Vivo iQOO 15R unveiled as a cheaper alternative to the iQOO 15

The iQOO 15R has made its debut in India, launching as a smaller and more affordable version of the iQOO 15 released in 2025.

Sporting a 6.59-inch display, the iQOO 15R has a 1.5K AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, 4,320Hz PWM dimming, and 5,000 nits of local peak brightness. Under the display is an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner while the cut out for the front-facing camera houses a 32MP sensor.

To further differentiate it from the iQOO 15, Vivo has equipped the iQOO 15R with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor. Buyers will be able to choose between an 8GB RAM or 12GB RAM version paired with 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage.

The camera island is a squircle but with a circle inside that houses two sensors - a 50MP f/1.88 Sony LYT-700V main camera with optical image stabilization, and an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide angle camera. As is the norm with most smartphones these days, users have at their disposal AI tools to enhance images such as AI retouch, AI reflection eraser, AI season change, and AI UHD which sharpens images.

The phone ships with OriginOS 6.0 and Vivo promises it will keep running smoothly for 5 years. The OS brings features such as live photo wallpapers, screen mirroring, remote PC control for Windows and Macs, and one-tap file sharing system that works with iQOO phones and iPhones. Software support is also commendable as the iQOO 15R will receive 4 generations of Android version upgrades and 6 years of security updates.

The iQOO 15R is rated IP68 and IP69 for dust and water resistance. It packs a massive 7,600mAh battery while being just 7.9mm thick. There's support for 100W fast wired charging, bypass charging, and 7.5W reverse wired charging. Other features are Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, dual SIM support, and USB 2.0.

Available in Dark Knight which has a fiber glass back and Triumph Silver which has a checkered pattern and a glass back, the iQOO 15R is available to pre-order starting today for ₹44,999 (~$495/€421) for the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage, ₹47,999 (~$528/€449) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB version, and ₹52,999 (~$583/€496) for the 16GB + 512GB version. iQOO says it will include a free pair of iQOO TWS 1e earbuds with all pre-orders made until 11:59 PM (IST) on March 1.