iQOO 16 is launching soon in India, here is everything we know about it so far

iQOO is gearing to launch its next flagship phone, iQOO 16, in India soon. The iQOO 16 is a high-end phone with top-end specs including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme and 8,400mAh battery. Here is all we know so far.

In Short

• iQOO 16 launching soon in India
• iQOO 16 already launched in China
• It has flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme chip

iQOO is gearing up to launch its next major flagship, the iQOO 16, in the Indian market. Following its initial debut in China this September and a highly anticipated showcase at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, the tech town is already buzzing. While the company has kept a few India-specific details under wraps, global specifications and industry leaks give us a very clear picture of what buyers can expect.

If you are waiting to upgrade your smartphone, here is a complete roundup of everything we know so far about this upcoming powerhouse.

iQOO 16 chip and software

At the heart of the iQOO 16 is a major processing upgrade. It is confirmed to be one of the first smartphones in India powered by the brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset.

This powerful chip is expected to be paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. On the software side, the iQOO 16 will be the company's first smartphone to ship with the brand new OriginOS 7, based on Android 17, right out of the box.

iQOO 16 design and display

When it comes to the display, the front of the phone is dominated by a stunning 6.85-inch AMOLED screen that boasts a sharp 2K resolution of 1440x3168 pixels. The panel has a fast 165Hz refresh rate.

iQOO has also completely refreshed the design language, moving away from the familiar look of the iQOO 15. The new model sports a redesigned camera island and an elegant textured bluish-grey rear panel, which is highlighted by a subtle geometric pattern of crossing diagonal lines.

iQOO 16 camera specs

The camera system has received a notable upgrade this year, leaning entirely on high-resolution sensors. The back of the phone houses a versatile triple-camera setup made up of three individual 50-megapixel sensors.

This includes a primary camera for standard shots, an ultrawide camera, and a periscope telephoto lens. For your selfies and video calls, the front display features a capable 32-megapixel camera housed in a standard punch-hole cutout.

iQOO 16 battery and charging

Perhaps the most striking upgrade on the iQOO 16 is its sheer battery capacity. The device packs a humongous 8,400mAh battery, which is a massive leap from the standard 5,000mAh to 7,000mAh batteries seen in most modern Android flagships.

To offset this giant battery size and keep your charging times completely manageable, the phone supports 100W wired charging.

Expected pricing and launch timeline

iQOO India CEO Nipun Marya confirmed at IMC 2026 that the iQOO 16 is coming “soon.”

The most talked-about shift, however, is the pricing strategy. Positioned by the CEO as a "true, complete flagship" that goes beyond just gaming, the iQOO 16 is expected to enter the ultra-premium tier. This represents a significant premium over its predecessor, the iQOO 15, which originally launched at a base price of Rs 72,999 in 2025

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