Introducing the new iQOO 15R, the inaugural ‘R’ variant in iQOO’s smartphone collection. Targeted at young professionals in India, this model aims to blend convenience with performance, offering a user-friendly size, robust chipset, and impressive battery longevity. Here are our insights on whether the iQOO 15R lives up to its promises.
Design
The iQOO 15R sports a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,260 pixels, boasting a high refresh rate of 144Hz. The bezels border the screen with minimal width — measuring just 1.25mm on the left and right and slightly larger on the top and bottom.
Centered within the display is a punch-hole for its 32MP front camera, which further enhances the sleek design.
This model also features an embedded 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, making it easy to unlock the device quickly — even when fingers are sweaty. Our experience showed it to be consistently responsive.
Turning to the back, the iQOO 15R reveals a squircle-shaped camera module, arranged horizontally with a 50MP main camera alongside an 8MP ultrawide lens, complemented by an LED flash positioned on the exterior.
Aesthetically, the camera module is minimally protruding, ensuring stability when placed on flat surfaces.
Available in two colors — Dark Knight and Triumph Silver — the latter is the focus of this review. Both versions have flat rear panels, though the Triumph Silver model weighs a tad more and is slightly thicker than its counterpart at 206g and 8.10mm.
While the Dark Knight variant has a sophisticated fiberglass back that easily picks up fingerprints, the Triumph Silver has a glass back that fares better against smudges, featuring an attractive checkered finish.
Both rear frames are flat and metallic, containing well-responsive buttons for volume and power. The bottom of the device hosts a USB-C port alongside a SIM card slot, primary microphone, and speaker grille, while an IR blaster and secondary microphone can be found on the opposite side.
Despite its generous size, the iQOO 15R remains manageable for one-handed use. With an IP68/IP69 rating, its build quality feels solid in hand, although a rounded edge might improve comfort for some users.
Display
The display presents a vibrant 2750×1260 resolution, coupled with an impressive pixel density of 459 ppi, supporting HDR10 and HLG codecs. While it boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, this is limited primarily to gaming.
The AMOLED display can achieve a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, ensuring clarity even in direct sunlight, while minimal brightness can reach down to 1 nit, offering versatility for varied viewing environments.
When utilizing the refresh rate settings, the display allows for a range of options, from Smart adaptation to Standard (60Hz) and High (144Hz). Some exploration revealed that select titles ran more smoothly than others.
Setting it to High helps with performance for some apps but still encountered limitations during casual usage. iQOO has provided options that let users optimize their experience based on individual preferences.
Software and Performance
Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, the device arrives with a maximum of 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, ensuring smooth operation across various tasks.
On the software side, the iQOO 15R runs Android 16 paired with OriginOS 6, promising a four-year upgrade path along with six years of security updates.
The device performs capably during daily activities, with no noticeable lag or stuttering. However, it heats up under heavy use, yet not to the extent where it affects functionality.
Camera
The camera system consists of a 32MP front-facing lens and dual rear cameras — a 50MP primary and an 8MP ultrawide. This setup makes it competent for capturing decent photos, especially in well-lit conditions.
The primary sensor still manages to deliver usable results in lower light conditions, making it versatile for various shooting environments.
Battery
Powering the iQOO 15R is a 7,600 mAh battery that supports rapid charging at 100W and 7.5W reverse charging, indicating solid endurance.
The device can reach 50% charge in just over half an hour, topping out at full charge around 79 minutes.
Key Takeaways
- The iQOO 15R’s compact design makes it accessible for single-handed use.
- Bright display, equipped for various lighting conditions.
- Performance is generally smooth, with good daily usability.
- Camera quality is suitable for casual photography but not exceptional.
- Battery life is solid, supporting a full day of moderate use.
- Charging speed is decent, though not as fast as advertised.
- Software promises extended support.
Conclusion
In summary, the iQOO 15R effectively targets young professionals seeking a manageable device that offers ample power and battery life, showcasing compelling features that make it a worthy contender in the market.
With options in Dark Knight and Triumph Silver, the device allows users to choose according to their style, alongside a pricing structure that provides reasonable access to the upper mid-range segment.