The iQOO 16 is expected to arrive in India in December after making its debut in China in September. The upcoming flagship smartphone features Qualcomm’s latest high-end chipset, a high-refresh-rate AMOLED display and a large-capacity battery. Although iQOO has not announced an official launch date, the company showcased the device at the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi.
According to a recent leak, the smartphone could make its Indian debut in the middle of December. The India-bound model is also confirmed to feature a new processor and ship with OriginOS 7, marking a first for the brand in the country.
iQOO 16 India Launch Timeline
Tipster Abhishek Yadav has suggested that the iQOO 16 could launch in India between December 15 and December 17, 2026. He shared the expected launch window in a post on X. However, iQOO has yet to confirm the date officially.
The company previously confirmed the smartphone’s India launch during IMC 2026 in New Delhi. It also revealed that the Indian variant will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 Mobile Platform, manufactured using a 2nm process.
The iQOO 16 will also become the first iQOO smartphone in India to come with OriginOS 7 pre-installed.
iQOO 16 Aims to Deliver a Complete Flagship Experience
During an exclusive interaction with Gadgets 360 at IMC 2026, iQOO India CEO Nipun Marya explained that the iQOO 16 is designed to offer a more well-rounded flagship experience rather than concentrating mainly on gaming and raw performance.
According to Marya, the company is expanding its focus to other important areas, including the display, camera system, cooling technology and artificial intelligence capabilities.
iQOO 16 Specifications and Features
The iQOO 16 was launched in China in September. The Chinese variant features a 6.85-inch AMOLED display with a 2K resolution of 1,440 x 3,168 pixels and a refresh rate of up to 165Hz.
The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage.
For photography, the device features a triple rear camera system comprising three 50-megapixel sensors, including a periscope telephoto camera. It also has a 32-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.
iQOO 16 Battery and Charging Details
The iQOO 16 packs an 8,400mAh battery, which supports 100W wired fast charging and 40W wireless charging.
While the Chinese model’s specifications have been revealed, further details about the Indian variant remain limited. The company has confirmed its chipset and software details, but the official launch date and any differences between the Indian and Chinese versions are yet to be announced.