New Delhi, August 15, 2026: The iQOO 16 could arrive with a 165Hz display, a redesigned rear camera module and Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship processor, according to a new leak.
The upcoming smartphone has surfaced in several reports in recent weeks, including a listing on the 3C certification website that suggested its launch in China could be approaching.
iQOO 16 May Get 2K 165Hz Display
Tipster Digital Chat Station has reportedly shared details on Weibo about an engineering prototype of the iQOO 16.
According to the leak, the smartphone could feature a 6.85-inch flat Samsung display with 2K resolution and support for a 165Hz refresh rate.
If confirmed, this would represent an upgrade over the iQOO 15’s refresh rate. The current flagship features a 6.85-inch Samsung M14 8T LTPO AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, 2K resolution, up to 6,000 nits of local peak brightness and 508 ppi pixel density.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro Tipped
The iQOO 16 is also tipped to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro processor, reportedly carrying the model number SM8975.
Previous leaks have suggested that the processor could use Qualcomm’s new 2+3+3 Oryon CPU architecture with 16MB of shared L2 cache. It could reportedly feature an Adreno 850 GPU with 18MB of GMEM and support both LPDDR6 and LPDDR5X RAM.
Camera Module Could Get Major Design Change
The upcoming flagship is also expected to feature a redesigned rear camera module.
According to the latest leak, the camera unit could move to the upper-left corner of the rear panel and adopt a relatively small square-shaped design.
Previous reports have also suggested that the iQOO 16 could feature a dedicated graphics chip, symmetrical stereo speakers, an X-axis linear motor and a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.
The smartphone is also rumoured to pack an 8,500mAh battery and offer IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.
iQOO 16 India Launch Remains Uncertain
The iQOO 16 is expected to launch in China in late September or early October, although its India launch remains uncertain.
A previous report claimed that iQOO could skip launching the iQOO 16 in India because rising memory prices may push its expected price above Rs. 85,000.
Meanwhile, iQOO has recently increased the price of its current flagship, the iQOO 15, in India. The smartphone now retails for Rs. 85,999compared with its launch price of Rs. 72,999.