As competition in the flagship smartphone segment intensifies, iQOO is preparing to raise the bar once again. The Vivo sub-brand has officially confirmed the launch timeline of its upcoming premium handset — the iQOO 15 Ultra — and the announcement has already stirred excitement among power users and mobile gaming enthusiasts.
According to iQOO’s latest teaser shared on Chinese social media platform Weibo, the iQOO 15 Ultra will be launched in China before the Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year. This places the phone’s debut firmly ahead of February 17, 2026, the date when the annual festival begins this year.
While iQOO has yet to reveal full specifications, the company has made one thing clear: the iQOO 15 Ultra is being positioned as an “ultra-performance” flagship, designed to sit above the standard iQOO 15 in its premium lineup.
A Strategic Pre–Spring Festival Launch
Launching a smartphone before the Spring Festival is no coincidence. The period leading up to Chinese New Year is one of the most important consumer spending windows in China, with brands racing to capture attention before millions of people travel, shop, and upgrade their devices.
By confirming a pre-festival launch, iQOO is signaling confidence in its product — and its intention to compete aggressively with other early-2026 flagships.
This timeline also aligns with earlier industry leaks, including reports from well-known tipster Digital Chat Station, who previously suggested that iQOO’s next Ultra device would arrive before the holiday season.
Now, with official confirmation in place, the countdown has truly begun.
Where the iQOO 15 Ultra Fits in the Lineup
The “Ultra” branding is significant.
The existing iQOO 15 already occupies a strong position as a performance-focused flagship, powered by Qualcomm’s top-tier chipset. The iQOO 15 Ultra, however, is expected to go a step further — not just with raw power, but with features tailored for gamers, heavy users, and enthusiasts who want more than a conventional premium phone.
Rather than replacing the iQOO 15, the Ultra model is designed to complement it, offering enhanced cooling, advanced display tech, and additional hardware features that appeal to a niche but loyal audience.
Display: Bigger, Sharper, Faster (Expected)
Leaks suggest that the iQOO 15 Ultra could feature a 6.85-inch 2K LTPO OLED display, potentially sourced from Samsung. If true, this would make it one of the largest and sharpest panels in iQOO’s history.
The standout detail, however, is the 165Hz refresh rate — a figure that goes beyond most flagship phones, which typically top out at 120Hz or 144Hz.
For everyday users, this means ultra-smooth scrolling and animations. For gamers, it could translate to a noticeably more responsive and fluid experience, especially in fast-paced competitive titles.
LTPO technology would also allow the refresh rate to dynamically scale down when high performance isn’t needed, helping conserve battery life.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Power Under the Hood
At the heart of the iQOO 15 Ultra is expected to be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, internally codenamed SMM8850.
This is the same chipset that powers the standard iQOO 15, but the Ultra variant is likely to be tuned more aggressively, possibly with higher sustained performance thanks to improved thermal management.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is designed to deliver:
- Faster CPU and GPU performance
- Enhanced AI processing
- Improved energy efficiency
- Better thermal stability under load
Combined with iQOO’s reputation for performance optimization, the Ultra model could be one of the most powerful Android phones of early 2026.
Gaming Takes Center Stage
iQOO has built much of its brand identity around gaming, and the iQOO 15 Ultra appears to double down on that focus.
According to leaks, the phone may include an active cooling system with a built-in fan, a feature rarely seen in mainstream flagships. Active cooling could help maintain peak performance during long gaming sessions, reducing throttling and heat buildup.
Another reported addition is shoulder triggers — physical or capacitive buttons positioned along the phone’s frame to mimic console-style controls. For mobile gamers, this can significantly improve precision and immersion, especially in shooter and racing games.
If implemented well, these features could make the iQOO 15 Ultra one of the most gaming-oriented flagship phones on the market.
Camera Upgrades: A New Periscope Lens
While performance is clearly the headline feature, iQOO isn’t ignoring photography.
Reports indicate that the iQOO 15 Ultra is being tested with a new periscope telephoto camera, believed to use a 50-megapixel sensor. The sensor is said to feature a 1/1.95-inch size with 0.8-micrometre pixels, suggesting improved light capture and zoom clarity.
This would mark a meaningful upgrade over previous iQOO models, which have traditionally prioritized performance over camera innovation.
If finalized, the periscope lens could enhance long-range photography, portrait shots, and video zoom capabilities — areas where performance-focused phones often lag behind camera-centric rivals.
Premium Features Round Out the Package
Beyond performance and gaming, the iQOO 15 Ultra is also expected to deliver a more complete flagship experience.
Leaked features include:
- Wireless charging, a first for some iQOO performance models
- IP68 dust and water resistance, bringing it in line with top-tier flagships
- A large battery paired with fast wired charging (details yet to be confirmed)
These additions suggest that iQOO wants the Ultra model to feel less like a niche gaming phone and more like a fully-rounded premium device.
What We Still Don’t Know
Despite growing excitement, several details remain under wraps:
- Official camera specifications
- Battery capacity and charging speeds
- Software enhancements for gaming and cooling
- Pricing and availability outside China
iQOO is expected to gradually reveal more information in the weeks leading up to the launch.
A Flagship Built for Power Users
With its confirmed pre–Spring Festival launch, the iQOO 15 Ultra is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated smartphones of early 2026 in China.
Rather than chasing mass-market appeal, iQOO appears focused on a clear audience: users who value raw performance, gaming features, and cutting-edge hardware.
If the final product lives up to the leaks, the iQOO 15 Ultra could strengthen the brand’s position as one of the most performance-driven smartphone makers in the industry.
All eyes now turn to the coming weeks, as iQOO prepares to reveal the rest of the story.