iQOO 15R Review: Stands out with its massive battery, and stable performance

As we have seen from OnePlus, iQOO is also trying to bring a semi-flagship experience into a more accessible price bracket. After launching the performance-heavy iQOO 15, the brand has now added the “R” variant to its lineup with the iQOO 15R. Positioned below the iQOO 15 and directly competing with the OnePlus 15R, the phone aims to deliver near-flagship performance, strong gaming credentials, and a long battery life without crossing into premium pricing territory.

On paper, iQOO packs in a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, its biggest-ever battery, and a high-refresh AMOLED display. The question is whether the iQOO 15R manages to justify its positioning while clearly differentiating itself from the iQOO 15 and holding its ground against the OnePlus 15R.

Design

Unlike the iQOO 15, the iQOO 15R does not feature RGB lighting or gaming-focused visual elements on the back, which is understandable when considering the lower price tag. The unit I reviewed was the Dark Knight variant, and it carries a clean, understated look that feels more refined than flashy. The phone features a rectangular camera module with two rear cameras, immediately setting it apart from the triple-camera setup on the flagship iQOO 15. I personally liked the restrained aesthetics here. It does not try to look aggressive or attention-seeking, and instead opts for a design that feels practical and mature.

The rear panel uses a glass construction, which adds to the premium feel but also makes the phone slightly slippery during everyday use. I would strongly recommend using the case provided in the box, especially for longer usage sessions or one-handed use. The overall build feels solid and well-balanced, even if it lacks the visual flair of the iQOO 15.

Button and port placement remain straightforward. The right side houses the power button and volume rockers, both offering good tactile feedback. At the bottom, you get the SIM tray, USB Type-C port, and speaker grille. One noticeable omission is the absence of a programmable hardware key; this is something the OnePlus 15R offers through its Plus Key for quick actions like switching modes or calling the AI assistant. On the durability front, the iQOO 15R comes with IP68 and IP69 certification. This is impressive for its segment and brings it closer to flagship-grade protection.

Display

The iQOO 15R features a 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, slim bezels, and a clean, immersive front layout. Touch response is a major highlight here. The phone offers a 360 Hz touch sampling rate, which ramps up to a 3,200 Hz instant touch sampling rate when gaming. This results in noticeably faster touch response once the game enters its performance mode, making interactions feel smoother and more precise during fast-paced gameplay.

The panel supports 5,000 nits of local peak brightness and can go as low as 1 nit, making it comfortable to use in both bright outdoor conditions and low-light environments. iQOO’s self-developed sunlight algorithm improves visibility in direct sunlight, delivering clearer and brighter visuals when it matters most. Additional features like 4,320 Hz PWM dimming help reduce eye strain during extended use, while Netflix HDR10+ certification ensures high-quality HDR streaming. The iQOO 15R matches the OnePlus 15R in smoothness and gaming responsiveness, while holding its own in brightness handling and viewing comfort.

OS and AI

The iQOO 15R runs OriginOS 6 based on Android 16, and the software experience feels noticeably more refined than earlier iterations. Animations are smooth, multitasking is responsive, and system-level optimisations keep the phone running consistently even under load. The overall interface feels modern without being cluttered, making everyday navigation intuitive.

AI plays a bigger role this time, and most features feel genuinely useful. AI Creation enhances the Notes app with rewriting, content creation, text summarisation, and grammar correction tools. AI Captions enable real-time transcription, translation, and summarisation, making conversations and media easier to follow. Photography also benefits from AI tools like AI Erase, AI Magic Move, AI Image Expander, AI Reflection Erase, and AI Image Cut-out, allowing users to refine or creatively edit images without relying on third-party apps.

Performance

At the core of the iQOO 15R is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, the same chipset we have already seen in the OnePlus 15R. The review unit comes with 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB of UFS storage, ensuring fast app launches and smooth multitasking. In daily use, the phone feels consistently responsive, with no noticeable stutters or lag.

Benchmark numbers, however, place the iQOO 15R slightly behind its main rival. The phone scored 2,543 in single-core and 8,477 in multi-core on Geekbench, with a GPU score of 17,336. On AnTuTu, it recorded a score of 3,101,178. In comparison, the OnePlus 15R posted higher Geekbench scores of 2,866 (single-core) and 9,506 (multi-core), along with a GPU score of 17,913 and an AnTuTu score of 3,035,832. This means the iQOO 15R falls short of being the fastest in the segment, despite iQOO’s claims.

That said, real-world performance tells a more balanced story. The phone handles everyday tasks effortlessly and maintains stability under sustained use. iQOO’s 6.5K IceCore vapour chamber cooling system helps keep temperatures under control during long sessions.

Gaming is clearly one of the iQOO 15R’s strengths. Titles like Call of Duty Mobile, Pokémon GO, Asphalt, and BGMI ran smoothly at high frame rates. Features like the Supercomputing Chip Q2, advanced bypass charging, and game eye protection enhance long gaming sessions. While it does not match the elite-level gaming hardware of the iQOO 15, it delivers a reliable and enjoyable gaming experience for its price.

Camera

I personally liked the camera performance of the iQOO 15R, and iQOO has done a solid job optimising it for its segment. The phone features a dual rear camera setup supported by vivo’s flagship imaging algorithms. Daylight photos come out sharp and detailed, with colours that look natural rather than overly saturated. AI processing focuses on refinement instead of heavy alteration, keeping images close to what the eyes see.

iQOO 15R camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

Low-light photography benefits from Super Night Mode and Vivo’s NICE algorithm. Images retain good detail with controlled noise levels, and lighting looks realistic rather than artificially boosted. Reflective surfaces and highlights are handled well for this price range.

iQOO 15R camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

Portrait shots show accurate edge detection and pleasing background blur. Subject separation is reliable, and skin tones are handled naturally. The camera performs consistently across different lighting conditions, making it a good companion for casual photography.

iQOO 15R camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

The front camera delivers sharp selfies with balanced skin tones. Video recording supports up to 4K at 60fps with stabilisation, which adds to the phone’s versatility. Overall, the camera setup punches above its weight and stands strong within its price bracket.

Battery

Battery life is one of the biggest highlights of the iQOO 15R. The phone houses a massive 7,600 mAh silicon anode battery, making it iQOO’s biggest battery yet, and even larger than the 7,000 mAh unit found in the iQOO 15. Under real-world conditions, hardcore users can comfortably get through a full day, while moderate users can stretch their usage well into the second day.

Charging is fast enough to keep the large battery practical, even if it does not match the flagship’s charging speeds. Features like advanced bypass charging also help during long gaming sessions, by reducing heat and battery wear.

Verdict

iQOO has done a good job with the iQOO 15R. The phone delivers a strong performance, excellent battery life, a capable camera system, and a clean, understated design. It successfully brings many flagship traits down to a more accessible price point while clearly differentiating itself from the more premium iQOO 15.

That said, competition is tough. The OnePlus 15R remains a strong contender, while also offering slightly better benchmark performance and a more refined software experience. Still, the iQOO 15R stands out with its massive battery, stable gaming performance, and reliable cameras. It may not be the fastest in the segment, but it justifies its tag by delivering a well-rounded and dependable experience. The iQOO 15R starts at ₹44,999.