iQOO 15R India Launch Date Specs Price Performance and What Buyers Should Know

After weeks of teasers and leaks, iQOO has finally announced the launch date of the iQOO 15R in India. The device will be launched on February 24, and this launch is more significant than just another addition to the series. This is the first time that iQOO has utilized the “R” moniker in its flagship series, which is a clear indication of the brand’s new strategy one that aims to cater to consumers who are looking for near-flagship performance without the flagship price tag.

Going by our observations of previous iQOO launches in India, this mid-cycle experiment is a clear indication that the brand has spotted an opportunity in the ₹35,000-₹45,000 segment. This segment is already crowded, but it also has a very distinct set of consumers gamers, power users, and people who are upgrading from older flagships who are more interested in performance than in brand name.

iQOO 15R Design

The only official information that has been confirmed so far is the design. iQOO India CEO Nipun Marya posted a teaser image on X, which is a picture of the back of the iQOO 15R, and it is not very subtle. The design seems to have a checkered pattern, along with a squircle camera module where all the sensors are placed horizontally.

This design is quite striking, although it may not be the final design. iQOO has been known to change the design of their teasers and retail devices before. The more important information is what this design looks like, and it is almost the same as the iQOO Z11 Turbo, which launched in China recently. This, combined with the hardware information that has leaked, is a clear indication that the iQOO 15R is a regional variant of the former.

What this means for Indian consumers is that iQOO’s China-first devices tend to be very performance and battery-centric, sometimes at the expense of camera optimization and software refinement.

iQOO 15R Processor

A Geekbench entry of a Vivo phone with the model number I2508 is thought to be the Indian model of the iQOO 15R. The entry reveals the presence of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, coupled with 8GB of RAM and Android 16.

This is a rather important choice, if true. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is the second-best offering from Qualcomm, just below the Elite line, but it has already shown its mettle in the sub-flagship segment. It is the same processor that is found in phones such as the OnePlus 15R, and in real-world usage, there is unlikely to be any difference between the two.

When it comes to gaming, it is the sustained performance and heat management that will be more important than raw benchmark numbers. Going by the previous iQOO “R” and Neo series phones, the brand has a tendency to optimize for gaming performance at the cost of increased surface temperatures.

Display and cameras

If the iQOO 15R is actually based on the Z11 Turbo, it should feature a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. This combination has become quite common in near-flagships, but it still makes sense. The 1.5K display prevents the battery from draining as quickly as it would with a 2K display, while still appearing sharper than an FHD+ display.

The camera hardware, however, does pose some questions. A 200MP primary camera and 8MP ultra-wide camera are in order, along with a 32MP front camera. On paper, this is quite impressive, but the brand’s history indicates that megapixels do not necessarily translate to consistency. The ultra-wide camera, in particular, may be a problem if it follows the brand’s usual cost-cutting measures in this segment.

For general photography, the primary camera should be able to take decent photos in daylight conditions. Nighttime performance and video recording are still a mystery.

Battery and charging

One place where the iQOO 15R could truly excel is battery life. The 7,600mAh battery and 100W fast charging support are easily the best in this price range. For gamers, frequent travelers, or simply people who loathe the thought of charging their phones, this could be the biggest selling point of the iQOO 15R.

As someone who has used iQOO devices with large batteries in the past, I can confidently say that these devices have always provided good screen-on time even after a year of usage. The only compromise that will be made here is weight and thickness, which might affect the overall balance of the device when held with one hand.

The IP68 and IP69 ratings that are expected on the iQOO 15R are also quite impressive. Such ratings are still a rarity in this price range and could provide some peace of mind to consumers who plan to use the device for a longer period of time.

Expected variants and storage options

Leaks also indicate that the iQOO 15R could come with a maximum of 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. While this is certainly a lot of storage for most users, it is also a sign that iQOO is looking at this phone as a long-term performer and not just a short-cycle refresh.

What is more important, however, is that it gives the user flexibility, which is something that is often not available in the ₹40,000 segment, where brands restrict options to keep costs down.

iQOO 15R Pricing

The expected price of the iQOO 15R in India is around ₹40,000. If this is true, then the OnePlus 15R is immediately undercut, given that it is priced at ₹47,999. This alone could shift the perception of consumers, especially those who value the processor and charging speed over camera refinement and brand loyalty.

But the truth is that the prices of smartphones have been unpredictable of late. Even if it goes up by ₹3,000 to ₹4,000, it will find itself in a lineup of well-rounded flagships, where its weakness in the camera department could be difficult to overlook.

What this means for buyers

If you are a performance-oriented buyer who upgrades phones every two to three years and prioritize battery life over a versatile camera system, the iQOO 15R is looking like a device worth waiting for. It looks like the iQOO 15R is intended for those who already know what they are looking for in a phone speed, battery life, and consistency – and not necessarily those who want the best all-around package.

If you are a camera enthusiast or someone who values software refinement, it might be a good idea to wait for reviews or compare it to other options in the same price range once the final pricing is locked in.

The February 24th launch of the iQOO 15R will help us determine if iQOO is able to successfully establish this sub-flagship segment, which currently lacks a clear leader in the Indian market.