iQOO has officially confirmed that a more powerful version of its flagship smartphone is on the way. In a social media post on Monday, the Vivo-owned brand announced that the iQOO 15 Ultra will launch in China soon, positioning it as an “ultra-performance” device designed to sit above the standard iQOO 15.
Launching Before the Holidays
According to the company’s post on Weibo, the phone will arrive before the “Spring Festival.” For those outside China, this refers to the Lunar New Year, which begins on February 17, 2026.
This timeline matches earlier leaks from industry insiders, suggesting we will see the official reveal within the next four to five weeks. It is a strategic move to get the phone on shelves during China’s biggest shopping season.
Built for Hardcore Gaming
While the standard iQOO 15 is already fast, the “Ultra” model appears to be targeting serious gamers. Leaks suggest the phone will feature hardware usually reserved for dedicated gaming devices, such as shoulder triggers (extra buttons on the side for gaming) and a built-in cooling fan to keep the phone from overheating during long matches.
Under the hood, it is expected to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5—the same powerhouse chip found in the standard model—but the improved cooling should allow it to run faster for longer.
Screen and Camera Upgrades
The display is rumored to be a massive 6.85-inch 2K OLED panel, likely supplied by Samsung. To make games look as smooth as possible, it is tipped to support a blistering 165Hz refresh rate, which is higher than the standard 120Hz found on most iPhones and Galaxys.
iQOO isn’t ignoring the camera, either. Reports indicate the Ultra will include a new 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, allowing for better zoom shots without losing quality.
Market Impact & Context
The iQOO 15 Ultra represents a blur between categories. Usually, if you want a phone with a cooling fan and shoulder triggers, you have to buy a bulky, aggressive-looking “gaming phone” like the RedMagic or ROG Phone.
By adding these features to a mainstream flagship, iQOO is trying to offer the best of both worlds: a phone that looks normal enough for a meeting but plays games like a dedicated console. It suggests that “gaming phones” might be evolving from a niche category into a standard feature set for ultra-premium devices.
What Comes Next
With the February 17 deadline approaching fast, iQOO will likely start revealing official specs and photos in the coming days. We expect to hear more about the battery size and global release plans soon.
