The iQOO 15 Ultra is here, and it doesn’t just join the gaming smartphone race—it aims to dominate it. As the third model in the iQOO 15 series, this device combines sheer performance power with design innovation, making it a strong contender for the title of top gaming phone. Unfortunately, gamers outside of China—especially in India—might need to temper their excitement because this powerhouse is exclusive to the Chinese market. Here’s everything you need to know.

What’s in the box?

The unboxing experience highlights the device’s gamer-oriented identity. Inside the black box labeled with "iQOO," you'll find the phone itself, documentation, a SIM ejector tool, a protective case, and high-end accessories like a USB Type-C to Type-C cable with an L-shaped connector for easier gaming. You also get a 100W charging brick, and interestingly, the package includes a tool to maintain the phone’s unique cooling fan—a hint at the device's unusual hardware features.

A Sturdy Yet Heavy Build

The iQOO 15 Ultra is not a slim device designed to slip discreetly into your pocket. At about 8.5mm thick and weighing 220-230 grams, its build is unapologetically chunky and unapologetically gaming-centric. This heft is partly due to its massive 7400mAh battery and additional cooling hardware. The design, including a large glass-covered camera module and honeycomb accents on the rear, gives the phone a premium yet robust aesthetic. Despite its water-cooling fan, the phone even supports IP68/69 certification for water and dust resistance.

Display: Possibly the Best Panel on Any Smartphone

At the heart of the iQOO 15 Ultra's appeal is its sensational display. It features a 6.85-inch 2K AMOLED screen running at a fluid 144Hz refresh rate. The panel, identified as an M14 AMOLED, delivers 2600 nits of brightness in HBM mode and peaks at an industry-leading 8000 nits. This makes it one of the brightest and most vibrant displays available, with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support ensuring color accuracy and cinematic visual quality. The 118% DCI-P3 color gamut further enhances on-screen details, making this a display ideal for both gaming and multimedia consumption.

Gaming Performance: Sets New Standards

Under the hood, the iQOO 15 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite chipset, paired with the fastest RAM available—LPDDR5X Ultra Pro—and advanced NUFS 4.1 storage. Benchmark enthusiasts will be thrilled to know the device scored a jaw-dropping 4.2 million on Antutu, marking it as the most powerful smartphone tested so far. High-intensity games, including China-specific titles and global hits like COD Mobile, run at 144FPS without a hitch.

Enhancements for gaming are plenty. It includes improved gyroscope functionality, shoulder triggers with a 600Hz polling rate, and a custom Q3 chip to optimize frame rates up to 144FPS—a feature vital for competitive players. Additionally, the phone’s tactile feedback system offers precise and satisfying haptic support, setting a new benchmark for gaming immersion.

Thermal Management: Innovation at Play

A standout hardware feature is the built-in cooling fan, designed to handle the phone’s inevitable heat buildup during intense gaming or benchmarking. The fan operates automatically, drawing air in through its inlet and expelling it through an outlet, ensuring consistent thermal stability under heavy loads. This does not compromise the phone’s water resistance or durability, making it a rare combination of cooling efficiency and ruggedness.

Battery Powerhouse

With a 7400mAh battery, the iQOO 15 Ultra ensures long hours of uninterrupted gaming. But this isn’t at the expense of slow charging. The phone supports 100W wired charging and 40W wireless charging. Despite its hefty battery, quick top-ups mean you’re always ready to dive back into your game sessions.

Camera: Not Its Strong Suit

While the phone excels in many areas, its camera setup is relatively unremarkable. The rear features a 50MP main sensor, while the front houses a 32MP selfie shooter. The hardware remains unchanged from the iQOO 15, and while images are decent, they don’t outshine those captured by similarly priced models. Flagship competitors like the Vivo X300 series offer much better camera systems, but camera prowess isn’t the priority for the iQOO 15 Ultra’s target audience.

Android 16 and Connectivity Features

Out of the box, the phone ships with Android 16, though it’s a China-specific variant with many third-party apps that may not resonate with an international audience. On the connectivity front, it comes equipped with WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6, NFC, an IR blaster, and support for multiple 5G bands. However, it lacks eSIM functionality, offering two physical Nano-SIM slots instead.

Pricing and Availability

Priced at 5499 Yuan in China (approximately $750 or ₹70,000-73,000), the iQOO 15 Ultra doesn’t come cheap. If it were to launch in India, it would likely touch or exceed the ₹1 lakh mark, making it a hard sell in the Indian market. This high price, combined with its niche focus on gaming, is likely the main reason why an Indian launch isn’t on the cards.

A Gaming Enthusiast’s Dream

The iQOO 15 Ultra excels in performance, display quality, and gaming-specific hardware like its shoulder triggers and built-in cooling fan. While it stumbles in camera performance and software appeal outside China, these are minor trade-offs for its target audience. Chinese gamers are likely to embrace this device wholeheartedly, but for global fans, the dream of owning one may require securing an import.

For those prioritizing raw performance, stunning visuals, and cutting-edge gaming features, the iQOO 15 Ultra makes a compelling case—even if it’s just out of reach for most of the world.