iQOO has officially launched its latest flagship smartphone, the iQOO 16, in China. The new phone brings several major upgrades over its predecessor, including Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset, a massive 8,400mAh battery, a 2K 165Hz AMOLED display and a dedicated gaming chip.
The iQOO 16 is clearly aimed at users who want flagship performance, particularly gamers and power users. Along with the new processor, the phone gets an upgraded cooling system, fast charging, a triple 50-megapixel rear camera setup and Android 17-based OriginOS 7.
The phone has launched in China with a starting price of CNY 5,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. iQOO has not yet announced an India launch date or confirmed pricing for the Indian market.
iQOO 16 Price and Variants
The iQOO 16 is available in four memory and storage configurations in China.
The base model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage costs CNY 5,999. The 12GB + 512GB version is priced at CNY 6,799, while the 16GB + 512GB variant costs CNY 7,499. The top-end model with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage carries a price tag of CNY 8,499.
Here is the China pricing:
| Variant | China Price |
| 12GB + 256GB | CNY 5,999 |
| 12GB + 512GB | CNY 6,799 |
| 16GB + 512GB | CNY 7,499 |
| 16GB + 1TB | CNY 8,499 |
The starting price is considerably higher than the launch price of the previous-generation iQOO 15 in China. However, the new phone also brings a newer processor, larger battery and faster display.
It is important to note that China pricing cannot be used as the official India price. iQOO has not confirmed when the iQOO 16 will arrive in India.
iQOO 16 Gets a 2K 165Hz AMOLED Display
One of the biggest highlights of the iQOO 16 is its display.
The phone features a 6.85-inch Samsung M16 AMOLED panel with a 2K resolution and a refresh rate of up to 165Hz. This combination is designed to provide sharper visuals and smoother animations, particularly during gaming.
The high refresh rate should also make scrolling and everyday interactions feel more fluid. For gamers, however, the 165Hz panel is particularly relevant because the iQOO 16 is designed to support high-frame-rate gaming.
The display also uses Samsung’s newer M16 luminescent material, which iQOO says helps improve efficiency compared with previous-generation panels.
The combination of a high-resolution display and a 165Hz refresh rate is one of the defining features of the new flagship.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 Powers the Phone
Performance is at the centre of the iQOO 16.
The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, a new flagship processor built using a 2nm manufacturing process. The chipset is paired with iQOO’s dedicated Q4 gaming chip, which is designed to handle additional gaming-related workloads.
The phone also features a large vapour-chamber cooling system to help control temperatures during demanding workloads.
iQOO has positioned the device as a gaming-focused flagship, with features such as real-time ray tracing, frame generation and high-frame-rate gaming support. The combination of the Snapdragon processor, Q4 gaming chip and advanced cooling is intended to maintain performance during extended gaming sessions.
For buyers who frequently play demanding games, the dedicated gaming hardware could be just as important as the main processor.
Massive 8,400mAh Battery With 100W Charging
Battery capacity is another area where the iQOO 16 stands out.
The phone packs a huge 8,400mAh battery, making it one of the largest batteries found on a flagship smartphone. Despite the large capacity, iQOO has retained fast charging support.
The iQOO 16 supports 100W wired charging and 40W wireless charging.
A large battery can be particularly useful for gaming-focused users. High-refresh-rate displays and demanding games can consume considerable power, so the additional battery capacity should provide more flexibility during long gaming sessions.
The phone also includes a direct-drive gaming mode that can help power the device directly during intensive gaming rather than relying entirely on the battery.
Triple 50MP Rear Camera Setup
While performance remains the main focus, iQOO has not ignored photography.
The iQOO 16 features a triple rear camera system, with three 50-megapixel sensors. The primary camera uses a large 1/1.3-inch sensor, while the setup also includes an ultrawide camera and a periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.
A 32-megapixel front camera handles selfies and video calls.
The primary camera also supports optical stabilisation, while iQOO has introduced additional image-processing improvements for the new generation.
The triple 50MP setup means the iQOO 16 is not limited to gaming-focused hardware. It also offers a versatile camera system for everyday photography, wide-angle shots and zoom photography.
Android 17 and OriginOS 7
On the software side, the iQOO 16 runs Android 17 with OriginOS 7.
The software includes new productivity and AI-related features. One of the additions is Origin Workbench, which allows users to manage multiple applications within a single workspace.
The phone also includes cross-device features designed to work within the wider vivo and iQOO ecosystem.
The combination of Android 17 and OriginOS 7 means buyers get the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system alongside iQOO’s customised software experience.
IP68 and IP69 Protection
The iQOO 16 also gets improved protection against dust and water.
The phone carries IP68 and IP69 ratings, giving it resistance against dust and water exposure. An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is integrated beneath the display for biometric authentication.
These features help make the iQOO 16 more suitable for everyday use rather than restricting it to a gaming-focused audience.
iQOO 16 Design and Colours
iQOO has redesigned the rear of the phone compared with the previous generation. The camera module has a more distinctive appearance while retaining the brand’s performance-oriented identity.
The iQOO 16 is available in three colour options, including Chasing Light, Legend and Race Track, depending on the market and configuration.
The phone measures around 8.3mm thick in its slimmer configuration and weighs roughly 223 to 230 grams depending on the version.
iQOO 16 India Launch: What We Know
For Indian buyers, there is currently one important detail to keep in mind: iQOO has not officially confirmed the India launch of the iQOO 16.
The smartphone is currently official and available in China, but the company has not announced an Indian release date or India-specific pricing. This is different from the previous iQOO 15 announcement, which included information about the Indian market.
Therefore, any price circulating online as an “iQOO 16 India price” should currently be treated as an estimate rather than an official figure.
iQOO 16 Specifications at a Glance
- Display: 6.85-inch 2K Samsung M16 AMOLED
- Refresh rate: Up to 165Hz
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
- Gaming chip: iQOO Q4
- RAM: Up to 16GB
- Storage: Up to 1TB
- Rear cameras: 50MP + 50MP + 50MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 8,400mAh
- Wired charging: 100W
- Wireless charging: 40W
- Operating system: Android 17 with OriginOS 7
- Fingerprint sensor: Ultrasonic in-display
- Water/dust resistance: IP68 and IP69
- Network: 5G
- Starting price: CNY 5,999
- India availability: Not officially announced
iQOO 16: A Flagship Built Around Performance
The iQOO 16 is a major hardware upgrade focused heavily on performance. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, Q4 gaming chip, 165Hz 2K AMOLED display and 8,400mAh battery give the phone a clear performance-oriented identity.
The triple 50MP camera setup, wireless charging, IP68/IP69 protection and Android 17 software also make it more than just a gaming phone.
For now, the biggest unanswered question is its availability outside China. iQOO has confirmed the Chinese launch, but Indian consumers will have to wait for an official announcement regarding the iQOO 16 India launch date and price.
If iQOO eventually brings the same hardware to India, the combination of a next-generation Snapdragon chipset, massive battery and 165Hz display will make the phone an interesting addition to the premium flagship segment.
