Vivo’s iQOO 15 is making a strong case for itself in smartphone photography, especially when lighting gets tricky. While it’s positioned as a gaming smartphone, its camera performance shows why Vivo is often seen as a benchmark when it comes to image processing and HDR.
That said, low-light scenes still reveal the limits of its hardware. The iQOO 15 uses the relatively small Sony IMX921 sensor, and in darker environments that smaller sensor size can’t always capture as much light and detail as larger, more premium camera systems. You may notice this most in very dim scenes, where fine textures and clarity can soften compared to what top-tier camera phones deliver.
Where the iQOO 15 really stands out is Vivo’s HDR processing. In a comparison shot taken in a basement under daylight-like conditions, the iQOO 15 handles the challenging lighting far more effectively than Samsung’s current flagship. Highlights and shadows are balanced in a way that makes the scene look more natural and better exposed overall, which is exactly the kind of situation where strong HDR tuning makes a visible difference.
In terms of sharpness, the iQOO 15 doesn’t clearly out-resolve the Galaxy S25 Ultra—but that’s also in line with expectations considering its price range. Instead of chasing maximum sharpness, the iQOO 15 seems to focus on producing a well-lit, well-balanced image that looks good immediately, particularly in scenes with mixed or uneven lighting.
For anyone searching for a gaming phone that also delivers impressive HDR photos, the Vivo iQOO 15 is shaping up to be a compelling option—especially if you care about real-world exposure and dynamic range more than absolute low-light dominance.
