iQOO 15 Debuts in China With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Triple 50MP Cameras

As the year 2025 draws to a close, flagship smartphone releases are picking up momentum. Following the launches of the Xiaomi 17 series and the impending arrival of the OnePlus 15, iQOO has unveiled its flagship model for the year, the iQOO 15. Notably, iQOO has skipped the iQOO 14 model, moving straight to the iQOO 15, which has seen remarkable initial sales, matching its first-day sales from last year within just 30 minutes of launch.

The iQOO 15 boasts a 6.85-inch QHD Samsung AMOLED display known as the “Triple Peak Screen,” featuring M14 luminescent material and achieving a 98.1% screen-to-body ratio. The display offers an impressive 2600 nits peak brightness, a 100% increase over previous models, includes anti-glare layers, and supports eye protection 2.0 hardware. It claims to reduce glare by 40% compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and maintains readability even in very low light conditions at 4.4 lux. The phone is available in four color options: Lingyun, Track Edition, Wilderness, and Legendary Edition.

Under the hood, the iQOO 15 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm’s newest flagship chipset for the year. It is paired with iQOO’s Q3 gaming chip, marketed as their version of a mobile “graphics card.” The manufacturer reports significant performance boosts, claiming +60% overall performance, +400% AI capability, and improved efficiency, though real-world testing will be needed to verify these figures. The device supports 2K native gaming in select titles with low frame variance and an average of around 144FPS. It also offers multi-game support and includes deep game recognition and frame insertion technology for over 180 games.

In terms of photography, the iQOO 15 presents a triple rear camera setup. The main camera features a 1/1.56-inch 50MP IMX921 sensor with optical image stabilization. This is accompanied by a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 50MP Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto camera that provides 3x optical zoom, an improvement over the 2x zoom found in the iQOO 13. On the front, the device sports a 32MP selfie camera.

The audio and haptics have been upgraded with dual X-axis vibration motors and wide dual speakers. The iQOO 15 also carries IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance ratings. The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is reported to be faster than that of the iQOO 13, and the USB-C port supports USB 3.2 standards.

Battery life is handled by a large 7000mAh Si-Ca battery, which iQOO states improves lifespan by 50%. The phone includes a 100W charger for wired charging and, for the first time in the series, supports 40W wireless charging. Additionally, the iQOO 15 features smart bypass and reverse charging capabilities.

Key specifications include a 163.7 x 76.8 x 8.1 mm body weighing between 215–220 grams, running on Android 16 with OriginOS 6 (China). Connectivity options encompass 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and USB-C 3.2. The device also supports an infrared sensor and includes standard sensors such as accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.

Currently, Vivo, the parent company of iQOO, does not sell iQOO phones in Nepal, and there are no official discussions about future availability. Should the iQOO 15 eventually reach Nepal, its expected starting price would be around NPR 114,900 for the base model.