This gaming smartphone’s standout feature should worry the competition

The iQOO 15 Ultra may be focused on gaming, but its camera capabilities are far from an afterthought. In our review, Vivo’s smartphone delivers strong results in many areas, including genuinely impressive cameras, to the point that the flagship phone’s actual standout feature, with prices starting at about $800, almost feels secondary.

The main camera uses a Sony IMX921 sensor with a resolution of 50MP and pixel binning, the same sensor also used in the Vivo X200 FE. With its 1/1.56-inch image sensor and optical image stabilization, the iQOO 15 Ultra produces very good results. The sharpness and level of detail from the periscope camera are especially strong for a gaming phone. All sample images from the camera modules can be found in our comprehensive review.

To better analyze the quality of the main camera, we used a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for a photo comparison. The gaming phone’s 50MP camera delivers shots with strong contrast and sharp detail. We also prefer the iQOO 15 Ultra’s dynamic range over Samsung’s flagship. In the backlit tree trunk scene as well, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 200MP camera struggles more than Vivo’s camera software.

Strong low-light performance is anything but a given for a gaming-focused smartphone, which makes the iQOO 15 Ultra all the more impressive. By comparison, the iPhone 17 shows just how capable Vivo’s software algorithms have become. Apple’s phone is nowhere near competitive in terms of image quality here.

I have always been very passionately interested in mobile technologies, especially smartphones. Being a tech enthusiast means the half-life of my devices isn’t exactly long, and being the latest hardware is not enough to suffice as the manufacturer and operating system play a minor role – the most important aspect for me is that the device is state-of-the-art. After posting for Mobi Test I joined Notebookcheck in 2016, where I have been pursuing my enthusiasm for technology by reviewing the latest smartphone, tablet, and accessory trends.

Translator: Enrico Frahn – Senior Tech Writer – 10740 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021

My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.