iQOO 15 Ultra Launches with Active Cooling Fan and Massive 7,400mAh Battery
iQOO has officially unveiled the 15 Ultra, marking a significant step for the brand as its first smartphone equipped with an active cooling system and the inaugural model to bear the "Ultra" designation. Positioned as a premium gaming device, it combines top-tier performance hardware with a substantial power cell in a surprisingly rugged package.
Performance and Cooling: Built for Gaming
At the heart of the iQOO 15 Ultra is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. The defining feature is the "Ice Dome" active cooling system, which incorporates a 17x17mm fan capable of moving 0.315 cubic feet of air per minute. This system is designed to maintain performance during extended gaming sessions.
The phone also includes a dedicated Q3 gaming chip for resolution upscaling and frame generation. Gaming controls are enhanced with two 600Hz shoulder triggers that support customizable tap and swipe gestures, dual-axis vibration motors, and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers. Initial performance tests show the device can maintain a steady 144fps in several popular titles, including running Honor of Kings at Ultra Quality settings while reportedly keeping the back panel temperature around 41.5°C.
Display and Battery
The iQOO 15 Ultra features a large 6.85-inch Samsung M14 LTPO OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. The panel supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid, covers 118% of the P3 color gamut, and boasts a peak full-screen brightness of 2,600 nits. For responsiveness, it offers a 480Hz multi-finger touch sampling rate.
Powering the device is a substantial 7,400mAh battery with an energy density of 867Wh/L. Despite the large battery and cooling system, the phone measures 8.7mm thick and weighs 227 grams. It supports 100W wired FlashCharge (with 55W PPS compatibility) and 40W wireless charging.
Camera System and Durability
The camera setup consists of a triple 50MP array on the rear: a main sensor (IMX921, 1/1.56"), a 3x telephoto lens (1/1.95"), and a 107° ultra-wide camera (1/2.76"). Both the main and telephoto cameras feature CIPA 4.5-grade optical image stabilization. A 32MP sensor handles selfies. Notably, despite the inclusion of an active fan, the iQOO 15 Ultra achieves both IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.
Availability and Pricing
The iQOO 15 Ultra is initially available for pre-order in China through vivo's online store. It comes in two color options: silver ("2049") and black ("2077"). Pricing starts at CNY 5,700 (approximately $820) for the 16GB RAM with 256GB storage variant, with higher-tier configurations available. There is no official information yet regarding a global launch outside of China.
Conclusion
The iQOO 15 Ultra represents a bold push into the high-performance gaming phone segment. By integrating an active cooling fan with a flagship Snapdragon chipset and a large battery, it aims to deliver sustained performance for demanding users. Its IP68/IP69 rating is a particularly impressive feat given the mechanical cooling component, addressing a common concern with such designs. While its initial launch is regionally focused, the specifications set a high bar for what consumers might expect from future gaming-focused devices.