The iQOO 15R is a performance-focused phone from iQOO, the gaming sub-brand of vivo. It was announced in India on February 24, 2026, and open sales started on March 3, 2026. It is the first R model in the iQOO number series and sits below the iQOO 15. Prices in India start at INR 44,999 for the 8GB + 256GB version. iQOO also lists the phone on its Malaysian website. There is no official US price.
Design and display
The phone measures 157.61 x 74.42 mm and has a metal frame. The two colors use different backs. Dark Knight has a matte fiberglass back, is 7.9 mm thick and weighs 202 g. Triumph Silver has a glass back with a checkered pattern, is 8.1 mm thick and weighs 206 g. The phone is rated IP68 and IP69 for dust and water resistance.
The front has a 6.59-inch AMOLED panel. It runs at 2750 x 1260 pixels and up to 144Hz. iQOO quotes 5,000 nits of local peak brightness, a 1-nit minimum and 4320Hz PWM dimming. An ultrasonic fingerprint reader sits under the screen.
Performance
The iQOO 15R runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, a 3 nm chip. It comes with 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage. There is no microSD slot. In addition, iQOO adds its Q2 chip for game frame interpolation up to 144 fps and 1.5K super resolution. A 6,500 mm² vapor chamber handles cooling.
Cameras
The rear setup has two cameras. The main one uses a 50MP Sony LYT-700V sensor (1/1.56 inch) with an f/1.88 lens and optical stabilization. It is joined by an 8MP ultrawide camera. The rear camera can record 4K video at 60 fps. For selfies, there is a 32MP front camera. The phone has no telephoto lens; iQOO quotes 2x lossless zoom from the main camera instead.
Battery and charging
The phone packs a 7,600mAh silicon-anode battery in a single cell. It supports 100W wired charging, and a 100W charger comes in the box in India. The phone also offers bypass charging for gaming and 7.5W reverse wired charging. However, it has no wireless charging.
Software and updates
The iQOO 15R ships with OriginOS 6 based on Android 16. iQOO promises four Android version upgrades and six years of security updates. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, an IR blaster, dual Nano-SIM and USB-C 2.0.
Should you buy the iQOO 15R?
The iQOO 15R suits buyers who want flagship-class speed and a very large battery in a compact body. It is a good fit for mobile gamers, thanks to the Q2 chip and the 144Hz screen. On the other hand, it skips wireless charging and a telephoto camera. It is also sold mainly in India, so buyers elsewhere will find it hard to get with local support.
