iQOO 15 Ultra Is Finally Heading Global

Thursday, 23 July 2026 at 09:50

The iQOO 15 Ultra arrived in China in February with one of the most distinctive hardware setups in the gaming phone segment: an active cooling fan, pressure-sensitive shoulder triggers, and a 7,400mAh battery. Five months later, it's finally showing up in international certification databases. Two iQOO devices cleared EEC certification this week — one of them is the 15 Ultra, and the other is a complete mystery.

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Summary

V2546A (iQOO 15 Ultra) cleared EEC: The Chinese variant's model number appeared in the Eurasian Economic Commission database, the clearest signal yet of an imminent international launch.
I2603 also cleared EEC: An unknown iQOO model — no information available on what it is. Could be a new device or a regional variant of an existing one.
iQOO 15 Ultra key specs: 6.85-inch 144Hz LTPO AMOLED, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 7,400mAh battery, 100W wired + 40W wireless, triple 50MP cameras, built-in cooling fan, shoulder triggers, IP68/IP69.
China launch price was CNY 5,699 (~$840): Global pricing will likely differ.
iQOO 16 global also being prepared: Model I2601 appeared in IMEI databases earlier, though no launch commitment outside China yet.

Five Months Is a Long Wait — Here's Why It Matters

The iQOO 15 Ultra launched in China in February 2026. EEC certification appearing in July means international buyers have been waiting half a year for a device that's already well-reviewed and commercially proven in its home market. The delay is typical for iQOO's global rollout pattern — the brand historically launches in China first, then takes several months to clear regulatory approvals for Europe, India, and other markets. But for a gaming phone in a category that moves quickly, five months is a long time.

The EEC database is the Eurasian Economic Commission — covering Russia and several neighboring markets. Clearing EEC is one of the final steps before a manufacturer officially launches a product in those territories. Combined with existing IMEI registrations in India, the global launch picture is taking shape across multiple markets simultaneously.

The I2603 Mystery

The second device — I2603 — is the more intriguing entry. No leaked specs, no tipster claims, no matching model number in any other database. iQOO hasn't acknowledged it exists. Given that iQOO's current naming conventions put the Neo 11S in the "Neo" category and the 15 Ultra is already accounted for, I2603 could be an international variant of an unannounced device — possibly an iQOO Neo 11S global or something entirely new. Upcoming reports will hopefully fill that gap.

What the 15 Ultra Brings to Global Markets

For international buyers, the 15 Ultra arrives as a genuinely distinctive product. The built-in cooling fan isn't just marketing — it demonstrably keeps sustained gaming performance higher than passive cooling allows. The pressure-sensitive shoulder triggers enable console-style controls without a clip-on accessory. The 7,400mAh battery with 100W charging delivers competitive endurance. The triple 50MP camera system — Sony IMX921 primary with OIS, ultra-wide, and periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom — covers photography credibly for a gaming-focused device.