The iQOO 16 may launch in India in mid-December, roughly three months after the device debuted in China, with a rumored launch window of December 15-17, although iQOO has not yet verified this date. The phone became available in China in late September, resulting in a longer wait for Indian buyers this year.
A recent leak from a tipster on X suggests that the iQOO 16 will arrive in India between December 15 and 17. If true, that would mark a longer wait than last year. The iQOO 15 made its debut in China on October 20, 2025, and reached India on November 26, just over five weeks later. This time, the gap could stretch to around two and a half months, with the reason for this delay still unclear, as iQOO has not shared any details about its plans for India.
In China, the iQOO 16 starts at CNY 5,999 (about $894). However, an earlier leak suggests the Indian price could reach INR 100,000 (around $1,039). That would be a sharp increase over the iQOO 15, which launched in India at INR 72,999 (about $766). A price that high could make the new phone a harder sell, as the iQOO series has often offered strong hardware for less than many rival flagships.
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The iQOO 16 boasts a range of features, including a 6.85-inch Samsung AMOLED screen with a 165Hz refresh rate and 2K resolution, claiming a peak brightness of 10,000 nits. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip and offers up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The rear camera setup comprises three 50MP cameras, featuring a main lens, a 3x zoom lens, and an ultra-wide camera, while a 32MP front camera handles selfies.
Another key aspect of the iQOO 16 is its battery life, with an 8,400mAh battery that supports 100W wired and 40W wireless charging, as well as IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance. The phone runs on OriginOS 7, based on Android 17.