A fresh leak posted on X suggests that the iQOO 16 might hit the market between December 15 and 17. The manufacturer revealed the smartphone in China during late September, and company officials verified their intentions to export the handset earlier this month.
Should this schedule prove correct, consumers will experience a more extended delay than the previous year. The iQOO 15 debuted in China on October 20, 2025, prior to its global distribution starting in India on November 26. On this occasion, the interval between the Chinese release and the Indian introduction might extend to approximately two and a half months.
Cost details represent another major uncertainty. The iQOO 16 begins at CNY 5,999, which equals about $894, in China. A prior tip indicated the Indian price might near INR 100,000, representing $1,039. Such a figure would represent a steep rise compared to the iQOO 15, which debuted in India costing INR 72,999, or $766.
This new mobile device incorporates a 6.85-inch Samsung M16 AMOLED screen offering a 1440x3168 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, along with 10,000-nit peak brightness. It operates using the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, providing up to 16GB of RAM alongside 1TB of storage space.
Regarding camera hardware, the handset contains a 50MP primary sensor featuring OIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with OIS plus 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide shooter equipped with autofocus. A 32MP front sensor manages self-portraits and video chats.
The hardware additionally includes an 8,400 mAh battery supporting 100W wired power and 40W wireless power replenishment. It features IP68 and IP69 certifications protecting against dust and moisture. Regarding the operating platform, the smartphone uses OriginOS 7 built upon Android 17.
