Performance has long been iQOO's biggest strength, but the iQOO 16 could see the brand put a stronger focus on cameras. A new leak suggests the upcoming flagship will bring meaningful upgrades to its main and telephoto sensors.
According to tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS), the iQOO 16 is being evaluated with triple 50 MP rear cameras, the same as the iQOO 15. However, the upcoming flagship is said to largely improve on the main camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor size and an f/1.68 aperture.
If true, this will make the iQOO 16 one of the few iQOO phones with such a large main camera sensor. The closest are the iQOO 15 and iQOO 15 Ultra, which get a 50 MP main camera with 1/ 1.49-inch sensor size and an f/1.88 aperture. This should mean better low-light performance for the iQOO 16.
Alongside the main camera, the telephoto lens is also seemingly due for an upgrade, as DCS says the 50 MP camera will feature a 1/1.95-inch sensor size and an f/2.65 aperture. The ultra-wide camera could remain unchanged with a 50 MP sensor and an f/2.0 aperture.
The tipster also notes the lens arrangement appears to follow an inverted design, while the exact telephoto reach and macro capabilities are still being finalised. iQOO 16 could be powered by the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset, due to be unveiled at the Snapdragon Summit 2026 event.
The phone is also tipped to sport a 6.85-inch 165 Hz 2K Samsung-made flat display and feature an 8,500mAh battery with 100W fast charging support. iQOO 16 could also feature a dedicated display chip, a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, dual stereo speakers, IP68 + IP69 ratings, an anti-reflective coating and more.
That said, the iQOO 16 is expected to launch in China by the end of September or early October 2026. However, we will know for sure when the brand officially confirms the timeline.
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