Vivo's sub-brand iQOO has unveiled its latest sub-flagship smartphone, the iQOO 15R, in India. Designed for power users and mobile gamers, the new device combines top-tier performance hardware with long-term software support and a massive battery, positioning it as a strong contender in the premium mid-range segment.
Software and Long-Term Support
The dual-SIM iQOO 15R runs on OriginOS 6 based on Android 16. The company has promised four major Android updates along with six years of security patches, ensuring extended software reliability and future readiness.
The smartphone also integrates several AI-driven features, including real-time transcription and translation, Google Gemini support, Circle to Search, AI object and reflection removal, and AI image generation tools.
Display and Design
The device sports a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with a centred punch-hole design. It offers a 1.5K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits. Despite housing a large battery, the iQOO 15R measures just 7.9mm in thickness and weighs 202 grams, making it India's slimmest smartphone in the 7,600mAh battery category.
It is available in two colour options, Triumph Silver and Dark Knight.
Performance and Gaming Focus
Powering the iQOO 15R is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB UFS 4.1 storage. The device also features the Adreno 826 GPU to enhance graphics performance.
For sustained performance, iQOO has included a dedicated Q2 supercomputing chip, a network enhancement chip, and a super touch control chip with a 3,200Hz touch sampling rate.
The smartphone supports up to 144fps gameplay and includes a 6.5K vapour chamber cooling system, which the company claims can lower temperatures by up to 15°C during intense usage.
Gaming-centric features include a live-streaming assistant designed to enhance the overall experience for content creators and competitive gamers.
Massive Battery with Fast Charging
One of the standout features is the 7,600mAh silicon-anode battery, supported by 100W FlashCharge technology. According to the company, the device can charge from 1% to 50% in 33 minutes and reach a full charge in about 63 minutes.
Cameras and Durability
On the photography front, the iQOO 15R is equipped with a 50MP Sony LYT-700V primary sensor with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), along with an 8MP ultra-wide camera. For selfies and video calls, it features a 32MP front-facing camera.
The handset carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. Additional features include One-Tap Transfer, Remote PC access, and a Private Space option for enhanced data security.
Price and Availability
The iQOO 15R comes in three configurations:
- 8GB RAM + 256GB storage - ₹44,999
- 12GB RAM + 256GB storage - ₹47,999
- 12GB RAM + 512GB storage - ₹52,999
Pre-orders begin at 1:00 PM IST via Amazon, iQOO.com, and Vivo retail outlets across India. Early sale starts on March 2 at 10:00 AM IST, while the general sale goes live on March 3 at 12:00 PM.
As part of launch offers, buyers can avail an instant discount of ₹4,000 on HDFC and Axis Bank credit cards, debit cards, and EMI transactions. Additionally, customers can purchase iQOO or Vivo TWS earbuds for ₹1,899 as part of a bundled offer.
With its powerful internals, long software support, and gamer-focused enhancements, the iQOO 15R aims to deliver flagship-grade performance at a competitive price.
