If I'm spending flagship money on a phone, performance will always come first. Cameras come next, followed by a solid battery and fast charging. That's exactly why, as an iQOO 12 user, it genuinely hurt when reports suggested that the iQOO 16 might skip India amid the ongoing RAM crisis. Thankfully, that won't be the case, and I'm genuinely relieved.
The iQOO 16 India launch was confirmed at a Qualcomm Snapdragon media briefing I attended during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The Xiaomi 18 Pro and Motorola Signature 27 were also confirmed to launch in India "soon". But as someone who's been using an iQOO flagship, the iQOO 16 announcement was easily the highlight for me.
The iQOO 16 Is the Kind of Flagship I Want
One of the biggest reasons I want to stick with iQOO phones is that their flagships have traditionally offered a compelling balance of performance and pricing. You get powerful hardware without necessarily having to stretch your budget to the levels demanded by some competing flagships, and that matters to me.
I want a phone that can handle demanding games, multitasking and pretty much anything I throw at it. But I also want good cameras, dependable battery life and a display that makes the everyday experience enjoyable. The iQOO 12 has served me well in that regard, and the iQOO 16 looks like a promising upgrade.
Not to mention that I had a gala time with the iQOO 15 and could barely find anything to nitpick on that flagship. In fact, I ended up daily driving that phone for months. Read my detailed thoughts in our dedicated iQOO 15 review.
To make matters worse, iQOO India CEO Nipun Marya had to tease us by showing off the phone at the event. Sir, some of us are trying to save money here. And just when I thought I'd had enough temptation for one day, the phone was placed inside a glass case after the presentation. I see what you're doing here, iQOO.
Image Credit: Beebom Gadgets
Image Credit: Beebom Gadgets
Not to mention that I really dig the iQOO 16 design. The pyramid-like lens placement this time around just looks so good. Not to mention that the off-white colourway that was on display (called Chasing Light in China) looks stunning with that laser holographic finish. This design gives off red and blue light effects from different angles.
Thanks to the iQOO 16 China launch last month, I also know what to expect from it on the inside, and that's impressive too. The phone packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset alongside iQOO's dedicated Q4 gaming chipset.
It also features a 6.85-inch 2K AMOLED display with a 165 Hz refresh rate. For someone who prioritises performance, that's a combination worth getting excited about.
Then there's the 8,400mAh battery with 100W wired charging. I love seeing manufacturers push battery capacities higher without making fast charging an afterthought. Of course, I'll reserve my further judgement until I get to test the phone myself, but the specifications look promising.
The cameras haven't been overlooked, either. There's a triple 50 MP rear camera setup, including a main sensor with optical image stabilisation, an ultrawide camera and a 3x periscope telephoto lens. I particularly appreciate the inclusion of a dedicated zoom camera, although its real-world performance is something I'll need to experience before drawing conclusions.
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I'm Just Hoping the RAM Crisis Doesn't Ruin the Pricing
There is, however, one thing I'm a little worried about. iQOO's relatively accessible flagship pricing has been a big part of its appeal, but rising memory and component costs could change that equation.
I'm happy that the iQOO 16 is coming to India. I'm less certain I'll be equally happy when its Indian price is announced. If the RAM crisis pushes the price significantly higher, I might have to extend my budget to make the upgrade happen.
Considering that the iQOO 15 launched in India for Rs 72,999 and was later hiked to Rs 85,999, the iQOO 16 could be priced around a lakh or even over that.
Well, that's not exactly ideal, especially when relative affordability is one of the reasons I gravitate towards iQOO in the first place. Still, I'd rather have the option to consider the phone than miss out on it entirely.
Could the OnePlus 16 Also Make It to India?
There's another reason this announcement has me feeling optimistic. Reports have suggested that the OnePlus 16 might skip India due to, oh well, the RAM crisis.
Now, the iQOO 16's India confirmation doesn't necessarily mean the OnePlus 16 will follow. The two companies have their own launch plans and business considerations, but their flagships butt heads every year. So it does leave me with a little hope that we might not miss out on every exciting flagship this year.
For now, I'm simply glad that the iQOO 16 is on its way. As an iQOO 12 user, I'm looking forward to how well the impressive on-paper specs translate to real-world experience. The pricing will ultimately determine whether I upgrade, but at least I can start looking forward to that possibility again.
