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It is good to see iQOO persevering with the momentum it is constructed up over the past 4 years with its numbered flagship fashions. I loved utilizing the iQOO 11, iQOO 12, and iQOO 13, and it was with the iQOO 12 that the Vivo sub-brand actually obtained its act collectively when it comes to the cameras. With the iQOO 15, it is not altering a lot — the telephone has a good greater AMOLED panel, an enormous 7,000mAh battery, a trio of 50MP rear cameras, and it comes with the newest Qualcomm silicon.
With POCO fumbling its technique by not introducing the F8 Extremely in India, iQOO has one much less contender to cope with. Nonetheless, iQOO’s positioning this yr means the iQOO 15 has elevated rivalry from the likes of the Realme GT 8 Professional. Whereas iQOO did a great job sustaining roughly the identical value over the past three generations, the iQOO 15 will get a major value hike this time round.
iQOO 15 pricing and availability: Get able to pay lots
The iQOO 15 made its debut in India on November 26 — the identical day as the worldwide launch of the POCO F8 Extremely — and the telephone is out there within the nation for ₹72,999 ($810). That is for the 12GB/256GB variant, and the 16GB/512GB mannequin prices ₹79,999 ($888) within the nation. To place that into context, the iQOO 13 debuted at ₹54,999 ($610) for the 12GB/256GB configuration, and ₹59,999 ($665) for the 16GB/512GB mannequin.
I do not actually perceive what iQOO is considering this yr; we simply do not see such a drastic value hike, and in doing so, it successfully killed any early curiosity within the system — notably with the iQOO 13 nonetheless out there within the nation.
iQOO 15 does not stand out as a lot
I’ve at all times loved utilizing iQOO telephones due to the model’s ostentatious designs, however I simply do not see that from the iQOO 15. The model does not have a mannequin that stands out this yr, and the black colour variant I am utilizing is so it boring it could have been a OnePlus telephone.
There is not something to point that you simply’re utilizing a high-end telephone, and the iQOO 15 simply does not convey a way of pleasure. That is what I search for in a brand new telephone, and the POCO F8 Extremely does this rather well due to the brand new denim texture. The iQOO 15, alternatively, simply looks like a large slab of a telephone with about as a lot character as boiled lettuce.
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The telephone has a fiberglass rear and aluminum mid-frame, and it’s on the larger facet due to the 6.85-inch panel. Additionally it is heavier at 216g, and that is right down to the 7,000mAh battery. Weight distribution is respectable sufficient, but it surely is not probably the most snug to carry or use. Fortunately, iQOO retained IP68 and IP69 mud and water resistance, and the ultrasonic sensor does a great job with authentication.
This can be a true powerhouse
In contrast to different manufacturers, iQOO remains to be utilizing a 2K (3168 x 1440) panel, and the 6.85-inch AMOLED is among the largest on this class. It has vibrant colours, wonderful brightness ranges, and does an ideal job with Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR content material basically. Whereas iQOO advertises this as a 144Hz panel, it solely switches to the upper decision in choose conditions, and in most every day utilization duties, you will get the identical 120Hz as most different telephones right now.
The telephone does a great job whereas gaming as effectively, and though the stereo sound is not that loud or detailed — the F8 Extremely blows it out of the water — it’s serviceable. Annoyingly, iQOO limits widespread titles like Name of Obligation and PUBG to 60fps, so though these video games can hit 120fps on different telephones, you do not get that on the system.
In an analogous vein, the iQOO 15 is not fairly nearly as good with sustained efficiency. It handles demanding video games with none trouble, however there’s noticeable throttling with prolonged use, and it overheats — just like all different Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 units I examined. That is extra to do with Qualcomm than iQOO, and though the telephone has a much bigger vapor cooling system this yr, it nonetheless crossed 52 levels in artificial exams, and obtained uncomfortably sizzling in prolonged gaming situations.
The remainder of the {hardware} is kind of respectable; the telephone will get LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage modules, and the 16GB/512GB mannequin I have been utilizing did not have any slowdowns or lag. The vibration motor is significantly better this technology, and I did not run into any points with connectivity.
Due to the 7,000mAh silicon battery, the iQOO 15 simply lasts a day and a half, and you will get it to final two days with common use. The telephone will get 100W charging tech, and it takes just below an hour to cost.
You get nice cameras with the iQOO 15
Coming to the cameras, the iQOO 15 will get a 50MP Sony IMX921 principal digital camera, alongside a 50MP Sony IMX881 tele lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS, and a 50MP Samsung JN1 wide-angle lens. There is a 32MP GalaxyCore GC32 selfie digital camera, and it will get 4K60 video.
The primary digital camera and tele lenses do an ideal job (as you’d think about), and the telephone advantages from Vivo’s tuning. I’ve no points with the standard of the images; the telephone constantly delivered nice pictures in difficult capturing situations, and the tele lens doubles as a portrait shooter.
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The one level of competition is that the wide-angle lens is not nearly as good. It nonetheless produces respectable images, however you do not fairly get the identical high quality, and that is right down to the sensor of selection. Samsung’s JN1 is beginning to present its age, and different manufacturers have switched to newer modules which are significantly better. Clearly, Vivo both had sensors left over and pulled a Samsung, or it determined to avoid wasting prices by utilizing the older module.
Regardless, the opposite two cameras on the iQOO 15 are nice, and it does a great job towards the POCO F8 Extremely and Galaxy S25.
iQOO 15 has higher software program this yr
The iQOO 15 comes with OriginOS 6 primarily based on Android 16, and it’s equivalent to what you get on the Vivo X300 Professional and X300. The brand new interface feels recent, it has wonderful fluidity, and I haven’t got a lot in the best way of negatives. It’s significantly better than earlier iQOO units, and there’s loads of customizability.
One other constructive is that the system will get 5 years of OS updates alongside seven years of safety updates.
iQOO 15: Must you purchase it?
Shopping for the iQOO 15 finally comes right down to your preferences. It is not as clear-cut a selection as earlier years due to the worth hike, however I nonetheless consider the iQOO 15 is positioned effectively within the Indian market. Its cameras might not beat the Realme GT 8 Professional or the common Vivo X300 and Discover X9, however it’s a legit rival, and the truth that POCO did not launch the F8 Extremely within the nation makes issues simpler for the Vivo sub-brand.
I would nonetheless suggest getting the iQOO 13; its cameras are good, and the {hardware} is not gradual by any measure. The iQOO 15 is a particular improve, but it surely misses out on being wherever nearly as good a price as its predecessor.
