iQOO 16 Leak Reveals New Camera Design, 165Hz 2K Display and 8,500mAh Battery

iQOO 16 will be launching in October with a new camera module, 165Hz 2K display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, and an 8,500mAh battery. There’s also a hint of a compact gaming tablet from iQOO coming soon.

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It seems that iQOO is preparing for the big launch of its latest flagship smartphone dubbed the iQOO 16 in China. Along with the upcoming smartphone, there is also the rumor that iQOO will be launching a small-sized tablet aimed at gamers. However, until the time comes, iQOO still has not revealed anything about the iQOO 16. Luckily, thanks to a recent leak, we get to know the rear design of the iQOO 16 and the teaser from an executive about the next tablet from iQOO.

The iQOO 16 is going to be an amazing upgrade especially for gamers and power users as the smartphone is rumored to have a high refresh rate 2K screen, the new Qualcomm flagship chipset, and huge battery capacity. The release date of the smartphone is set to be in China in October.

iQOO 16 could get a completely redesigned rear panel

According to Digital Chat Station, who got the information from a reliable tipster, the design of the back of the upcoming iQOO 16 smartphone is expected to be much different from the designs of previous iQOO flagship devices. According to the tipster, the iQOO 16 is expected to sport a square-shaped camera island, the corners of which are going to be highly rounded.

Three rear-facing cameras are reportedly supposed to be placed in a connected pattern inside the camera module. Furthermore, it seems that the camera island is going to have additional texture, thus giving the rear part of the smartphone a somewhat mechanical look. As the tipster states, iQOO is planning to use a new technique for the manufacturing of the back of the smartphone.

It seems that the camera island is supposed to make the iQOO 16 device more distinctive against the background of other flagship smartphones, which usually have large square and rectangular camera modules. Although the design details are still leaks, it looks like iQOO plans to give its next flagship smartphone a distinct look.

iQOO 16 tipped to feature three 50MP cameras

Camera hardware might be another key feature of the iQOO 16. As reports suggest, the device will come with a triple camera system at the back, with each sensor having a 50 megapixels resolution.

The main camera will likely include a relatively large sensor of 1/1.3 inch with the f/1.68 aperture value. The ultrawide camera and periscope telephoto camera are also going to include 50 MP sensors each. If these specifications are included in the final version of the smartphone, then the camera system of the iQOO 16 will be rather balanced compared to some flagships, where higher-resolution sensors are installed only in the main camera.

The periscope telephoto camera with a 50 MP resolution will make the device interesting for those users who frequently take photos of distant objects. Nonetheless, sensor resolution is not a sole parameter of camera quality.

165Hz 2K display could target gamers

Display technology will be yet another notable feature in the new iQOO 16. According to predictions, the new smartphone will sport a flat 6.85-inch Samsung-made 2K display with a very high refresh rate of 165Hz. This display may become a strong selling point for mobile gamers who would appreciate not only its great resolution but also such a high refresh rate.

The flat design of the screen will also be beneficial for those customers who do not want to experiment with curved displays. However, it is essential to note that maintaining a high refresh rate on a big 2K display may have a huge effect on battery life.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and 8,500mAh battery

Specs-wise, the upcoming iQOO 16 is expected to be driven by the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset. According to reports, Qualcomm plans to reveal the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and even its enhanced version called Pro in September, and this puts the iQOO 16 among the earliest flagship smartphones that might be equipped with the new chipset.

This high-end chipset is reportedly accompanied by an 8,500mAh battery pack with 100W wired charging support. This will make the battery capacity of the iQOO 16 one of the largest in any flagship smartphone, although it remains to be seen how long it will last due to other factors as well.

Other rumored specs include wireless charging, a dedicated display chip and an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. It might also have USB 3.2 connectivity, two speakers and either IP68 or IP69 rating. All things considered, these aspects make it clear that iQOO intends to create a flagship-performing phone with the iQOO 16 instead of just focusing on gaming.

On the other hand, the big battery and premium level of the cooling system and display components can lead to some concerns regarding the phone’s size. If iQOO wants to provide flagship-level performance but at the same time create a comfortable device to use, then it should think carefully of all its components.

iQOO also teases a compact gaming tablet

However, the arrival of the iQOO 16 could not be the only notable product coming out from the company. The iQOO Product Manager Wang Ken has revealed what seems like a new compact tablet possibly targeted at gamers. The device in question reportedly connects to a tablet which has just received its certification in China.

As per the latest information, the compact tablet in question could feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6-series SoC along with an active cooling system equipped with a fan. In essence, such cooling technology will prove quite helpful in sustaining the performance level while gaming, as smartphones and tablets are prone to thermal throttling.

Furthermore, the tablet could have an OLED screen, thin bezels and a high refresh rate. The new product reportedly may offer Wi-Fi connectivity only and there will be no cellular version. Assuming all the information above turns out to be correct, then iQOO will be targeting customers looking for a small-sized gaming tablet with flagship performance level.

iQOO 16 launch date and what to expect

Currently, the iQOO 16 is supposed to be released in China in October 2026. The Snapdragon Summit in September might offer some insights on the phone's chip and performance before its official release by iQOO.

However, for current owners of the iQOO 15, it might be advisable to wait and see before determining if the upcoming release is worth purchasing. It should be noted that preliminary benchmark data collected from engineering samples is not indicative of the performance of commercial phones. At the same time, advancements in real-world battery endurance, thermals, camera, and software become more valuable than benchmark scores alone.

With its 165Hz 2K screen, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chip, three 50MP cameras, and 8,500mAh battery, iQOO 16 appears quite promising on paper. However, the actual success of the phone will depend on such factors as price, weight, thermals, and synergy of all the hardware. The most important thing is the actual specs at the time of release and how well the iQOO 16 will compete against other next-generation Snapdragon flagships.