iQOO 15 vs OnePlus 12R: A Deep Dive into Performance, Battery, and Display

The iQOO 15 and OnePlus 12R represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-to-high range Android smartphone market. The iQOO 15 arrives with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the OnePlus 12R leverages the proven Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This comparison dissects the key differences, focusing on real-world performance, battery endurance, and display quality to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing battery life and display brightness, the iQOO 15 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 delivers a substantial 7+ hour advantage in active use, coupled with a significantly brighter display. However, the OnePlus 12R remains a strong contender with its fast charging and established brand reputation.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 15 OnePlus 12R
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, October 202024, January 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, October 20Available. Released 2024, February 06
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, fiber-reinforced plastic back or glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions163.7 x 76.8 x 8.1 mm (6.44 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - International· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - China· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight215 g or 220 g (7.58 oz)207 g (7.30 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1440 x 3168 pixels (~508 ppi density)1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.85 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 1000 nits (typ), 2600 nits (HBM), 6000 nits (peak)LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 840Adreno 740
OSAndroid 16, up to 5 major Android upgrades, OriginOS 6Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.7, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.1, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), 1/3.1", 0.7µm16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging100W wired, PPS, PD 40W wireless Bypass charging100W wired, 100% in 26 min
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 7000 mAhLi-Ion 5500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAlpha, Legend, Gray, Green, BlueIron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune
ModelsI2501, V2505ACPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611
PriceAbout 700 EUR€ 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00
SAR-1.19 W/kg (head)     0.82 W/kg (body)

vivo iQOO 15

  • Exceptional battery life (21:47h active use)
  • Significantly brighter display (2933 nits)
  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor

  • Wireless charging may not be as fast as some competitors
  • Camera specs currently unknown

OnePlus 12R

  • Fast 100W wired charging (26 min full charge)
  • Established OxygenOS software experience
  • Competitive performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

  • Significantly shorter battery life (14:32h active use)
  • Dimmer display (1181 nits)

Display Comparison

The iQOO 15 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 2933 nits, compared to the OnePlus 12R’s 1181 nits. This difference is immediately noticeable in direct sunlight, where the iQOO 15 remains easily readable. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the iQOO 15’s higher peak brightness suggests a more advanced panel technology. We expect the iQOO 15 to offer superior HDR content viewing. Details regarding refresh rate and PWM dimming are missing, but the brightness difference is a key differentiator.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, given the iQOO 15’s focus on performance, it’s reasonable to expect a capable camera system. The OnePlus 12R likely benefits from OnePlus’s established image processing algorithms. The absence of information regarding sensor size and OIS makes it difficult to assess image quality definitively. We anticipate both phones will offer acceptable camera performance for social media and casual photography, but the iQOO 15’s processing power could provide an edge in computational photography features.

Performance

The iQOO 15’s Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) represents a substantial leap in performance and efficiency over the OnePlus 12R’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The iQOO 15’s octa-core CPU, featuring Oryon V3 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.6 GHz, promises faster processing speeds for demanding applications and gaming. The 3nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 translates to improved thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still a powerful chip, the iQOO 15’s processor offers a clear advantage in raw performance and sustained performance.

Battery Life

The iQOO 15 delivers a remarkable 21:47h of active use, significantly outperforming the OnePlus 12R’s 14:32h. This difference is primarily attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Both phones support 100W wired charging, with the OnePlus 12R claiming a full charge in 26 minutes. The iQOO 15 adds 40W wireless charging and bypass charging, offering greater charging flexibility. While the OnePlus 12R’s charging speed is competitive, the iQOO 15’s superior battery life and wireless charging capabilities provide a more comprehensive charging experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 15 if you need exceptional battery life for all-day use, a vibrant and bright display for outdoor visibility, and the latest Snapdragon processing power for demanding tasks. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prioritize a well-rounded experience with fast 100W charging, a familiar OxygenOS interface, and a slightly more established ecosystem of accessories and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the iQOO 15 get noticeably hotter than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s 3nm process is designed for improved thermal efficiency. While both chips will generate heat under load, the iQOO 15 is likely to experience less throttling and maintain higher sustained performance due to its more efficient architecture. However, the effectiveness of the phone’s cooling system will also play a crucial role.
❓ How does the 40W wireless charging on the iQOO 15 compare to the wired charging speed of the OnePlus 12R?
While the OnePlus 12R’s 100W wired charging is faster for a full charge (26 minutes), the iQOO 15’s 40W wireless charging offers convenience. A full wireless charge will take longer, but it eliminates the need for cables and allows for top-ups throughout the day. The iQOO 15 also supports bypass charging, which allows for direct power delivery while charging, reducing heat buildup.
❓ Is the difference in display brightness between the iQOO 15 and OnePlus 12R noticeable in everyday use, or only in direct sunlight?
The difference is noticeable even in indoor environments, with the iQOO 15’s display appearing more vibrant and punchy. However, the benefit is most pronounced in direct sunlight, where the OnePlus 12R’s screen can become difficult to read. The iQOO 15’s higher peak brightness provides a significantly better outdoor viewing experience.