The “gaming” smartphone market is usually an area where subtlety is conspicuous by its absence, and the new iQOO 15 Ultra He has not come to change that, but to raise the stakes. It has just been presented in China and, honestly, its specifications seem like they were taken from a letter to the Three Wise Men written by a hardware enthusiast. Not only does it mount the latest from Qualcomm, but it integrates active cooling solutions that until recently were unthinkable in a conventional mobile phone without it looking like a brick.
The most striking thing about this device is not only its raw power, which it has in abundance, but how it intends to manage it. At a time when mobile processors reach temperatures that could fry an egg, iQOO has decided to introduce a fan inside the chassis. This, added to an immense battery, raises an interesting question: are we facing the definitive mobile phone for gaming or a demonstration of technical strength that, perhaps, sacrifices ergonomics too much for the average user?
Unlimited power and fan cooling
The heart of this machine is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5a chip manufactured in 3 nanometers that promises to make a fool of the previous generation. But as we know, uncontrolled power is useless (and thermal throttling or throttling is enemy number one). This is where their “Ice Dome” system comes into play. Unlike other phones that rely only on passive vapor chambers, the iQOO 15 Ultra uses its fan and a gigantic vapor chamber to maintain sustained performance. On paper it sounds great for playing AAA titles for hours, although we will have to see if the fan noise doesn't end up being annoying in quiet environments.
And to power all this, the brand has opted for a battery of 7,400 mAh with silicon-carbon technology. It is a monstrous figure that should guarantee you to get to the end of the day (and probably the next) without looking for an outlet, even if you give it a hard time. The curious thing is that, despite this energy “tank” and the fan, the thickness remains at a reasonable 8.7 mm, although the weight rises to 227 grams. It's not a pen, of course, and if you're one of those who uses your cell phone lying in bed, you better have a good grip if you don't want an accident.
Technical data sheet of the iQOO 15 Ultra
- Screen: 6.85″ OLED, 144 Hz, peak brightness 2600 nits
- Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm), Q3 dedicated gaming chip
- Memory: 12GB/16GB/24GB LPDDR5X Ultra Pro RAM
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.1
- Refrigeration: Fan cooling system
- Gaming: 600Hz touch side triggers with customizable gestures
- Battery: 7,400 mAh (silicon-carbon), 100W fast charging, 40W wireless charging
- Rear cameras: Main 50 MP (IMX921, OIS), Wide Angle 50 MP, Periscopic Telephoto 50 MP (3x optical)
- Front camera: 32MP
- Software: OriginOS 6 based on Android 16
- Dimensions and weight: 8.7 mm thick, 227 grams
- Others: IP68/IP69 resistance, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Price: From 5,699 yuan (approx. €695 at direct exchange rate)
Screen, “pro” controls and their availability
On the front we find a panel OLED 6.85 inches which refreshes at 144 Hz. Here iQOO has not skimped: absurd peak brightness and a tactile response designed so that you have no excuse if you lose the game. In fact, the interaction goes one step beyond the glass: continuing with the section gaming of the Ultra, has two 600 Hz side triggers that give you additional controls (each with customizable tap and swipe gestures). It is a key detail for shootersince you free up space on the screen and get a more satisfactory mechanical response.
As for photography, which is usually the Achilles heel of these phones, it seems to have received some love. Don't expect the quality of the best cameraphone of the year, but its 50 MP main sensor and, above all, a telephoto lens 3x periscopicsuggest that you'll be able to take decent photos when you're not playing.
The problem, as often happens with these technological gems, is their availability. For now it remains in China with an exchange rate that is around 695 euros for the base version. If you arrive in Spain or Latin America, prepare your wallet because taxes and distribution will surely inflate that figure considerably. It is an impressive team, yes, but perhaps excessive for those who are just looking to play a casual game of Candy Crush on the subway.
Do you think it is worth sacrificing weight and design to have physical triggers and a fan inside the phone?
