iQOO 15 Ultra joins the game with fan-cooled Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a 7,400mAh battery

iQOO has officially unveiled the iQOO 15 Ultra, marking the brand's first device to carry the "Ultra" designation and introducing several firsts for the gaming-focused smartphone line. The device stands out with its innovative active cooling system, massive battery capacity, and top-tier specifications designed specifically for mobile gaming enthusiasts.

Active Cooling System: The Ice Dome

The most distinctive feature of the iQOO 15 Ultra is its "Ice Dome" cooling system, which incorporates a 17x17mm active fan that moves 0.315 cubic feet of air per minute. This marks the first time iQOO has implemented an active cooling solution in one of its smartphones, addressing one of the biggest challenges in mobile gaming: thermal throttling.

The fan works in conjunction with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which is also found in the standard iQOO 15 model. However, the active cooling allows the Ultra variant to maintain peak performance for extended gaming sessions. During testing with seven popular games, the device maintained a steady 144fps while livestreaming, demonstrating the effectiveness of the cooling solution.

Gaming Performance and Features

Beyond the cooling system, the iQOO 15 Ultra is packed with gaming-centric features. The device includes two 600Hz shoulder triggers that support customizable tap and swipe gestures, providing additional control options for mobile gamers. Dual-axis vibration motors and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers create an immersive audio experience, while an RGB LED strip on the camera island adds visual flair that gaming enthusiasts appreciate.

The phone achieved a notable milestone by becoming the first to run Honor of Kings at Ultra Quality settings while maintaining 144fps. During this test, the device kept temperatures at a manageable 41.5°C on the back of the body, showcasing the effectiveness of the Ice Dome system.

Display Excellence

Gaming performance is complemented by a large 6.85-inch Samsung M14 LTPO OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. The panel supports multiple HDR formats including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid, while offering 118% P3 color coverage. With a peak full-screen brightness of 2,600 nits and DC dimming support, the display performs well in various lighting conditions.

For competitive gaming, the screen features a 480Hz multi-finger touch sampling rate, ensuring responsive input recognition during fast-paced gameplay.

Battery and Charging Capabilities

The iQOO 15 Ultra houses a substantial 7,400mAh battery with an impressive energy density of 867Wh/L, allowing the phone to maintain a relatively slim profile of 8.7mm while weighing 227g. This represents a significant improvement over the vanilla iQOO 15, which has a 7,000mAh battery in a slightly thinner 8.1mm body weighing 215g.

Charging capabilities are equally impressive, with support for 100W FlashCharge (55W PPS) and 40W wireless charging. This combination of massive battery capacity and fast charging ensures minimal downtime for gamers who demand extended play sessions.

Camera System

While gaming is the primary focus, the iQOO 15 Ultra doesn't compromise on photography. The camera setup mirrors that of the standard iQOO 15, featuring a 50MP IMX921 main camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and CIPA 4.5 OIS, a 50MP 3x telephoto camera with a 1/1.95-inch sensor and CIPA 4.5 OIS, and a 50MP 107-degree ultra-wide camera with a 1/2.76-inch sensor. The front-facing camera is a 32MP module with an f/2.2 lens.

Durability and Build Quality

One of the most surprising aspects of the iQOO 15 Ultra is its IP68/IP69 water resistance rating. Despite incorporating an active cooling fan, the device maintains full dust and water protection. This achievement demonstrates iQOO's engineering prowess in creating a sealed system that can accommodate moving parts while still meeting stringent durability standards.

Other notable features include a new, faster ultrasonic fingerprint reader, NFC support, and three Wi-Fi antennas designed to maintain stable connections even when your hand might obstruct signal reception.

Pricing and Availability

The iQOO 15 Ultra is currently available for pre-booking exclusively in China through vivo's online store. The device comes in two color options: "2049" (silver) and "2077" (black). Pricing starts at CNY 5,700 (approximately $820, €695, or ₹74,250) for the 16GB/256GB configuration and goes up to CNY 7,700 (approximately $1,110, €940, or ₹100,300) for the top-tier 24GB/1TB model.

Each purchase includes a protective case, charger, data cable, and a cleaning brush specifically designed for maintaining the cooling fan. While the phone is currently limited to the Chinese market, there's no official word yet on international availability, though interested consumers worldwide will likely be watching for potential expansion.

The iQOO 15 Ultra represents a significant step forward in mobile gaming technology, combining cutting-edge performance with thoughtful features designed specifically for gamers. Its active cooling system, massive battery, and gaming-focused design elements position it as a serious contender in the premium gaming smartphone segment, though its availability outside China remains to be seen.