PhoneLifespan

Phone (3) vs iQOO 15 Ultra

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Winner

Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra

The iQOO 15 Ultra wins this one, taking display and battery decisively. Against the Phone (3) it's also the sounder buy at $10.08 per month of safe use.

Value Score: Phone (3) 69 · iQOO 15 Ultra 79 methodology

Who should pick which

Beyond the scores — our take on each phone and the buyer it actually suits.

Nothing Phone (3)

At $799 the Nothing Phone (3) asks full-flagship money and answers with the most distinctive design in phones plus a seven-year security promise — the catch is a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 that sits a rung below the chips rivals hand you for the same cash.

Pick it if

  • Design lovers who want to stand out
  • Long-term keepers who value updates
  • People bored of identical glass slabs

Skip it if

  • You want maximum performance per dollar
  • You rely on carrier financing or in-store service
Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra

iQOO's no-compromise gaming flagship pairs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a 7,400mAh battery and a 59-blade cooling fan with an unusually long 5-year OS / 7-year security promise that keeps it safe to use into 2033.

Pick it if

  • Mobile gamers who keep phones for years
  • Performance buyers who want the longest support window

Skip it if

  • You need an official US warranty and full carrier bands
  • You want a light, compact phone

The lifespan decider

When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.

Nothing Phone (3) $799
Safe to buy$11.16/mo
2025◆ Buy-by Jul 20302032
Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra $790
Safe to buy$10.08/mo
2026◆ Buy-by Feb 20312033

Category by category

Display
Phone (3) 70iQOO 15 Ultra 90

The iQOO 15 Ultra's screen is the better one — 6.85-inch amoled, 1440x3168, 144hz, up to 8000 nits peak, dolby vision.

Performance
Phone (3) 86iQOO 15 Ultra 100

The iQOO 15 Ultra's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is simply the faster chip.

Camera
Phone (3) 79iQOO 15 Ultra 79

Camera systems are comparable on paper — pick by sample photos.

Battery
Phone (3) 83iQOO 15 Ultra 100

7,400mAh vs 5,150mAh — the iQOO 15 Ultra lasts longer between charges.

Software longevity
Phone (3) 85iQOO 15 Ultra 93

The iQOO 15 Ultra is supported until Feb 2033 — 7 months longer than the Phone (3).

Value
Phone (3) 69iQOO 15 Ultra 79

Overall value goes to the iQOO 15 Ultra at $10.08 per month of safe use.

Frequently asked

How long will the Nothing Phone (3) get updates?

Nothing promises five Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from the July 2025 launch, so it's patched until July 2032 — a security window on par with Samsung's Galaxy S and Google's Pixel lines, and longer than the OnePlus 13.

Nothing Phone (3) vs Galaxy S25 or OnePlus 13?

The S25 and OnePlus 13 give you a faster flagship chip for similar money, so on raw specs they win. The Phone (3) counters with a genuinely unique design, the Glyph Matrix, and a seven-year security promise that matches the S25. It comes down to whether character or peak performance matters more to you.

When does the iQOO 15 Ultra stop getting updates?

iQOO backs the iQOO 15 series with 5 major Android OS upgrades and 7 years of security patches, so a unit bought at the February 2026 launch is covered until roughly February 2033. That carries it from Android 16 all the way to Android 21 and is one of the longest support windows on any performance-focused Android phone, comfortably beating dedicated gaming handsets that typically stop at two or three years.

Is the iQOO 15 Ultra worth buying in 2026?

Yes, if you want maximum performance and plan to keep the phone. Even midway through 2026 you still have around six and a half years of security coverage ahead, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will not feel slow for years, and the 7,400mAh battery ages gracefully. The main caveats are the 227g weight and the import-only availability outside China.

Full spec table
SpecPhone (3)iQOO 15 Ultra
Price (street)$799$790
Display6.67-inch LTPS AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 960Hz PWM dimming6.85-inch AMOLED, 1440x3168, 144Hz, up to 8000 nits peak, Dolby Vision
ChipsetSnapdragon 8s Gen 4Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM12GB/16GB16GB/24GB
Storage256GB/512GB256GB/512GB/1TB
Battery5,150 mAh7,400 mAh
Charging65W wired, 15W wireless100W wired, 40W wireless
Rear cameras50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope 3x50MP main, 50MP telephoto 3x, 50MP ultra-wide
Dimensions160.6 × 75.6 × 9.0 mm163.7 x 76.8 x 8.7 mm
Weight218 g227 g
Water resistanceIP68IP68/IP69
Supported untilJul 2032Feb 2033

More comparisons

Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.