A day after Vivo confirmed the Vivo X500 series launch date, its sub-brand iQOO has confirmed that the iQOO 16 is arriving later this month. While an exact date has not been shared, the brand has also confirmed the launch of a new iQOO Pad Ultra tablet in China.
The official iQOO China account has confirmed that iQOO 16 and a new iQOO Pad Ultra will launch in China at the end of September 2026. The brand claims that the standard iQOO 16 will deliver specs and capabilities that go beyond what would normally be expected from a Pro Max-class device.
Image Credit: Weibo/ @iQOO
Image Credit: Weibo/ @iQOO
iQOO has also shared a teaser image which confirms the UFO-like camera module of iQOO 16. Moreover, iQOO's product manager, Wang Kan, has shared further details regarding the iQOO 16. For starters, he has confirmed that the phone will feature a new in-house gaming chip paired with a next-generation Monster Super Engine.
The brand claims this enables console-like ray tracing and better visual quality in demanding games. Kan has also revealed that iQOO has worked with Samsung Display on the iQOO 16's panel. However, he has not revealed exact display specifications of the phone yet.
iQOO 16 Could Bring a "100X Tele Lens"
Moving on, two new details have emerged from tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) on Weibo. The leaker claims that iQOO 16 will be available in four RAM and storage configurations: 12 GB + 256 GB, 12 GB + 512 GB, 16 GB + 512 GB and 16 GB + 1 TB.
On design, DCS doubles down on the previous report of the iQOO 16 bringing a UFO-styled triple camera layout. However, the new detail is that the leaker claims the module is marked with a "100X Tele Lens" branding.
This could points to 100x digital zoom support as a headline camera feature for the telephoto sensor of the iQOO 16. Based on leaked iQOO 16 camera specs, the setup is said to include a 50 MP telephoto camera with a 1/1.95-inch sensor size and an f/2.65 aperture.
DCS also adds that the engineering unit lacks an LED light strip, and that the display quality on the iQOO 16 is described as impressive.
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iQOO Pad Ultra Positioned as Flagship Tablet
Aside from the iQOO 16, Wang Kan has also shared details about the iQOO Pad Ultra. He says that the tablet is positioned as a portable gaming device, featuring a next-gen flagship processor in a compact body, with multi-finger touch response and support for demanding AAA games.
iQOO describes it as a new gaming form factor rather than an incremental tablet update, aiming to sit between smartphones, tablets and PCs. iQOO Pad Ultra could be a compact gaming tablet as Kan shared image of a small tablet last week.
That said, iQOO has not confirmed an exact launch date for both the iQOO 16 and the iQOO Pad Ultra. In the meantime, the brand has opened pre-reservation for the iQOO 16 via the Vivo China e-store and interested folks can book their slot for 9.90 Chinese yuan (approximately Rs 140).
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