, the price would likely cross Rs 1,00,000 a tough sell for a brand like iQOO in the Indian market. More importantly, India simply does not have the same density of hardcore mobile gamers that China does, which is the fundamental reason this phone will remain a China-exclusive.
Final Thoughts
The iQOO 15 Ultra is a remarkable piece of hardware. Its display, performance, battery life, stereo speakers, and haptic feedback are all class-leading. The camera is average for its price point, but that was never the point. For a gamer who wants the absolute best possible mobile gaming experience, this phone is difficult to beat. It is just unlikely that most Indian buyers will ever get the chance to find that out.
