iQOO has officially confirmed the iQOO 15R will launch in India on February 24, 2026 as an Amazon exclusive. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, loaded with a 7600mAh battery, and priced expected around ₹45,999 — this phone is making serious noise in the mid-premium segment. But is it actually the best gaming phone under ₹40,000? Let us break it all down for you.
iQOO 15R - Quick Specs at a Glance
| Launch Date | February 24, 2026 |
| Expected Price | ₹45,999 onwards |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 |
| Display | 6.59 inch 1.5K AMOLED 144Hz |
| Main Camera | 50MP Sony LYT-700 with OIS |
| Battery | 7600mAh with 100W Fast Charging |
| RAM and Storage | Up to 16GB RAM and 1TB Storage |
| Operating System | Android 16 with OriginOS 6 |
| Availability | Amazon India Exclusive |
| Water Resistance | IP68 and IP69 |
iQOO 15R India Launch - What We Know So Far
iQOO India CEO Nipun Marya made the official announcement on X (formerly Twitter) on January 27, 2026, confirming that the iQOO 15R will launch in India on February 24, 2026. The tagline used was — "Power is about to find its perfect fit" — and it perfectly sums up what this phone is going for.
A dedicated Amazon India microsite for the iQOO 15R went live shortly after, giving us our first official look at the phone design and a few confirmed hardware details. The phone will be available exclusively on Amazon India, so no Flipkart sales at launch.
Brand Claim: iQOO is positioning the 15R as India's slimmest smartphone in the 7600mAh battery category. That is a bold claim, and it signals that the brand is serious about balancing power and portability — something most Indian buyers really care about.
Reports suggest the iQOO 15R is likely a rebranded version of the iQOO Z11 Turbo launched in China. If you follow global iQOO launches, this is a common pattern — and it is not a bad thing. The Z11 Turbo got great reviews in China, and bringing those specs to India at a competitive price makes complete sense.
Full Specifications - Deep Dive
Processor - Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Beast Mode
The iQOO 15R is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, built on a 3nm process. iQOO claims an AnTuTu benchmark score of over 3.5 million points — higher than the average Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 score of around 3.3 million. The company says this chip delivers a 36% improvement in CPU performance and a 46% boost in NPU performance compared to the previous generation.
For gaming, iQOO has also included a dedicated Q2 gaming chip for lower latency and frame stability. If you play BGMI, COD Mobile, or Free Fire at high settings, this combination should deliver a noticeably smoother experience.
On Geekbench, the phone scored 2,590 in single-core and 8,423 in multi-core — very competitive numbers at this price.
Display - 6.59 inch 1.5K AMOLED at 144Hz
The display is a 6.59 inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1.5K and a 144Hz refresh rate. For gaming, that 144Hz refresh rate means buttery-smooth visuals. The screen also hits a peak brightness of 5500 nits, which means you can use the phone under bright sunlight without squinting. Colors on AMOLED are always punchy and rich, and at 1.5K resolution, text and images look very sharp.
Camera - 50MP Sony LYT-700 Main Shooter
The iQOO 15R features a 50MP Sony LYT-700 sensor as its primary camera with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). An 8MP ultrawide lens rounds out the rear setup, with a 32MP selfie camera on the front.
The Sony LYT-700 is a trusted sensor known for capturing clean, detailed photos in low light. With OIS on board, you can expect stable video recording and sharper night shots. For a phone in this segment, this is a solid camera setup — not the most flashy, but reliable and practical.
Battery - 7600mAh with 100W Fast Charging
This is easily the iQOO 15R biggest talking point. A 7600mAh battery in a slim body is genuinely impressive, and iQOO says this makes it the slimmest phone in India at this battery capacity. With 100W fast charging support, you can top this massive battery up quickly — expect a full charge in well under 60 minutes.
For Indian users who are heavy on YouTube, Instagram, gaming, and long work hours, this battery life should comfortably last a full day and more on a single charge.
Other Key Features
The iQOO 15R comes with IP68 and IP69 ratings — full water and dust resistance. It also features an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner for fast and secure unlocking. The phone runs Android 16 out of the box with iQOO OriginOS 6 skin on top. RAM options go up to 16GB LPDDR5X and storage up to 1TB UFS 4.1.
iQOO 15R vs Competitors - Who Wins
Let us see how the iQOO 15R stacks up against its closest rivals in the mid-premium segment in India.
