Earlier this year, iQOO introduced the iQOO 15 as its 2026 flagship, a phone that went all in on performance and headline specs. The iQOO 15R now steps in as the more accessible alternative, carrying over much of that same DNA but at a starting price of ₹44,999, without any bank offers or launch discounts.
The idea here seems simple: keep the core experience intact, trim where necessary, and deliver something that still feels serious. On paper, it looks anything but watered down. You still get a flagship-level SoC in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, a 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display, a massive 7600mAh battery with 100W charging, and OriginOS 6 based on Android 16, along with a solid built quality.
I have been using the 15R as my main phone for the past few days, and before the deep-dive testing begins, here is how it feels in real-world use so far.
Design and in-hand feel
The iQOO 15R makes a strong first impression the moment you pick it up. It feels properly premium right away. Not the “for the price” kind. Just solid, well-built, and confident.
I’ve been using the Titanium Silver variant, and while it looks great, it definitely shifts more towards a blue or slightly purple tone depending on the light. It is not a traditional silver, but it does stand out. The back feels like glass and has this subtle racing flag pattern etched into it. iQOO’s performance DNA is still there, but this time it feels a bit more toned down and mature.
The camera module is slightly squarish with two lenses placed horizontally. It did remind me of the Nothing Phone 2a at first glance. It is a design choice that might divide opinion, but it is distinctive.
What surprised me most initially is how comfortable it feels. The phone is fairly compact, which makes one-handed use easy. Even though it feels solid, it does not feel heavy in the hand. The balance seems right so far.
At 8.1mm thick for the Silver variant, it is impressively slim, especially when you consider there is a 7600mAh battery inside.
You also get IP68 and IP69 ratings, along with Schott Xensation Alpha protection on the front. On paper, it looks tough, so I’ll be pushing that further in the full review.
Display and multimedia
Up front, you’re looking at a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED with a 144Hz refresh rate. And honestly, you feel that smoothness immediately. Scrolling through social media, hopping between apps, even just flicking through settings, feels ridiculously fluid.
Colours look punchy without being cartoonish. Blacks are deep, contrast looks strong, and the tuning feels sensible instead of overly dramatic. It does not feel like the display is trying too hard to impress you.
Gaming at 144Hz is where things get fun. In supported titles, animations feel sharper and more responsive. Fast-paced shooters and racing games especially benefit from that extra headroom. So far, it feels snappy and quick to react.
iQOO claims up to 5000 nits of peak local brightness. In real-world use, outdoor visibility has been more than comfortable. And on platforms like Netflix and YouTube, content looks rich and vibrant. HDR content, especially has been very impressive.
We also get a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which has been very fast and reliable so far.
Performance
Performance is clearly one of the big selling points of the iQOO 15R. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which immediately sets expectations pretty high.
In my initial testing, it looks very strong. In AnTuTu, I got a score of just under 3.1 million. Yes, that is lower than iQOO’s claimed 3.5 million, but let’s be honest, 3.1 million is still ridiculous performance for this segment.
These are early numbers, and I’ll be putting it through a much more detailed benchmark run in the full review.
In everyday use, the phone feels effortless. Scrolling through Instagram, switching between apps, streaming on YouTube and Netflix, everything feels fluid and responsive.
Gaming is where it really starts to show off. Thanks to the combination of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and that 144Hz display, in BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile, I was seeing frame rates hovering above 140 FPS during my early sessions.
That said, I still need to test how well it sustains this performance over longer benchmarking and gaming sessions. That’s something I’ll cover in detail in the full review.
Software
Like most recent Vivo and iQOO phones, the 15R runs OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 out of the box.
In my early use, the software experience has been genuinely pleasant. Unlocking the phone, jumping into apps, pulling down notifications, everything feels smooth and well put together. There’s a level of polish here that older versions simply did not have. You also get plenty of customisation options, and thankfully, they are easy to access. You can tweak the look and feel without digging through endless menus.
There is definitely a slight iOS 26-inspired liquid glass vibe in parts of the interface. But it does not feel like a lazy imitation. The animations and visual elements feel thoughtfully adapted to fit Vivo’s own style.
And yes, AI is everywhere. You get AI-powered photo editing tools, along with Google’s full AI suite, including Call Translation, Gemini, and Circle to Search, all baked in from day one.
Cameras
The iQOO 15R gets a 50MP main sensor with OIS, paired with an 8MP ultrawide. I have to admit, the cameras have left a strong early impression.
From what I have shot so far, the main camera looks very capable. Colours feel balanced, dynamic range seems well handled, and there is plenty of detail, even when shooting at 2X.
The 8MP ultrawide feels more average in comparison. Colours are fine, but detail levels are noticeably lower.
Selfies come from a 32MP front camera, which has been reliable in my initial use. Both front and rear cameras support 4K60 video.
Battery
Battery life looks very promising so far. The iQOO 15R packs a massive 7600mAh cell, and in my early use, it has been holding up extremely well. Even with gaming, camera testing, and plenty of streaming, I was comfortably getting through a day and a half. With lighter use, two days seems realistic.
Charging is handled by 100W fast charging, and in my initial test, it went from zero to 100 per cent in just over an hour.
Early Impressions
After a few days with it, the iQOO 15R feels like a phone that knows exactly what it wants to prioritise. The performance is fast, the display is properly smooth, and the battery life already looks like one of its biggest strengths.
The cameras, especially the main sensor, have shown promise, even if the ultrawide feels more average. Software feels polished, and the hardware feels solid in the hand.
There is still a lot to test, especially sustained performance and long-term camera consistency. But at this stage, the 15R has definitely made things interesting. The full review will dig deeper.
