iQOO 15 Review: Perfect Gaming Performance, But Photography Has Its Limits

Among the most anticipated gaming phones of the year, the iQOO 15 certainly makes the list. Thanks to the early release of Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon platform, we got our hands on the iQOO 15 in mid-October. This year's major sales season has turned into a battlefield for new flagships. In a market crowded with contenders, can the iQOO 15 carve out its own niche and secure a victory?

Familiar Design with a Unique Energy Halo

The version we received is the classic "Legend" colorway, which, frankly, doesn't differ much from last year's design. However, iQOO 15 does introduce new color options, like the interesting tri-color striped "Lingyun" edition. The biggest aesthetic upgrade this year is the addition of an "Energy Halo" (an RGB ambient light ring) around the camera deco, which introduces some unique interactive features. For instance, when you're playing music, you can enable the sound-activated light effect. Place the phone face down, and the Energy Halo will pulse in sync with the ambient sound.

The Energy Halo currently supports popular games like *Genshin Impact*, *Honor of Kings*, and *Delta Force*. The light ring actively responds to in-game events, such as displaying corresponding elemental colors when different elemental attacks are used in *Genshin Impact*. If you prefer, you can also customize the light effects with six dynamic modes and user-defined colors, duration, and width, offering a rich level of personalization.

A Comprehensive Performance Upgrade: The True Gaming Flagship

For a gaming phone, the core lies in performance. The iQOO 15 is powered by the 5th Gen Snapdragon 8 Supreme Edition, which brings significant improvements in both GPU and CPU performance. The most notable upgrade is its power efficiency, leading to longer battery life and sustained high frame rates without rapid overheating. 

 

In our gaming tests, the iQOO 15 performed flawlessly. In *Honor of Kings*, it maintained a rock-solid 144fps with virtually no frame drops. For the more demanding *Genshin Impact* at highest settings and 60fps, the frame rate was nearly a straight line, with only minor dips during ultimate ability animations or map loading. The phone also supports a "Ray Tracing Quality" mode, which enhances lighting and shadows without affecting the stable 60fps performance. Similarly, in the FPS game *Delta Force*, the iQOO 15 held a steady 140fps+ in 144fps mode over a 15-minute match. Complementing this power is a 7000mAh battery and a stunning 2K LEAD OLED screen co-developed with Samsung, which supports a 144Hz refresh rate and boasts excellent brightness and power efficiency.

Decent Imaging, But Shortcomings Remain

While gamers may not prioritize photography, the iQOO 15 doesn't neglect it, featuring a triple 50MP all-main-camera setup. The primary camera uses a Sony IMX921 sensor, the ultra-wide is a 1/2.76″ sensor, and importantly, it includes a Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto lens that supports 3x optical zoom and 6x lossless zoom. In daylight, the main camera performs well, with good exposure control and color reproduction. The 3x and 10x telephoto shots also hold up, maintaining color consistency and clarity, setting it apart from other gaming phones. The periscope lens also enables decent macro photography.

In night scenes, the main camera delivers respectable results with good color and glare control. However, the telephoto lens struggles slightly, with some oversaturation and loss of detail at 3x zoom, though it still outperforms competitors that lack a periscope lens. Overall, the iQOO 15's camera system is a case of "better than its peers, but not a true flagship contender." It's more than sufficient for daily use but can't compete with top-tier camera phones.

Conclusion

The iQOO 15 strikes an excellent balance, delivering a top-tier gaming experience without completely sacrificing everyday usability. It has found a sweet spot between being a dedicated gaming machine and a versatile flagship.

Pros:
- Outstanding gaming experience
- Stable and powerful performance release
- Flagship-level screen and other configurations

Cons:
- Lacks a significant price advantage
- Imaging performance still has room for improvement

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