iQOO testing a 'mini' flagship with 7000mAh battery, Dimensity 9500+ chip

Compact phones are having a comeback moment of sorts, and iQOO seems determined to take the top spot with their iQOO 15 mini. Some fresh leaks are making the rounds on the Chinese Social Media Platform Weibo right after the launch of iQOO 15 which suggest that iQOO is gearing up to launch the iQOO 15 Mini sometime next year. It's still an unofficial leak, but nonetheless, it seems pretty interesting. Let’s have a look at them because this phone might just make compact flagships cool again.

According to early reports from credible tipsters, iQOO is currently testing the upcoming Mini model with MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500+ chipset, a top-tier SoC designed for flagship-level performance. It esentially is a slightly overclocked version of the Dimensity 9500. Some prototypes are also said to feature Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but apparently, iQOO has decided once and for all to go the MediaTek route.

In either case, the phone will have a flagship chipset, which can only mean massive performance figures, that too wrapped up in small body, which is always a great combination.

Furthermore, according to the tipsters, the iQOO 15 Mini will sport a 6.3-inch display with 1.5k resolution. Now, if somebody struggles with a big display, this will be a great option for them, given that the display will still be vibrant and sharp.

Leaks also hint that iQOO may opt for a cleaner, more minimal design language this time around – no over-the-top camera bumps or flashy textures, just a sleek and functional look that fits the “Mini” name.

Here’s where things get wild: the iQOO 15 Mini may feature a 7,000 mAh battery. Yes, in a compact phone. That’s nearly the same capacity you’d find in large gaming smartphones.

If this turns out to be true, iQOO might have cracked the biggest problem compact phones usually face: battery life. With super efficient silicon like the Dimensity 9500+ and improved thermal management, this could mean multi-day endurance in a truly pocketable form.

The timing of this leak is interesting. The OnePlus 15 series is already making waves, with the OnePlus 15s is rumoured to target a similar audience, who are fans of compact-flagships. The most interesting part of these leaks is their timing, right around the launch of the OnePlus 15. This phone will be competing with the OnePlus 15s, which is most likely to launch early next year.

However, if iQOO launches first or undercuts OnePlus on pricing, it could easily capture that niche segment.

Both brands seem to be checking the same boxes: flat displays, ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensors, and massive batteries packed into smaller bodies. But iQOO’s riskier move, the sheer battery size, could be its differentiator.