| Feature | iQOO 15R | OnePlus 15R | Realme 16 Pro Plus | Samsung Galaxy A56 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (India) | ~₹45,999 | ~₹44,999 | ₹43,999 | ~₹42,999 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Dimensity 9300 | Exynos 1580 |
| Display | 6.59" 1.5K AMOLED 144Hz | 6.77" AMOLED 120Hz | 6.8" AMOLED 120Hz | 6.7" AMOLED 120Hz |
| Main Camera | 50MP Sony LYT-700 | 50MP | 50MP | 50MP |
| Battery | 7600mAh | 6000mAh | 7000mAh | 5000mAh |
| Fast Charging | 100W | 80W | 80W | 45W |
| RAM (Max) | 16GB LPDDR5X | 12GB | 8GB | 12GB |
| Storage (Max) | 1TB UFS 4.1 | 512GB | 256GB | 256GB |
| IP Rating | IP68 + IP69 | IP65 | IP66 | IP67 |
| Gaming Chip | Yes - Q2 Chip | No | No | No |
| AnTuTu Score | 3.5M+ | ~3.2M | ~2.8M | ~1.1M |
| OS at Launch | Android 16 | Android 15 | Android 15 | Android 15 |
Looking at this comparison, the iQOO 15R leads clearly in battery capacity, charging speed, RAM, storage ceiling, gaming chip, and IP rating. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 also gives it a strong performance edge over the Exynos-powered Samsung Galaxy A56.
Is It Really a Gaming Phone
iQOO has always been known for its gaming credentials, and the 15R is no different. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 with a separate Q2 gaming chip means the phone can handle GPU-heavy games without bottlenecking performance. The 144Hz display ensures every frame drop is minimised, making high-speed games feel incredibly fluid. The 7600mAh battery means you can game for 5 to 6 hours straight without needing a charger.
iQOO also typically bundles gaming-focused software features like performance modes, touch sampling rate boosts, and RGB touch triggers. While these are yet to be officially confirmed for the 15R, the precedent from past iQOO phones suggests strong gaming software support as well.
For BGMI and Free Fire players: The combination of 144Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and dedicated Q2 gaming chip means you will be able to push max frame rates and get a real edge in competitive gameplay. This is a serious upgrade from most phones in this price bracket.
Pros and Cons - Honest Take
What We Love
- Massive 7600mAh battery in a slim body
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip
- Dedicated Q2 gaming chip for better frame stability
- 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display
- 100W fast charging — full charge in under 60 minutes
- IP68 and IP69 dual water resistance
- Up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage
- Sony LYT-700 camera sensor with OIS
- Android 16 out of the box
Things to Consider
- No telephoto or zoom camera
- OriginOS skin may feel heavy for some users
- Amazon exclusive — no offline store availability at launch
- Expected base price is above ₹40,000
- Final specs not 100% confirmed until launch day
- No wireless charging mentioned
iQOO 15R Price in India - What to Expect
The iQOO 15R is officially confirmed to be priced under ₹55,000 as per the brand. Multiple reliable sources tip the starting price at ₹45,999 for the base variant. Here is the expected price breakdown:
| Variant | Expected Price | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage | ~₹45,999 | Amazon India |
| 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage | ~₹49,999 | Amazon India |
| 16GB RAM + 1TB Storage | ~₹54,999 | Amazon India |
Note: These are estimated prices based on pre-launch leaks. Official pricing will be announced on February 24, 2026.
Our Verdict
The iQOO 15R ticks almost every box a power user and gamer could want — a flagship chip, massive battery, fast charging, high-refresh display, and solid camera. It is packed with features that even phones costing ₹70,000 plus struggle to match in some areas. However, the expected base price of ₹45,999 technically takes it slightly above the ₹40,000 category. If you are okay stretching your budget a bit, this could genuinely be the best performance phone available in India under ₹50,000 in early 2026.
| Category | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Performance | 9.5 |
| Battery | 9.8 |
| Display | 9.0 |
| Camera | 7.5 |
| Value for Money | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is iQOO 15R launching in India
iQOO 15R will officially launch in India on February 24, 2026. The announcement was confirmed by iQOO India CEO Nipun Marya on X.
What is the expected price of iQOO 15R in India
The iQOO 15R is expected to start at approximately ₹45,999 for the base variant. The top-end 16GB RAM and 1TB storage model may go up to ₹54,999. Official pricing will be revealed on launch day.
Where can I buy the iQOO 15R in India
The iQOO 15R will be an Amazon India exclusive. You can set a reminder on Amazon's dedicated microsite for the phone.
What processor does the iQOO 15R use
The iQOO 15R is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 — a flagship-tier 3nm chip. It also has a dedicated Q2 gaming chip for enhanced gaming performance.
How big is the battery in the iQOO 15R
The iQOO 15R comes with a massive 7600mAh battery with 100W fast charging support. iQOO claims it is India's slimmest phone in the 7600mAh battery category.
Does iQOO 15R have water resistance
Yes, the iQOO 15R is expected to carry both IP68 and IP69 ratings, giving it excellent protection against water and dust.
Is iQOO 15R good for gaming
Yes — the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, dedicated Q2 gaming chip, 144Hz AMOLED display, and 7600mAh battery make the iQOO 15R one of the best gaming phones in its price range in India.
Disclaimer: Expected prices and unconfirmed specifications are based on pre-launch leaks and reports from reliable sources as of February 15, 2026. Official details will be revealed at the iQOO 15R India launch event on February 24, 2026.
