PHONE
iQOO 15 Ultra Review: The King of Gaming Phones 2026
iQOO 15 Ultra Review:
The King of Gaming Phones?
Built-in cooling fan • 8000-nit display • 4.5M+ AnTuTu score
Expected ₹1,00,000+ if launched in India
🎮 What Makes It "Ultra"?
The smartphone industry has always been a battleground of specs, but every once in a while, a device comes along that completely shifts the focus to a specific niche. Enter the iQOO 15 Ultra.
While it's the third variant in the iQOO 15 series, it is strictly a gaming powerhouse—so extreme that it may not even launch outside China due to its hyper-specific target audience.
📱 Design: Built for Gaming
Unlike modern trends that favor "slim and light," the iQOO 15 Ultra is unapologetically heavy (around 220-230g) and thick (8.5mm). But there's a good reason for this bulk.
❄️ Active Cooling Fan
The standout feature is a built-in physical fan that activates automatically during heavy gaming. It draws air in from one side and pushes it out the other, keeping thermals in check during intense sessions.
🎮 Shoulder Triggers
Capacitive touch-based shoulder buttons with 600Hz sampling rate and dual independent control chips for minimal latency. Features haptic feedback via linear motor.
💪 Durability
Despite the fan vents, it maintains an IP68/69 rating—meaning it's resistant to water and dust. Even the fan itself is rated for underwater operation.
👁️ Display: Brightest in 2026?
The phone features an M14 6.85-inch 2K panel, which is expected to be the same quality used in upcoming Samsung S-series flagships.
Supported by Dolby Vision and HDR10+, this display is designed for competitive gaming with ultra-smooth visuals.
⚡ Performance: Breaking Records
The iQOO 15 Ultra crosses the 4.2 million mark on AnTuTu—the highest tested by the Trakin Tech team to date.
🧠 Processor
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) with Adreno 840 GPU. Features 2x Oryon v3 prime cores at 4.60GHz and 6x performance cores at 3.62GHz.
💾 Memory
World's fastest LPDDR5X Ultra Pro RAM (up to 24GB) and UFS 4.1 storage. Options: 16GB/256GB, 16GB/512GB, 16GB/1TB, 24GB/1TB.
🎯 Q3 Gaming Chip
Dedicated gaming chip enables popular titles to run at 2K resolution at 144 FPS with frame interpolation.
🔋 Battery & Charging
To sustain high-end gaming, iQOO has packed a massive 7400mAh battery (Si/C technology) with:
The multimedia experience is equally "Ultra," with incredibly loud, high-quality stereo speakers and top-tier haptic feedback that sets a new industry benchmark.
📸 The Compromise: Camera
If you are looking for a photography flagship, this isn't it. While it has a triple 50MP + 50MP + 50MP setup with Sony IMX921 main sensor and 3x periscope telephoto, the focus remains on performance.
"The camera is described as 'average' for its high price point ($1,200+ USD), lagging behind Vivo's X-series in terms of processing and detail."
However, for a gaming phone, these cameras are way better than they have any right to be, featuring NICE 3.0 AI engine for improved processing.
⚔️ iQOO 15 Ultra vs ROG Phone 9 Pro
| Specification | iQOO 15 Ultra | ROG Phone 9 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.88" 2K 144Hz 8000 nits | 6.78" FHD+ 185Hz 2500 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 4.6 GHz | Snapdragon 8 Elite 4.32 GHz |
| Battery | 7400 mAh 100W + 40W | 5800 mAh 65W + 15W |
| Cooling | Built-in Active Fan | External AeroActive |
| Price (India) | ₹1,04,990 (Expected) | ₹1,26,990 |
Winner highlighted in green
✅ Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- ✓ Unrivaled gaming performance & thermals
- ✓ Built-in physical cooling fan
- ✓ Industry-leading 8000-nit display
- ✓ Massive 7400mAh battery
- ✓ 4.5M+ AnTuTu score
✗ Cons
- ✗ Average camera for the price
- ✗ Heavy and bulky (220-230g)
- ✗ Limited availability outside China
- ✗ No 3.5mm headphone jack
Final Verdict
For the hardcore mobile gamer who wants the absolute best frame rates and cooling, the iQOO 15 Ultra is currently in a league of its own. No other phone offers a built-in active cooling fan combined with this level of display brightness and raw performance.
However, if camera quality is priority, look elsewhere. This is a gaming weapon, not a camera flagship.
Currently available in China • Global launch TBA