iQOO is a brand that has consistently pushed flagship models and redefined what a flagship can be. The iQOO 15, launched in India for ₹64,999 (after discounts) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB variant, directly competes with pricier alternatives like the OnePlus 15. Both have nearly the same specs, but which one should you go for? Is the iQOO brand worth investing in? Let’s explore whether the iQOO 15 is a genuine value champion or simply a mid-tier phone posing as a flagship.
Build & Design
Gone are the days of iQOO’s aggressively curved edges and gamer-centric aesthetics that screamed “esports rig in your pocket.” The iQOO 15 adopts a more mature, flat-edged design that reflects the clean lines of premium slabs like the Pixel 10 Pro, making it feel less like a gaming peripheral and more like a daily driver. Tipping the scales at 215g, it’s heavy, slightly chunkier than the OnePlus 15. The build is a premium glass on both sides. Schott Xensation Alpha glass on the front for scratch resistance, a metallic aluminium alloy frame for rigidity, and a matte glass back, it does attract fingerprints like a magnet.
It has IP68 and IP69 ratings, meaning it’s waterproof up to 1.5m for 30 minutes and can withstand high-pressure water jets. That said, this time the phone looks more flat overall, which enhances one-handed usability and reduces accidental edge swipes. However, the camera module bump is a noticeable downside, it protrudes about 2mm, making the device slightly uneven when placed on a flat surface. The ring LED, iQOO’s signature Monster Halo RGB lighting, has been cleverly relocated under the camera ring for a quieter, softer glow during notifications or gaming cues. It’s visible from the back for quick glances, but at a slight angle, it peeks out just enough to add a futuristic vibe without being flashy.
Performance
If performance is your guiding principle, the iQOO 15 is a standout choice. At its core, it features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, built on a 3nm process, paired with LPDDR5X Ultra 16GB RAM and storage options that go up to 1TB using UFS 4.1 technology. For those interested in benchmark scores, it records an impressive Antutu score of 3.89 million, with single-core Geekbench scores of 3,672 and multi-core scores of 10,548. These numbers rival those of the Realme GT 8 Pro and are quite close to the OnePlus 15. In practical use, multitasking is exceptionally smooth; switching between more than 20 Chrome tabs, editing 4K videos in CapCut, and streaming Netflix all happen without any stutters.
What sets iQOO apart is its gaming heritage. The dedicated Q3 chip, which includes an RT core for ray tracing and a QNSS engine for super-resolution upscaling to 2K, elevates games like Genshin Impact to stunning visual levels. When you enable Lossless Frame Interpolation, you can achieve a stable 120fps in games like BGMI or Call of Duty Mobile. Furthermore, with AI-driven frame generation, it can push that to 144 fps without thermal throttling. The vapour chamber cooling system efficiently maintains temperatures under 42°C even after 90 minutes of intense gameplay, keeping it cooler than the OnePlus 15’s setup during extended sessions.
Camera
Cameras were never the highlight of iQOO, but the 15th iteration shows meaningful progress without stealing the spotlight from shutterbugs. The triple 50MP rear setup includes a 50MP primary camera for flagship-level detail, a 50MP periscope telephoto (3x optical zoom) for crisp portraits, and a 50MP ultrawide for wider landscapes. Up front, a 32MP selfie camera with natural HDR.
In daylight, the primary lens delivers vibrant colours, sharp edges, and accurate exposure, making social media-ready shots easy, with minimal over-sharpening compared to the iQOO 13. The telephoto got 3x (85mm equivalent) for headshots with creamy bokeh, held detail up to 20x digital zoom, and performed better than the OnePlus 15’s telephoto in low-contrast scenes, where it occasionally softens edges. Ultrawide matches tones well, with low distortion for architecture or group pics. Low-light performance is decent, the main and telephoto pull in light adequately, preserving skin tones and reducing noise via Night mode, but the ultrawide introduces graininess after sunset, a step behind the OnePlus 15’s more refined ultrawide processing.
Video is a highlight, with support up to 8K@30fps for cinephiles (though 4K@60fps with gyro-EIS is the sweet spot for stability), but selfies can look slightly washed out in harsh light. Compared to the OPPO Find X9, which boasts a Hasselblad-tuned 200MP telephoto and Sony LYT-828 main for pro-level consistency, natural grading, and tele macro magic, the iQOO 15’s camera is merely decent. It won’t replace your compact camera or win photography awards, but it is reliable for 80% of users, but lacks the X9’s colour science and low-light magic.
Battery
Battery life has never been iQOO’s weak suit, and the 15 doubles down with a mammoth 7,000mAh silicon-carbon cell, slightly lower than the OnePlus 15’s 7,300mAh but optimized for efficiency via the LTPO display’s 1-144Hz adaptive refresh. In our tests, it ran for a full day (7 hours of screen-on time, mixed 4K streaming, gaming, and calls) with 25% of battery left. Heavy users might stretch it to 1.5 days with tweaks like 120Hz mode. Standby drain is negligible at 2-3% overnight, thanks to smart AI scheduling.
Charging is where it can flex. It got 100W charging. It goes from 0-100% in under 50 minutes (with the included 120W brick), outpacing the OnePlus 15’s 120W charging in real-world testing. It also supports 40W wireless charging (no MagSafe, but Qi-compatible), which tops up to 50% in 30 minutes. It can even reverse-charge your earbuds or phone at 10W.
Verdict
The iQOO 15 challenges overpriced flagships at ₹64,999, offering elite performance, a vibrant 6.85-inch 2K 144Hz display, improved cameras for everyday use, and impressive battery life. It competes closely with the OnePlus 15, excelling in gaming thermals and value, but falling short in software fluidity and charging speed. The ergonomic flat design is a plus, although the camera bump and average low-light ultrawide could be better.
Who should buy it? well, it is ideal for gamers and budget-conscious enthusiasts seeking a flagship experience without the ₹70k+ price tag. If you prioritize camera quality or ecosystem integration, consider alternatives like the OPPO Find X9. With 5 years of OS updates, it’s a solid long-term choice.